Johnny Anderson and the Newtown Rodeos

John (Johnny) Lee Anderson as a young man

Today is the anniversary of the passing of John Lee Anderson who is fondly remembered as a rough rider for the Newtown Rodeo and a trick horse rider. 


Newtown Rodeo Team 

Robert (Robbie) Walker

His nephew Robert Walker (Robbie) recalls helping Johnny between 1959 and 1962. “Although I was quite a bit younger, I helped Johnny with the trick roping” recalls Robbie. “We also bought 27 buck jumpers and had them in the 1100 acres which was known then as Jocumsen Paddock – it is now called Oakhurst Gardens”. Valmai Christopher; Robbie’s sister and Johnny’s niece, kept a photo album and a history of Johnny. From this we found out Johnny was born on the 24th of November, 1927, in Maryborough Queensland.  He went to Sunbury School as a child and then to the boys intermediate after which he worked for six years at Wilson Hart Sawmill. Johnny decided to buy himself a cattle truck and worked at carting livestock using an Austin at first and then a Bedford. He lived on his father’s property at Copehagen Bend called the Bar-Line until his death on November the 9th, 1997. He owned another property at Island Plantation. He worked in the collieries, did seasonal work at the Sugar Mill, worked for Matheson and Kindt on a survey team for around nine years and worked for a meat works. 

Johnny getting an award wearing the Newtown Rodeo uniform; Pioch's Paddoch, 1940s.

“Johnny won his first open bullock ride at the age of 12 years and did buck jumping” recollects Robbie. “He was a rough rider in the Newtown Rodeo, winning many ribbons and cups during the mid 1940’s and mid 1950’s” Robbie continued.

Johnny rope spinning on Trigger

“Johnny did rope spinning, whip cracking and entered a number of rides such as Bare Back Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Bull Riding , Steer Riding and Bull Dodging.

Johnny and Trigger with lots of happy children at the Pioch's Paddock rodeo.

He lived for his horses and loved children, putting on ventriloquist and magic trick shows,” Robbie reflects.

Although Johnny had enormous amounts of charisma he never married. He was engaged twice but both were broken off.


Johnny and Trigger

Johnny owned and trained several trick horses. His first horse was Trigger.

Johnny and Trigger

He then trained a grey called Silver.

Johnny and Silver number one.

His most famous horse was also called Silver but was a Palomino who lived until he was 27 years old.

Johnny on his second horse called Silver.

Rex was a red and white Skewbald who lived for sixteen years . He trained a Clydesdale horse call Prince for processions. As a final tribute Prince brought his casket to his gravesite for his funeral.


Do you have any memories of the Newtown rodeos?

Dick Eckert has published a book call the Newtown Rodeo which can be found in the Maryborough and Hervey Bay Libraries Local History Collections.


This has been published with consent from Robert Walker.


Tags: #NewtownRodeo  #PiochsPaddock #Maryborough #Newtown #horses