Best in Show - Pearl Saal

Extract from 'Cattlemen in Pearls' published in 2018. Written by Paula Heelan.

In 1964, having just come to terms with the challenge of raising twins in addition to her five older children, Pearl Saal’s 14-monthold daughters, Leigh and Amanda, were diagnosed with congenital hip dislocation. To treat the condition they were placed in plaster casts from armpits to ankles for nine months. To learn there was a medical problem affecting her daughters was tough for Pearl. Every day she did her best to keep them comfortable and clean, while also caring for Ian (13), Gregory (10), Stephen (nine), Meredith (six), and Brett (four). Determined to keep the plasters white and shiny, she applied white sandshoe polish. And with more than 50 cloth nappies daily added to the already enormous amount of laundry, the copper, washer and ringer were constantly on the go.

‘When our plasters were at last removed, we spent a further nine months in a brace’, Amanda recalls. ‘We developed nasty carbuncles—I still have the scars—under the brace straps on our thighs. Leigh was put into traction for a further six weeks.’ Trapped in braces the twins learnt to walk in a very unconventional manner. ‘We used various objects to aid our balance’, Amanda says. ‘Our brother Ian made us both a three-wheeled triangular shaped skateboard so we could scoot around. Dad custom-made a special table and chairs for us to eat and play at; and at the end of the verandah a felt covered area was converted into our play area. To give Mum a break, Ian, Greg and Steve were very good at keeping us occupied.’

When confronted with this challenging time, the fiercely determined, no-nonsense woman, Pearl took it in her stride and managed it well, like most things in her life.

Evelyn Pearl Saal, known as Pearl, was born in 1928 at Pittsworth in south-east Queensland. The fourth of six children to Sid and Daisy Neale, Pearl spent her young days on the family’s dairy farm at Spring Gully. A bright young girl who adored animals, Pearl rode her horse to school. Topping the scholarship exam in her final year at the Pittsworth State School, she spent the following two years as a boarder at Toowoomba’s Fairholme College and was the school’s athletic champion in 1943. Without the chance to further her education or seek employment away from home, she returned to help out on the dairy farm.

The dances held around the district at Scrubby Mountain, Yarranlea and Pittsworth were some of the few opportunities for locals to socialise, and they were a highlight for Pearl. It was at one of those dances in January 1946 that the slender, brown-haired, independent young Pearl first set eyes on a tall, eye-catching young man called Trevor Saal. A courtship followed and flourished and the two married in June 1950. They began married life at Trevor’s parents’ property, Waco, near Brookstead. Sid and Edna Saal were pioneering wheat growers and very successful farmers.

In 1957, with three young sons, Trevor and Pearl purchased Karinya, a property adjoining Waco, where they started their own mixed farming operation. With beef cattle as well as cropping to manage, it was here Pearl’s interest and love for cattle breeding really began. Initially, Trevor and Pearl chose Hereford bulls to put over predominantly dairy Shorthorn cows to produce quality vealer calves. Before long, consistently producing prime stock, they began showing their animals at the Pittsworth Annual Show, with their calves regularly winning awards.

In the early 1970s, Pearl and Trevor purchased more land to allow them to buy and breed more cattle. By 1973 the number of children had grown to eight with the addition of Meredith, Brett, Amanda, Leigh and Kathryn (known as Kate). On top of her beloved outdoor work to help Trevor, Pearl had her hands full making sure her large family was fed, cleaned and clothed. Amanda recalls a very hectic household. ‘With so many of us, Mum ran the house with military precision’, she says laughing. ‘She was a very organised, no-nonsense person and everything had its place—inside and out.’ Maintaining an impeccable appearance for her children was important to Pearl and this was no mean feat for a mother of eight. ‘As long as we passed our exams, we were okay. If we didn’t there were consequences. If we were late finishing our morning chores, we’d have to run to the bus. Mum always encouraged us to do our best. At times we loathed her strictness and rules for moral standing—but realise now it was good for us. I’m actually grateful, but at the time I often thought, but didn’t voice it’s not fair, not right, so and so is allowed…’

Animal lover Pearl with her beloved pup, Rover in the late 1940s.

A capable, resilient and proud woman, Pearl very rarely asked for or received help. ‘Mum inherited her mother’s talent and love for sewing, knitting and cooking, and she whipped up many fabulous fancy dress costumes, sometimes six or seven at a time, along with whatever other item of clothing was needed’, Amanda says. ‘She made all our clothes, from underpants and singlets to dresses and trousers. We only had a party for our tenth and twenty-first birthdays in our family. I still have the dress Mum made for my tenth birthday party—it’s precious to me.’

For a number of years Pearl’s daughters were given piano and electric organ lessons. ‘We had a beautifully restored Victor pianola and an electric organ that were the centre of many great sing-alongs.’

To give her a little time out and an outside interest away from home life, Pearl decided to attend first aid classes. ‘Mum gained the position of honorary bearer: back then women weren’t permitted to become ambulance officers. As an honorary bearer she held a First Aid certificate and helped out when needed. This was important to her’, Amanda says. ‘She wasn’t known as an expert driver and we often laughed that if anyone needed an ambulance, they might be waiting a while for its arrival. But she was a very careful driver and having first aid knowledge and experience often came in handy on the farm—for both humans and animals.’

Year after year Pearl maintained an abundant fruit and vegetable garden. ‘She grew copious amounts of quality produce and with no room for waste in her home, the excess was made into delicious jams, pickles and chutney. If something couldn’t be eaten fresh it was blanched, pickled, preserved or frozen’, Amanda recalls. ‘We all have fond memories of daily smokos, as do the stock agents who regularly visited. Mum had a reputation for being an amazing cook. She’d come in from the paddock or yards and in a flash, present a smorgasbord of mouthwatering home-cooked treats.

There would always be at least five scrumptious items to choose from. My favourites were snaky cakes (jam rolls), breakies (rock cakes), jam drops and sultana cake. Every morning we were unfailingly served cereal and a cooked breakfast, and dinner wasn’t dinner without a homemade dessert—but if you didn’t finish your main meal, you went without that delicious treat. There must have been a good combination of genes and physical activity because we all grew up on the lean side.’

Pearl on her horse, Whynot, in the late 1940s at Meriton, near Pittsworth.

In 1978 the Brookstead country was sold and the Saals moved to Tarewinnabar, 76 kilometres north of Goondiwindi in south-east Queensland. The family’s land size increased from 546 hectares to 6,880 hectares and Pearl was excited. In addition to grain growing, they could now significantly expand their stud and commercial herd. ‘Mum was in her element’, Amanda says. ‘With only the three youngest daughters at home now, she could take some time to study pedigrees and purchase cows with good bloodlines from leading studs. With more space, she could now run the cows and their progeny.’

When Pearl was establishing her Poll Hereford stud, the late Margot Gunn of Sevenbardot at Goondiwindi was a great mentor to her. The Saals purchased Hereford females from Sevenbardot, and Pearl and Trevor bought four Invernaion female cows to establish the Kalem Poll Hereford Stud. The name Kalem is an acronym using first initials from Pearl’s christened name, Evelyn, and her four daughters’ first names.

A sideline to the grain operation, the stud progressed steadily, with the Sevenbardot bloodline featuring heavily in many of the Kalem pedigrees. Initially the stud was largely a hobby and a great interest for Pearl.

Then, in 1982, with cows, heifers and bulls purchased from numerous leading studs, including Sevenbardot, Merawah, Panorama, Wellford, Woodlands, Moorlands and Norolle, the Kalem Poll Hereford Stud began exhibiting successfully in the Hereford sponsored Show and Sale at Roma in south-west Queensland.

When one notable exhibit was awarded Junior Champion Bull, it was a particularly rewarding time for Pearl. She had bred and prepared this bull, along with many other fine animals. Kalem continued to exhibit in the annual event, winning many classes, and was awarded Most Successful Vendor eight years running. In addition, Pearl and Trevor sold many quality beef-producing sires. In the early 2000s, the Roma sale changed its name to the Roma Poll Hereford Bull Sale and Kalem continued to offer quality whiteface sires for sale.

Of the many successes and broad ribbons, the most notable for Pearl were those awarded to Kalem Ultimate L53. ‘Mum loved this bull’, Amanda says. ‘In 1993 he stood first at the Royal Queensland Show (the Ekka) in the 20-22 months class, and was awarded Interbreed Champion at the Laidley Show. And in 1994 he was awarded the Grand Champion Hereford/ Poll Hereford Bull at the renowned beef exposition, Beef Australia in Rockhampton; Roma Grand Champion; another first at the Ekka; and he was Biloela Interbreed Champion—a momentous award, as it had been over 15 years since a British breed had won at Biloela.’

While Pearl and Trevor rarely took a holiday, in earlier years they enjoyed organised tours with the Poll Hereford Association and visited Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and most Australian States.

Trevor and Pearl in the yards at Tarewinnabar, Arcadia Valley, circa 1988.

Photo credit: Road Green, Qld Country Life.

In 1984, the decision was made to purchase a property in the Arcadia Valley near Roma. Pearl and Trevor sold Tarewinnabah near Goondiwindi but took the name with them to the Arcadia property.

This move enabled Pearl to devote the majority of her time to increasing breeder numbers, something she did extremely well, producing countless quality whiteface cattle.

Kalem registered 180 calves annually and ran a commercial herd of 350 Hereford and Hereford Santa cross females. Over the years, on many occasions Pearl returned home from the Herefords’ Australia National Show and Sale at Dubbo, New South Wales, with a new sire from a prominent stud.

On the odd occasion, despite Trevor considering the price over the limit, her spirited bidding and excellent eye for good cattle won out and another leading sire would head to Tarewinnabar.

Trevor and Pearl celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in Roma, June 2000.

For decades Pearl has also bred Border Collies—her other big animal love. This began in her late teens with her beloved dog, Rover: a perfect example of the traditional Border Collie, he was invaluable to Pearl. He would dutifully bring the dairy herd in for milking and he was just as helpful when it came to general mustering. Pearl bred a myriad of fine Border Collies and often received calls and letters from happy puppy buyers letting her know how pleased they were with their dogs.

In 2014 Pearl and Trevor sold their Roma property and another they had purchased at Injune. This was a particularly difficult time for Pearl. She loved her lifestyle and didn’t feel ready to downsize or accept aging as a reason for change. Trevor was experiencing health problems. ‘As Dad put it, his landing gear was buggered’, Amanda says. They needed to make some changes and, deciding to return to the area they grew up in, bought 500 hectares just 10 kilometres west of Pittsworth. ‘With reduced numbers, Mum has been able to stay involved with her stud breeding program’, Amanda says. Pearl now runs more than 60 females and their progeny, and continues to offer bulls at the annual Roma Poll Hereford Bull Sale.

Pearl is also immensely proud of her daughter Amanda and son-in-law Ivan, with whom she is in partnership, and their success with Binara Poll Herefords. They were awarded Most Successful Exhibitor at the Brisbane Ekka for eight consecutive years.

At 89-years-of-age, and despite her struggle with the onset of dementia, Pearl was still managing her cows and calves. She has swapped her beloved brown mare, Nell, who enjoys a life of leisure in the front paddock, with a Honda 500 quad bike. She continues to enjoy attending bull sales with Trevor, in particular the Dubbo sale. And with 23 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren she has plenty of willing supporters and assistants.