Janine Turner
Janine Haslewood Turner was born in Brisbane in 1929. Her career spans a lifetime of riding and competition with ponies, hacks and Thoroughbred horses.
One of her best horses was Saratoga, who began his show ring career at the Allora Show and graduated to championships at the Brisbane Royal National Show. Janine won numerous Lady Rider classes and was successful on several occasions at the Brisbane Royal Show in the Queensland equivalent of Victoria’s prestigious Garryowen Trophy.
Janine owned the pony mare Regalia, who became the dam of Gaiety, the champion pony hack at Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Royal Shows. She also showed the Welsh Mountain pony stallion Rhyl Glyndwr with great success. Her love of horses extends to the Sport of Kings. Janine bred and raced Harmonise, one of Queensland’s best racehorses. Janine was a regular at track work and leading turf writer Keith Noud said her knowledge and eye for a horse was invaluable.
Janine has given her time generously to help others, particularly children. She organised the foundation of the Darling Downs Pony Club, was Chief Instructor for that club and for the Darling Downs zone. She assisted in the establishment of pony clubs at Allora, Clifton and Miles and was a guest instructor at pony clubs in Queensland and New South Wales.
She coordinated the first pony club camp at the Toowoomba Showgrounds and the first one-day event for pony clubs to be held on the Darling Downs was conducted on Janine’s property ‘Bredon’. She also arranged for Australian Olympic Teams coaches Franz Maringer and Carl Jurenak to conduct equine schools in Toowoomba.
Janine Turner has been mentor and friend to many children who have passed on the riding skills they learnt from her to their own children. Jan’s great personal courage in the face of a debilitating illness is epitomised by the fact that she is still helping many voluntary groups from her wheelchair.