CLONCURRY man Peter Abdy died peacefully among his loving family at Hillside Station on Monday.
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He is the namesake of the arena at the Cloncurry Equestrian Centre due to his role in founding the famed Cloncurry Stockman’s Challenge and his passion for the local horse industry.
Les Abdy said his father was also a foundation member of the Cloncurry Show Society, helped build the showgrounds and was the ringmaster in the show. Mr Abdy helped with the first post hole in the showgrounds during the 1970s.
Mr Abdy was raised in Ravenshoe as the son of a baker, but traveled west in the 1950s to work as a ringer. He eventually worked at West Leichhardt Station under Bill Croft. Mr Abdy met and married Mr Croft’s daughter Joan.
Mr and Mrs Abdy have been married for 56 years, since 1961.
Mr and Mrs Abdy started attending Argylla Pony Club in Mount Isa in the 1960s. Their contributions for the club earned them the title of life members. Eventually Mr Abdy became a chief instructor for Pony Club Qld. They shifted to Cloncurry when they bought Hillside Station in 1973.
“Dad was always interested in seeing young people learn and get better,” Les said. “Any event saw young horse people have an opportunity to educate themselves and become better.
“Through all this time Dad was heavily involved in Pony Club. He used to cart kids from Pony Club in the north west to Townsville or wherever they needed to go for state titles. He just did that, because he just did. He loved seeing the kids have the opportunity.”
Mr Abdy strongly encouraged his children to learn. “He never held us back. He absolutely idolised his grand kids and great grand kids. In the last few years his most important thing is his grand kids.”
Peter and Joan Abdy have two sons Les and Allan. Through Les and Desley Abdy their grandchildren are Jaymi-Lee, and Sam Abdy. Jaymi-Lee and Robert Stewart have two children Alec and Millie. Allan and Brooke Abdy’s children are Grace, Luke and Ben Abdy.
Mr Abdy’s service will be held at the Cloncurry Community Precinct from 2pm on Tuesday, April 4.