Magic of Monto (2026)

07/09/2026

Another glorious afternoon sunset over Monto. 🌅

Four very different views of the same evening — and each one tells its own story.

From the broad sweep of the town with the Cominglah Range sitting quietly on the horizon, to the sun dropping between the houses and trees, the evening light seemed to transform everything it touched.

The golden light catching the trees, the long shadows stretching across the streets, the silhouettes of the gum trees and the increasingly dramatic clouds all came together beautifully.

There is something special about a Monto sunset. You don’t necessarily have to go looking for it — sometimes you simply have to stop, look toward the western sky, and appreciate what is unfolding in front of you.

Another day draws to a close over Monto.
Another sunset paints the sky.
And another reminder of just how beautiful our little corner of Queensland can be.

Words and photos by Greg Forward

06/09/2026

And Now, The Dust Settles — 2026 Monto Silver Buckle 🤠🐎

Today saw the final events of the 2026 Monto Silver Buckle come to a close.

And now, as the dust settles over the arena, the competitors and their horses are beginning their journeys home.

The announcer’s chair is vacant.

The public address system has fallen silent.

The pens of the scribes have been put away, the final scores have been tallied and the prizes awarded.

After days of horses, cattle, riders, dust, skill, excitement and competition, the Monto Showgrounds have once again returned to a quieter pace.

For a short time, the grounds were transformed into a gathering place for competitors from near and far — a celebration of horsemanship, cattle and the enduring traditions of country Australia.

Now, all that remains are the memories, the photographs and the scorecards of another successful Monto Silver Buckle.

Behind an event like this is an enormous amount of work that often goes unseen.

So, a heartfelt thank you to the committee, sponsors, volunteers, competitors, officials, announcers, scribes, cattle handlers and everyone else who played a part in bringing the 2026 Silver Buckle to life.

Your efforts have once again showcased the very best of country spirit and community.

The trucks will leave.
The horses will head home.
The cattle pens will fall quiet.
The arena will slowly lose its dust.

But the memories of the 2026 Monto Silver Buckle will remain.

Until the dust rises again…

🤠🐎🐂 Thank you, Monto Silver Buckle.

Words and photos by Greg Forward

06/09/2026

When Spring Felt Like Summer

Yesterday felt more like a summer’s day than the fifth day of spring.

The temperatures had that unmistakable summer feel, while fires burning to the north of town sent a blanket of smoke haze drifting across Monto.

As the afternoon drew towards evening, I added my telephoto lens to my phone and captured a couple of photographs of the smoke settling into the valleys around town. From a distance, the haze created layer upon layer of soft, muted hills, almost giving the landscape a dreamlike quality.

But as the sun began its descent into the western sky, the smoke and dust haze took on a whole new character.

The atmosphere became a giant canvas of gold, orange and amber.

The Sun seemed to dance with the clouds, slipping between them and sending shafts of golden light across the landscape. Every few moments the scene changed — the colours deepened, the shadows lengthened and the western sky seemed to glow from within.

What began as a hazy, smoky afternoon finished with one of those spectacular sunsets that reminds us just how extraordinary the Australian landscape can be.

Smoke, dust, clouds and sunlight — nature’s own recipe for a spectacular sunset.

Words and photos by Greg Forward

04/09/2026

The Silver Buckle — a Monto tradition

Now being a “City Boy” and Gympie was by no means a big City when I was a boy in the 60’s, but I did have relatives that had farms, so I do know the front from the back of a cow and horse.

As for any idea about the Monto Silver Buckle and Campdrafting this is all new territory for me, so I decided to do some research about the history of the Silver Buckle event and then Campdrafting.

The Silver Buckle Event:

The 2026 Monto Silver Buckle is now well underway, but the action we are seeing in the arena today is part of a much longer story.

The Silver Buckle has become an important event on the Monto campdrafting calendar, bringing competitors, horses, cattle, families and supporters to the town and filling the Monto Showgrounds with the sights and sounds of the Australian stock horse tradition.

It is a tradition that has been part of Monto for many years. Records from 2009–10 already list the Monto Silver Buckle Campdraft as a local event receiving support from the former North Burnett Regional Council. By 2017–18, Council records again recorded in-kind assistance to the Silver Buckle, demonstrating its continuing importance to the local community.

Over the years, the event has continued to grow and develop. The 2023 Silver Buckle Challenge, for example, brought competitors to Monto for three days of competition, with ten sections ranging from Minis through to Opens. There were also special awards, including the inaugural Ken May Memorial Perpetual Trophy, recognising the contribution of the late Ken May to horsemanship.

The 2021 program shows just how much variety the Silver Buckle encompasses, including the Open Campdraft, Futurity, Ladies, Maiden and other divisions.

And now, in 2026, another chapter is being written.

From the moment the horse trucks and floats began arriving, the Showgrounds have gradually transformed.

The horses have settled into their temporary homes.

The grounds have been prepared.

The cattle have arrived and filled the pens.

The riders have saddled up.

And now the arena has come alive.

There is something special about campdrafting — the partnership between horse and rider, the anticipation as the beast is selected, and then those fleeting moments when everything comes together.

A horse turns.

A beast breaks away.

Dust rises from beneath their feet.

And horse and rider work as one.

Now how Campdrafting Works:

Campdrafting is a competition between horse, rider and beast, with the partnership between horse and rider being crucial.

A competitor begins in the camp, a small yard containing a mob of cattle. The rider selects one beast and must separate it from the mob, then demonstrate that the horse can control it by blocking and turning it several times. Once the rider has established control, they call for the camp gates to be opened.

The competition is scored out of 100 points:

Section

Maximum points

🐎 Horse Work. 70

🐂 Cut Out. 26

🏁 Course. 4

TOTAL. 100

🐂 1. The Cut Out — 26 points

This is where the competition begins.

The rider must select a suitable beast from the mob and quietly separate it from the other cattle. The horse needs to demonstrate its ability to read the beast, block it and prevent it from returning to the mob.

The judge is looking for good stockmanship, horsemanship and the horse’s ability to control the beast. The competitor cannot work or “try out” a beast before the judge tells them to commence.

🐎 2. Horse Work — 70 points

This is where the real skill of the horse becomes apparent.

Once outside the camp, the horse and rider must work together to keep the beast under control. The judge considers things such as:

* the horse’s ability to anticipate the beast
* speed and agility
* control
* the horse’s position relative to the beast
* the rider’s horsemanship
* how effectively horse and rider work together.

A horse that can read the beast and anticipate its movements can make the difference between an ordinary score and an exceptional one.

🏁 3. The Course — 4 points

The competitor then has to take the beast around the designated course.

Typically there are two pegs and a final gate:

First peg — 2 points
Second peg — 1 point
Gate — 1 point

That’s the final 4 points.

The course generally forms a figure-eight pattern before the horse and beast are brought through the final gate.

⏱️ The clock is ticking

Under the current NCCA judging guidance, the course has a 40-second time limit, commencing when the horse leaves the camp. The run is complete when both the horse and beast have passed completely through the gate.

What can end a run?❌

A competitor can lose the opportunity to score by losing control of the beast, failing to complete the course or committing certain infringements. The judge’s decision is final under the NCCA rules.

So apparently, when you’re watching the Silver Buckle…

Don’t just watch the speed.

Watch the horse.

Watch how it moves its feet, reads the cattle and anticipates the beast’s next move.

Watch the rider.

See how little movement may be required from an experienced rider to communicate with the horse.

And watch the beast.

Because the cattle aren’t simply running around the arena — they are testing the horse and rider every step of the way.

That’s the beauty of campdrafting:

Horse + Rider + Cattle + Timing + Skill = Campdrafting. 🤠🐎🐂

Now the rules can vary slightly between associations and individual events, so the above reflects the current National Campdraft Council of Australia framework.

Now back to the Silver Buckle event in Monto.

So from the quiet preparations around the yards to the action in the arena, the Silver Buckle is much more than a competition.

It is a celebration of horsemanship, cattle, country people and a tradition that continues to bring people together in Monto.

The trucks are here.
The horses are ready.
The cattle are waiting.
The riders are competing.

And the dust is flying once again at the Monto Showgrounds.

The 2026 Silver Buckle — another chapter in the story.

Words and photos by Greg Forward
Sources:
North Burnett Regional Council records and archives
National Campdraft Council Australia
Southern Campdrafting Association Ltd.

04/09/2026

The 2026 Monto Silver Buckle

The competitors have arrived, and the horses are settling into their new surroundings at the Monto Showgrounds.

The grounds have been carefully prepared and are awaiting the first competitors. The arena is ready, the yards are set, and the stage is set for the action to begin.

The cattle have been delivered and are safely settled into their pens, waiting for their turn to play an important part in the competition.

And now, after all the preparation, planning and anticipation…

The 2026 Silver Buckle competition is underway!

Out in the arena, skill, timing, instinct and horsemanship are on full display as competitors work their horses and cattle through each run.

There is something special about watching a campdraft unfold — the split-second decisions, the incredible agility of the horses and the determination of both horse and rider.

The Monto Showgrounds have certainly come alive with competitors from across the country.

The dust is flying, the horses and riders are working together, and the skill and precision of campdrafting are on full display.

Monto is alive with the sights, sounds and spirit of the Australian bush.

The 2026 Silver Buckle is well and truly underway!

Words and photos by Greg Forward

02/09/2026

A Day of Contrasts

Monday’s road trip to Gladstone was far more than simply a journey down the road.

We travelled via Biloela to attend my cousin’s funeral, a day that naturally carried a mixture of emotions — sadness, reflection, memories and the comfort of being surrounded by family.

Yet, all around us, the countryside continued its own story.

The scenery seemed to change with every stretch of road.

From the quiet waters of a country dam, to vast golden fields of ripening grain. From stark, weathered trees standing against dramatic skies, to sweeping green mountains and deep valleys. Then came the golden hills, winding country roads and the familiar beauty of the Boyne Valley on our journey home.

It was a day of contrasts.

Sadness and beauty.
Loss and memories.
Golden fields and rugged country.
Still waters and distant mountains.
The starkness of death contrasted with the incredible beauty of the world continuing around us.

Perhaps that is one of the strange things about days like this.

Life doesn’t stop because we are grieving.

The sun still shines, the grain still ripens, the rivers still flow, and the road continues towards home.

And somewhere between the sadness of saying goodbye and the beauty of the countryside passing by the window, there was time to reflect, remember and be thankful for the life that was lived.

A long day.
A difficult day.
A beautiful day.
A day I won’t forget.

Words and photos by Greg Forward

30/08/2026

From Floodwaters to Fields of Green

I have watched with eagerness the transformation of this little patch of land along Monal Creek, on the outskirts of town.

Back in March this year, this land was under water. What was then flooded, dormant ground has slowly, patiently, been transformed into something quite remarkable — beautiful paddocks of lush, growing crops.

But this transformation didn’t happen by accident.

Behind those fields of green are hours upon hours of hard work, patience and determination. The soil has been tilled, worked and prepared. Land that had been sitting idle for years has been brought back to life. Seed has been planted, crops nurtured and, when the rain hasn’t been enough, water has been brought to them with a travelling irrigator.

Every time I pass this property, I have watched another stage of the transformation unfold.

First came the bare earth.
Then the preparation.
Then the first faint tinge of green.
And now, row upon row of thriving crops stretching across the paddocks.

There is something deeply satisfying about watching this happen.

It is a reminder that farming is so much more than simply putting a crop in the ground and waiting for harvest. It is investment, hard work, knowledge, patience and faith — faith in the soil, faith in the seasons and faith that all those hours of work will eventually bring a reward.

The travelling irrigator moving slowly across the paddock is almost symbolic of that commitment — taking water to where it is needed, nurturing the crop and protecting the investment that has already been made.

I don’t know all the challenges that have gone into bringing this land back to productivity, but I do know what I have witnessed from the roadside.

A farmer taking land that had been sitting idle and giving it purpose again.

And that, to me, is what a farmer really is.

Not simply someone who owns land, but someone who is prepared to work it, care for it, nurture it and give something back to it.

From floodwater in March to fields of green today, this paddock tells a wonderful story.

A story of hard work rewarded, patience bearing fruit, and a farmer’s determination slowly turning a piece of idle ground into something alive again.

And as I look across those green paddocks towards the hills, I can’t help but think that there is something quite beautiful about witnessing the seasons of the land — from water, to earth, to seed, to green, and ultimately, to harvest.

Words and photos by Greg Forward

30/08/2026

The Week That Was

Eventful.
Confronting.
Interesting.
Challenging.
Intriguing.
Insightful.
Uplifting.
Humbling.

Another week has come and gone, and looking back, it has certainly been a week of contrasts.

There have been moments that have made me stop and think, moments that have challenged me, and others that have simply made me grateful for where I live and the people who make this community what it is.

Through the lens of my camera, I have seen Monto from many different perspectives — its buildings, its streets, its history, its old machinery, its trees and open spaces, and those spectacular skies that seem to change by the minute.

There is something special about photographing familiar places. We can pass them every day without really seeing them, until the light, the shadows or the clouds suddenly transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.

An old building can tell a story.

A piece of machinery can remind us of another time.

A row of trees can create patterns of light and shadow across the ground.

And a sunset can make us stop, even if only for a few moments, and appreciate the beauty that is right in front of us.

But this week has also been about much more than photography.

It has been confronting and challenging, reminding me once again that life can change direction without warning. It has made me look at some things differently and appreciate others that perhaps I once took for granted.

There have been conversations that have given me insight, experiences that have humbled me, and moments that have lifted my spirits.

And perhaps that is what makes a week worthwhile.

Not every day needs to be easy.

Not every experience needs to be comfortable.

Sometimes the challenging moments teach us the most. Sometimes the confronting moments change our perspective. And sometimes, amongst all of it, there are those simple, beautiful moments that remind us that there is still plenty of good to be found.

So, as I look back on the week that was, I am thankful for the experiences, the conversations, the challenges, the lessons, the laughter and the moments of quiet reflection.

Eventful.
Confronting.
Interesting.
Challenging.
Intriguing.
Insightful.
Uplifting.
Humbling.

Just another week of this remarkable journey called life.

Words and photos by Greg Forward

30/08/2026

We All Cast a Shadow

We all cast a shadow.

Sometimes it is long and obvious, stretching across the ground for everyone to see. Sometimes it is barely noticeable, hidden amongst the textures and imperfections of life.

But it is always there.

These photographs began with a simple ant moving across the rough, weathered bark of a tree. Yet when I looked closer, I noticed something more — the tiny creature casting a shadow of its own.

It made me think about how much we take for granted.

Every one of us leaves an impression on the world around us. Through our words, our actions, our kindness, our mistakes and the choices we make, we cast shadows into the lives of others.

Some shadows are gentle.

Some are dark.

Some disappear almost as quickly as they are made.

And some remain long after we have moved on.

Perhaps, just as the scars and irregularities in nature aren’t imperfections but evidence of a life lived, our shadows are part of our story too.

Since my own life changed so dramatically, I have become much more aware of the things I once simply passed by.

From a wheelchair, my perspective has changed — quite literally and metaphorically. I notice details that I might once have walked straight past.

A weathered tree.

A strange pattern in its bark.

An ant making its way across the surface.

And the tiny shadow following it.

It reminds me that we don’t have to be perfect to have meaning.

We don’t have to live the life we originally planned.

We don’t have to hide our scars, our differences or the things that make us imperfect.

We simply need to keep moving forward, leaving behind as much kindness and light as we possibly can.

Because we all cast a shadow.

The question is not whether we cast one,
but what kind of shadow we leave behind.

Words and photos by Greg Forward

30/08/2026

Life Is Not Wrong — It Is Just Different

Since December 2021, my life has been totally different from the life I imagined.

There was a time when I measured the world from 195 centimetres — six feet two inches — above the ground. I never really thought about it. It was simply the way I had lived my life for most of my adult years.

Then everything changed.

I was discharged from the Spinal Injury Unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital on my 60th birthday. There was something profoundly symbolic about that day — leaving hospital and beginning a very different chapter of my life at the same time as reaching sixty.

Going from seeing the world from 195 centimetres high to experiencing it from approximately four feet above the ground in a wheelchair changes your perspective in ways that are difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it.

But it isn’t simply the change in height.

Losing a significant amount of sensation and function from my waist down has added layers of complexity to almost every part of everyday life. Things that were once automatic now require thought, planning, assistance or adaptation.

Doorways.
Kerbs.
Bathrooms.
Gardens.
Getting in and out of places.
Simply reaching something that once sat comfortably within my grasp.

The world looks different from here.

But perhaps more importantly, I see the world differently from here.

And that brings me to these photographs.

The trees in these images aren’t perfect.

They are scarred, twisted, irregular and weathered. Their bark has peeled away, exposing colours and textures that you might never notice from a distance. Some parts appear damaged or deformed, while others have developed in ways that nature simply decided was right for them.

Yet I don’t look at these trees and think they are wrong.

I see character.

I see resilience.

I see the evidence of everything they have endured — and I see beauty in it.

Perhaps life is much the same.

My life isn’t the life I planned. It isn’t the life I expected to be living at this stage of my journey.

But it isn’t wrong.

It is simply different.

And just as these trees continue to grow despite their scars, irregularities and imperfections, I continue to live, adapt, discover and find beauty in a world that now looks very different from the one I once knew.

Maybe we spend far too much of our lives chasing perfection, when there is actually so much beauty in simply being what life has made us.

Life is not wrong.
It is just different. 🌿💞

Words and photos by Greg Forward

Magic of Monto

07/09/2026

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

04/09/2026

04/09/2026

02/09/2026

30/08/2026

30/08/2026

30/08/2026

30/08/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Listing takedown request