TBQA Life Membership for Stan Johnston
Everyone recognises the loud, gravelly voice, beaming smile and positive attitude that is Stan Johnston. He has travelled hundreds of thousands of kilometres across Queensland during his years of racing and helping those in need.
Stan was originally a dairy farmer, before gradually converting Craiglea, at Kenilworth near the Sunshine Coast to a spelling complex from 1974 alongside his wife, Marilyn, their two sons Wade and Jason and daughter, Krystle. They started with one stallion and a few mares growing to a peak of six stallions (Manshood, Waterford Road, Warhead, Citiwyse, Moon Rocket, Top Echelon and Frisco View) and 150 mares, before converting back to a dairy farm over the past three years.
With Stan’s happy go lucky nature, it’s no surprise that every day is a highlight to him, but he particularly loved winning races because he bred to race, not to sell, and top gallopers ‘Falvelon’ and ‘Calaway Girl’ were reared at Craiglea. It was common to see the blue and white Craiglea colours on three or more horses in any one race on the country circuit. On January 15, 2010 Craiglea gained worldwide recognition by having the first seven runners home in an eight horse 2YO race at Mackay and on January 30 repeated that effort with their five runners the first four home in a nine horse race at Rockhampton. Craiglea trainers, Peter Fleming and Stan’s daughter, Krystle have both gained honours as leading QTIS 2YO trainers.
Stan has been on the TBQA committee since the year 2000, serving as Vice President since 2010, playing a pivotal role in the growth of QTIS and as a huge advocate for country racing. But his lasting legacy is probably the generosity and support for families in need in country areas. In the past 15 years Stan and Marilyn have tirelessly raised funds and coordinated donations of food and goods as well as stock feed to supply to families who suffered through extended drought periods or severe flooding. In only the way Stan can, he would rally people to donate goods or food and then he would load up his trailers and travel hundreds of kilometres to deliver the goods. All these efforts were done at his own cost and time and with a desire to help others.
It was only fitting that Stan was honoured with Lifetime Membership of the TBQA at the recent Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, alongside his long-time friend and TBQA President, Basil Nolan. It was a wonderful opportunity to recognise Stan’s massive contribution to the racing industry and his wonderful generosity to those in need.
Stan's longtime friend, and another person synonymous with country racing, Rob Luck has kindly provided the following information, outlining some of Stan's larger, generous contributions:
* Craiglea Stud has enjoyed Listed success with Executed and city success with multiple winners carrying the Craiglea moniker- Craiglea Wandoo, Craiglea Falcon, Craiglea Deken, Craiglea Charm, Craiglea Warrior and Craiglea Blondie.n Craiglea horses have tasted success in many country races including three Longreach Cups, Blackall Cup and Tree Of Knowledge Cup.
* Stan has helped the promotion of country racing by coordinating with Radio TAB and sponsoring the Bush Beat program to help get it off the grounnd. Hosted by Tony Clements and Rob Luck, the show, which promotes results and anything pertinent to country racing, now enters its 21st year of broadcasting.
* As a breeder, Stan has been supporting the research into Ross River Virus in racehorses over a 10-year period to the extent that it is now recognised as a genuine illness in horses and has ongoing research. Marilyn has regularly improved horses’ conditions through use of homeopathy methods.
* 2010 - Stan organised the "Hay drive" and transported horse feed to Rockhampton trainers after flooding in area plus offered free transport and agistment to any horses in need of spelling. This expanded into multiple projects involving donations and support from businesses in affected areas to assist people in desperate need of support due to effects of drought and flooding. These Hay runs continued until 2019 with Stan delivering to families as far as Julia Creek and Cunnamulla.
* 2015 - Stan received a Racing Minister’s Award for Service to Country Racing not only for items above but for continued support to racing and non-racing people in need.
* 2016 - Stan was so moved by the story of Kadence, a young girl in the Mount Isa area who had lost her pony not long after her older sister, Peyton died. It was a very traumatic time for her family who were unable to even provide a headstone for Peyton’s grave. Through support from the Maleny Show Society, Gympie Lions’ Clubs and staff of Mount Isa School of Distance Education, Stan was able to have two retired racehorses donated to the family, have a headstone engraved and provided Kadence with an iPad, horse gear and a basic vet kit.
* Longreach LSODE Ipad and Drought Appeal - after multiple hay runs to this area, Stan and his family identified the need to support families in need through the Longreach School of Distance Education. The area was in the midst of a ten year drought that had caused families to be struggling with basic food needs, education supplies and maintenance of kid’s ponies. Stan approached numerous service clubs, the RNA (Royal National Agricultural Association of Queensland) and called for individual donations. Almost $40,000 was raised, enabling families to access basic supplies from the Longreach Foodworks. Christmas hampers and toys were also supplied to children. Identifying educational needs Stan and his sponsors were able to provide free of charge 150 IPADS to children in the LSODE catchment. With drought causing many families to no longer being able to support the cost of maintain kids’ ponies Stan organised two drops of retired racehorses which were retrained for property use and donated to families as far as Richmond and Windorah. Eight horses were donated along with saddles, bridles and horse gear purchased through the local Longreach saddlery. To top off the donations, Stan had also gained the donations of Akubra hats to gift to parents of LSODE.
* Rewired Project - following floods in the Northwest Queensland area, Stan responded to requests from affected properties which had suffered substantial fencing losses. Through support of Kenilworth businesses, Stan and his team of helpers were able to supply 33 kilometres of fencing which was transported to affected areas to ensure graziers could reestablish paddocks for stock.
In all of these projects Stan engaged the support of the TBQA and promoted the requests for assistance through Bush Beat. Wherever possible he supported local businesses in the affected areas by directly buying supplies from, or injecting funds into those businesses.
These are all examples of amazing efforts of generosity with Stan and his family freely giving their time and costs whilst still running their stud and racing operations. It is no wonder Stan Johnston and the Craiglea name are synonymous with country racing and helping people in need.
