THE name Sallie Pilgram has a certain cowgirl ring to it, but the Tamworth teacher doesn’t have to rope her kindergarten class into getting involved in their new school life – they enjoy it too much.
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But the St Edward’s teacher’s collection of belt buckles proves she has the skills to round them up and reel them in if need be.
Miss Pilgram made it very clear she would never lasso her students but, after competing at the ABCRA championships in January, she now holds five titles, including rookie breakaway roper.
“I am very goal-driven and I don’t believe in doing anything by half, so I had a go at all the sections,” Sallie said.
She said she has ridden all her life, but the January rodeo was her first competitive attempt at any of the titles.
She now holds the ABCRA titles for rookie breakaway roper, rookie all-round cowgirl, rookie steer undecorator, average winner for the national finals and Australian steer undercorating.
In a twist to the usual classroom show and tell, the teacher took her title buckles, rope and hat to school to show her students.
“I had told them about how I ride my horse and rope cattle but not about the awards,” Miss Pilgram said.
Her 26 students were very impressed with her competition rope but the shiny belt buckles were the undisputed favourite of the class.
