AustLit

'Alywn Torenbeek's boyhood in outback Queensland in the 1940s was spent chasing wild horses, catching death adders and dreaming of becoming a rodeo champion. At the age of 14, he left Kokotunga for good, taking with him a bushman's spirit, an uncanny natural riding ability and determination to succeed. By 21 he was an international rodeo champion.'

'Travelling far and wide, he became great friends with R.M. Williams and Queensland legendary cowboy Wally Mailman (father of actor Deborah). After a horrific accident that nearly killed him, Torenbeek worked as a drover and eventually established a stockman's school to teach underprivileged teens to become jackaroos and jillaroos. Throughout his life, he has faced personal tragedies and triumphs with stoicism and his own get-on-with-it philosophy.' (Source: Life in the Saddle)