Schmidt Arena

Schmidt Arena

A cattle man from the Northern Territory, with an impressive resume managing some of the largest stations in outback Australia, taking on the Presidency of the RAS in 1988 could have been easy for Trevor Schmidt. It just so happened, however, that he was President during a time of big changes. It fell to Schmidt to negotiate the move from Moore Park to Homebush Bay – as Sydney Olympic Park was then known. Persuading reluctant Councillors whilst also convincing the NSW Government to be a little more generous with financial assistance, he led a team determined to take the RAS into the new century as a year-round events business.

The only unusual piece in the story is the recommendation by the RAS Horse Committee to name the horse events arena in his honour. Schmidt Arena rarely sees the cattle he built his career on but hosts junior riders and pony club, skill at arms, horse ball enthusiasts, and young farmers throughout the Sydney Royal Easter Show.