FROM droving cattle in the State's far north, the rough and tumble of the rodeo circuit to courting his sweetheart and building a family, Dudley Kemp's life plays out like a thousand Slim Dusty songs.
Due to celebrate his 84th birthday in September, his ever-engaging wit and presence of character are as strong as ever.
"If only I had good legs mate, it would be a different ball game," he said.
He is a fixture of the South Australian livestock scene and has thrived in the adventures that chronicle his amazing life.
He was born and bred at Gawler and from the time he could walk, it seems Dudley learnt to mount a horse and escape to the bush.
By his own admission, he was never an honour-roll student, but soaked up his early experience with sheep and cattle, largely through his father's trading business.
One of his earliest forays into the 'job' is documented by a photograph of a young Dud posing proudly outside the Copley pub around 1940.
* Extract from a full report in Stock Journal, August 8 issue.
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