Welcome to Dee Bar

VALE – Chris Baumann

It is with the deepest sadness that I write of the passing of my beloved wife & co-founder of Dee Bar, Christine (Chris) Baumann.

Chris was farewelled at a service in Tamworth on the 16 June 2025 by hundreds of the people she had befriended, supported and loved.

One of our dear friends, Jim MacCallum, wrote a poem for Chris, which sums up her personality and why she was so admired.

Link Baumann

Chris’ Smile

The sky now shines a little brighter, heaven’s gained another star.
A life well-lived, a legacy through your family at Dee Bar.
Chris always sought perfection in whatever she pursued
and got there more often than not as all of us have viewed.
A life built on on passion and commitment to what she held most dear.
A foundation of hard work and dedication
facing challenges without fear.

Chris & Link are both respected for the way they share their gifts
and those that walked beside could not help but get a lift.
We all learnt so much from Chris, to keep on going when it gets hard,
to keep moving forward through adversity to fight for every yard.
But how I will remember Chris that’s locked in my memory’s file
is the look that beamed at the end of a cutting run
that overwhelming smile.

It was like it was the first time she’d competed on a cutting horse.
The ecstasy, exhilaration – a feeling those that know can endorse.
It had no relation to placing, score or win,
in her mind she’d reached the pinnacle and showed that elated grin.
No matter what you were feeling,
when Chris showed those pearly whites,
your heart was warmed, nerves were calmed, heavy turned to light.

Her family were her heartbeat, the grandkids, Sara and Guy.
The reason that she rose each day, her who, her what, her why.
And, of course, there is the ‘Linkster’, her partner and her mate,
they shared so much together, sometimes difficult, sometimes great.

But through whatever life threw at them, looking from afar
they did it strong together and made something special at Dee Bar.
Horses played an enormous part in her life
and they consistently achieved.
Her horses quality and unique type that made us all believe.
They will continue on forever in cutting challenges and drafts,
providing the same exhilaration they gave Chris,
the same smiles and laughs.

And all of us have a responsibility to continue to share her dream,
to finish runs no matter the result
and show that Chris Baumann gleam.
To continue to share our equine passion
to prepare horses like Chris did.

Whether Craig or Link, Jack or Saige, or any of her kids
to never take a short-cut or give in to toil or pain.
To embrace, to strive, to help, in the sunshine or the rain.
To be caught up in the details of what it is to do things right,
to believe that the multitude of small makes the dull turn into bright.

We all know your life was way too short, but even to the end,
your bravery, your strength, your loyalty as wife, mother and friend
was felt by all of us and will live on we will ensure.

We loved you Christine Debbie Baumann, may your legacy endure.

By Jim MacCallumm.