Upper Hunter Shire Council (UHSC) 2008 – 2012

Featured image: UHSC & Senior Staff 2008 – 2012

 

David Casson Bede Spanagle Cr Cottle Cr Bates Cr Johnsen Steve Pryor Cr Howey GM Daryl Dutton

Cr Peebles        Cr Carter            Mayor Watts     Cr Seccombe    Cr Driscoll

My foray into Local Government 2008 – 2012 was ‘interesting’. I thought I could make a difference, but I was deluded. I was elected with the second highest primary vote in the September 2008 elections. Popular sitting Mayor Barry Rose easily topped the pole but attended only one meeting. He was suffering the ravages of aggressive prostate cancer and passed away in April 2009. This was a bad start. Deputy Mayor Lee Watts assumed leadership until the by-election following Barry’s passing. To complicate matters further two other elected Councillors decided to resign. They were long standing Cr Peter Hodges (health) and only recently elected Cr Claire Pfister-Paradice (time). The three ‘new’ Councillors chosen by the electorate were Lea Carter, Pam Seccombe and former Merriwa Councillor and Mayor Ean Cottle.

I think this was one of the first Councils where women Councillors outnumbered men? Cr Driscoll was the longest standing Councillor having represented Aberdeen for over 20 years. Ideally, we were not elected in ‘ridings’ or wards but inevitably parochial nepotism crept in. I think the electorate viewed it this way. One could claim that the municipality and township of Scone were underrepresented. I think this was a hangover from the days of ridings in the old Scone Shire Council. I did not shine as a Councillor. I realised very early that my ideal image of local governance was sullied. Pragmatism ruled the chamber dictated by the General Manager and his cohort. It was a mini-series of ‘Yes Minister’ if couched at a lower legion.

This was the Council which was awarded the Arthur Bluitt Award in 2010 for the best performing Rural Council in the State of NSW. This probably surprised a number of us. GM Daryl Dutton had prepared all the supporting information and submitted the application. He was an able administrator.

The Scone Shire Council had won the same award on at least two previous occasions. It’s a proud record for the district.

I represented on the Finance and Works and Technical Services Committees. Although I was not on the Development & Environmental Services Committee, I attended most of the meetings. I was also the UHSC Delegate to the Hunter Councils Environment Committee in Thornton. Hunter Councils was a loose amalgam of eleven Councils in the Hunter Valley plus Great Lakes and Port Stephens making a grand total of thirteen. It is probably portentous of things to come.

The job of Mayor is equivalent full time. If you attend most of the meetings and sub-committees, it is also just about full time for an ordinary Councillor. This disenfranchises some. Reading the official papers and preparation are time consuming. I was chairman of at least two sub-committees including Heritage. This is an emotional drain and can be very frustrating with deeply entrenched bureaucracy. It’s difficult in one term to know all the ropes and comprehend all the rules. Employed professional staff conducts the show with the GM almost omnipotent. This plenipotentiary position carries unique power within the NSW Local Government Act & Regulations.

Australian Stock Horse Society ‘Austrade’ Mission to China in 2004.

Featured Image: The ASHS Trade Mission to China @ Nanjing Agricultural University in 2004

Ray Hynes is at the back far left in broad hat, Sun Junling (‘Jimmy’), Terry Bourke (Hat), Mike Thew (no Hat), Duncan Macintyre (Hat) all in back row. Steve Guihot (ASHS leader in suit), Bill Howey, Brian Atfield (Hat), Jill Macintyre & Craig Young.

I wrote about this in more detail elsewhere. Memorably we encountered Sun Junling aka ‘Jimmy’ at Nanjing Agricultural University. He gave an impassioned speech in English which he may have memorised by rote? The outcome was that between Mike Thew and I we successfully arranged a fully funded ‘Fellowship’ through the NSW TAFE Commission Hunter Valley Institute. It enabled Jimmy to spend about 3 months in the Hunter Valley and beyond absorbing the horse industry and the thoroughbred sector in detail. My role was to plan and implement his itinerary. Mike had arranged accommodation at Willowgate Hall in Scone. I used my equine veterinary network to full effect. It was Derek Major at Agnes Banks Equine Hospital who gave him the sobriquet ‘Jimmy’ which he really liked. We had difficulty before this with how to address him both formally and informally.

As a result of this introduction I/we managed to secure an interview for Jimmy with Ollie Tait; then General Manager for Darley Australia. Jimmy secured a place in the Darley Flying Start program set up by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum who is the ruler of Dubai and also owns the Darley and Godolphin Thoroughbred brands around the globe. The following CV was prepared by colleague Helen Xie. Jimmy’s own was written in colourful Chinese style emphasising his grandmothers’ predictions at the time of his birth! It was a fascinating insight but not sculptured in such a way so as to impress western judges. Nonetheless he was ‘pre-ordained to follow a career involving the horse’. Suffice it to say Jimmy was accepted into the program and excelled through the curriculum. I was extremely fortunate to be invited as his ‘mentor’ to attend the graduation ceremony at Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket, England. I travelled in some luxury at the behest of Emirates Airline per favour of Ollie and the Sheikh. I doubt the latter knew of my journey? Sun Junling has subsequently been appointed as Darley’s ‘man in China’.

Pot Pourri

Memoir Chapter XIII

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/pdf/Memoir/Chapter%20XIII.pdf

Featured Image:

David Koch and the ‘Sunrise’ Team at the Channel Seven Studio in Martin Place We passed the Channel 7 Sunrise Studio in Martin Place. It was 9:30am and the morning show was just closing. There was instant recognition and the Borroloola Mob just piled into the studio. David Koch and the team were intrigued. To their great credit the Borroloola Mob were welcomed with open arms. The photo opportunity was too good to miss!

This is a Chapter from my ‘Memoir’. I thought I’d try to place it on my ‘blog’ as a separate entity. It might not be a good idea, however. I’m currently feeling much more like a polymer (‘combination of a number of identical molecules from a simpler substance’) than a polymath (‘man of varied learning, great scholar’). These two virtual antonyms appear in immediate alphabetic sequence in Oxford ‘The Australian Pocket Dictionary’! It’s well worth a try.

Borroloola Mob @ Sunrise One of my most unusual assignments was delegated by my daughter Kirsty. Kirsty was Legal Advisor to the Northern Land Council in Darwin. Part of her ambit included the Borroloola Community from the Southwestern shore of the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is about 1000km by road from Darwin; the last 700 of it is dirt. Kirsty was directing a Land Claims Appeal through the Supreme Court in Phillip Street. My role was to accompany the ‘mob’ from the Menzies Hotel in downtown Sydney to the Supreme Court. Kirsty had to be there earlier to prepare. It was a most interesting journey! We had socialised the night before, so we knew one another. My mate Dave Hardy is in the two-tone horizontal striped jumper and blue baseball cap on the left of the picture. Dave was an Elder of the tribe but had been ‘in trouble’ before. He was a most intriguing character.

Upper Hunter Shire Council 2004 – 2024

See Featured Image: Notice of UHSC Council Meeting Agenda 27 May 2024 at 5:00pm

I was very pleased indeed to receive an invitation to attend the meeting as decreed in the featured image above. I met a few ‘new’ Councillors and re-acquainted myself with many of my ex-Councillor fellows who still prevail. It was a very convivial meeting at an important moment in time.

Longest term Councillor and Ex-Mayor Cr Lee Watts delivered a very well-rounded and minutely researched summary of 20 years of Governance by the UHSC. This was applauded with unanimous acclamation by the Councillors and invitees.

Continue reading →

HTBA Scone Yearling Sales

Featured Image: 1995 Scone Yearling Sale Catalogue front cover.

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/hvbhba-first-annual-scone-sale-1979/

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/htba-yearling-sale-40-years-on/

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/bold-scone-venture/

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/hunter-thoroughbred-breeders-association-scone-history/

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/has-the-horse-bolted/

The front cover of the 1995 Scone Yearling Sale Catalogue is the best thing about it! With the knowledge of hindsight, the ‘horse has indeed bolted’. I’ve just rediscovered this dog-eared issue in the pocket of my discarded ‘Drizabone’. It must have been a wet day?

It’s a litany of failure. I barely remember/recall the names of the 1^st Season Sires listed: Bao Lack USA (Emirates Park), Bureaucracy NZ (Yarraman Park), Greenline Express USA (Wakefield Stud), Monongahela USA (Yarraman Park), Orient Way NZ (Kanangra Park), Rising Rhythm (Kia Ora), Snaadee USA (Emirates Park), White Bridle USA (Middlebrook Valley Lodge) and Yonder USA (Widden Stud). All were abject catastrophes consigned to the scrap heap of memory. (I owned a share in one of them – Greenline Express).

The 156 yearlings catalogued were by 80 different sires representing 68 vendors, some from prominent studs. Champion Sire ‘Marscay’ had one entry, but it was withdrawn. With one or two exceptions the other sires represented shared one thing in common: statistical (i. e. ’commercial’) failure. It was the historic story of the sale which nonetheless had produced a few good city winners. It presents a marketing dilemma exploited elsewhere. Agents promote their sales by subtly presenting their ‘auctions as making the horses’. It’s the converse. The horses make the sales.

The quality of the 156 yearlings drafted in the catalogue proved to be of equivalent measure. The reality was we were attempting to market an inferior product. Ultimately racetrack performance (consistent ‘winners’)  will decide the outcome. The sale at its Scone location no longer exists.

Continue reading →

Scone Horse Festival Parade 2024

Featured Image: The ‘author’ transported in Bill Greers’ sulky powered by an amenable retired standardbred racehorse.

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/scone-horse-festival-parade-1986/

I ‘posted’ the story of the 1986 Scone Horse Festival Parade 1986 in 2021. I postulated the possible demise of the concept. How wrong could I have been! Andrew Cooper brought a new energy to the role of Horse Festival President two short years ago. He ‘reinvented’ the whole process. In 2024 despite the ‘ravages’ of Kelly Street reconstruction (‘revitalisation’) the ‘display’ was an overwhelming success.

I was the most fortunate recipient of a consummate honour bestowed by the presiding committee. I think it had something to do with age? I’m the oldest living fossil of a bygone era! I was delighted professional colleague and protege Peter Carrigan was the marshalling steward at the start. Both Bill Greer and I needed some direction.

I Am Invincible

Stop Press!

As of today (Sunday 5th. May 2024) ‘I Am Invincible’ with $29,287,812 has just overtaken Snitzel’s ‘General Sires by Earnings’ record of $29,243,413 in season 2017/2018. There’s still a long way to go in the current season. With a name like that there must be something in ‘nominative determinism’?

FEE SHOCK: I Am Invincible’s price cut, status quo for Hellbent and Brave Smash

See: FEE SHOCK: I Am Invincible’s price cut, status quo for Hellbent and Brave Smash – ANZ Bloodstock News

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/equine-walk-of-fame/

See also: https://www.breednet.com.au/news/29847/yarraman-park-announce-2024-fees

Author’s Note: This is one of the great success stories in the history of Australian Thoroughbred Breeding. I Am Invincible is already assured of his 3^rd. Champion Thoroughbred Sires Title having previously chalked up four (4) second placings to ‘Snitzel’ (read below). Purists might argue that while he is clear leading sire in Categories 1200m and shorter, 1200m – 1600m, 7th. in Category 1600m – 2000m, he is not listed in the top 100 sires in Category 2000m and greater? My good friend Hilton Cope (shareholder) has stated: “He’s the best sprinting sire since Star Kingdom”.

By Tim Rowe

Listen

Yarraman Park has made the shock decision to reduce the service fee of two-time reigning champion stallion and commercial goldmine I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) after 14 remarkable seasons at stud based in the Hunter Valley.

Brothers Arthur and Harry Mitchell, the joint principals of Yarraman Park, will stand I Am Invincible at $275,000 (all fees inc GST), down from his 2023 peak of $302,500, in spite of another standout season on the racetrack and in the sales ring.

I Am Invincible’s son Hellbent, the sire of this season’s Sir Rupert Clarke (Gr 1, 1400m) and All Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Magic Time, will maintain his 2023 service fee of $38,500 as he pushes towards a top ten position on the Australian general sires’ table, the highest-placed third season stallion on the premiership.

Their roster-mate Brave Smash (Tosen Phantom), who relocated to Yarraman last year after the Mitchells and partners bought a controlling interest in the sire from Aquis Farm, also remains at an unchanged fee of $33,000 with his first crop which includes Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed filly Kimochi soon to turn four.

A runaway premiership leader as he charges towards his third straight champion sires’ title, the Yarraman Park kingpin I Am Invincible is just $200,000 shy of Snitzel’s all-time progeny earnings record of $29,243,613 – achieved in season 2017-18, the year of the first of Redzel’s back-to-back Everest (1200m) victories – as the Mitchells announce their fees for their trio of sires with three months of the racing season still to run.

This season has also seen I Am Invincible break new ground, siring his first two-year-old Group 1 winner with highly promising Te Akau-owned colt Move To Strike taking out the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) in New Zealand while stablemate Imperatriz has shown her wares in Australia, winning the AJ Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m), the Manikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), Champions Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m), the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) and William Reid Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) this season, taking her record to a stunning ten Group 1 wins.

The recently retired five-year-old Imperatriz, who was on Monday confirmed to be offered for sale at the upcoming Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, could be the most valuable broodmare prospect sold at auction in the southern hemisphere this year – if not ever.

Arthur Mitchell said “we didn’t need to bring it back, but we thought we would” of I Am Invincible’s 2024 fee.

“He’s still got the numbers around him to keep him ticking over … and we thought $250,000 [plus GST] was pretty fair,” Mitchell told ANZ Bloodstock News.

“The interesting thing is, and I didn’t really take much notice of it, but he was runner-up four times before he won his first [champion sires’ title] and he got beaten twice I think on prize-money when Redzel won The Everest. So, I think he’s doing a pretty amazing job.

“We won’t be over-taxing him, but we’d like to keep him working away consistently without pushing him too hard.

“He looks like a 12 or 14-year-old, that’s what he looks like, so he still looks fabulous.”

Rising 20-year-old I Am Invincible covered 157 mares last year, his 14th season at stud at a career-high fee, has sired 16 stakes winners so far this season with Tiz Invincible, I Am Me, the recently retired Newgate Farm-owned colt King’s Gambit and the highly promising filly Estriella all winning black-type races since August 1.

Two-year-old colt Bodyguard also won twice at stakes level this season while trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott unveiled a juvenile son of the champion sire at Rosehill on Saturday with Ikasara scoring at his first start, indicating bigger races were in store.

I Am Invincible’s yearlings this year, conceived off a $220,000 service fee, averaged $586,246 at a median price of $500,000 with a filly out of Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m) winner Booker (Written Tycoon) selling for $3 million at the recent Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to US investor John Stewart of Resolute Racing while another American buyer, Jes and John Sikura of Hill ‘N’ Dale Farm, purchased a filly out of Madam Rouge (Zoustar) for $1.7 million at the Magic Millions sale in January.

Eight other I Am Invincible yearlings also sold for $1 million or more at this year’s yearling sales.

The Mitchells also considered increasing the service fee of Hellbent this year, but in the end decided against it.

While the John Muir-owned and Grahame Begg-trained mare Magic Time, a first crop daughter of Hellbent, also won the Nivison Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) this season, the stallion has also had Hell Hath No Fury win the Guy Walter Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) in Sydney and trainer Jason Warren’s Benedetta has won two Group 3s and she finished third in the Robert Sangster Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) in Adelaide on Saturday. She also ran fourth in the Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington while two-year-old colt Fully Lit won the Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m) in February.

Miss Hellfire, three-year-olds Vivy Air and Kristilli and two-year-old filly Grinzinger Love have also all been stakes-placed this season.

“People thought we were going to put him up and we haven’t. Hopefully we’ll get some good support [as a result]. We’re trying to lift the quality of his mares as much as we can,” Mitchell said of Hellbent.

“Like his father, they look like they train on and get better with age. He only just got beaten in that Group 1 on Saturday. Benedetta ran super and she’s a very, very good mare and obviously Magic Time’s outstanding.

“I think he’s proven he can get topliners and I think he should attract better mares.”

Brave Smash has two first crop stakes winners on his CV this season with the Gary Portelli-trained Kimochi winning the Light Fingers Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) to go with her placings in the Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m), Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) and Coolmore Classic (Gr 1, 1500m) while the late Brave Mead also won twice at stakes level for trainer Ciaron Maher.

His second crop two-year-olds She Smashes and Smashing Time have also already won this season.

He covered 112 mares last year, his second biggest book in five years at stud.

“There’s not many mares left to sell in Brave Smash, he’s nearly fully booked now,” Mitchell said.

“He’s an incredibly promising young stallion. The good young horse in Western Australia Brave Halo ran in the [2023] Blue Diamond and got galloped on, so unfortunately we lost him, but Kimochi’s been a superstar and then unfortunately we lost Brave Mead.

“He was also on target to be a super horse. Brave Smash is a complete outcross, he gets good sorts, the trainers like them, they’re brave horses, they try hard, and I think he’s on an upward spiral.

“He hasn’t had huge books coming through but we’re going to manage him as best we can.”

Mitchell believes Yarraman’s trio of stallions provides breeders with a safe entry to the market.

“One thing is, they’re proven stallions,” he said.

“They’ve proven they can get Group horses and I think if people want to breed safely they have to go proven if they can.”

Yarraman Park service fees (fees incl GST)

2024 2023

I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) $275,000 $302,500

Hellbent (I Am Invincible) $38,500 unchanged

Brave Smash (Tosen Phantom) $33,000 unchanged

Good Old Days on Cooplacurripa

See: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/159581626

See also: https://www.phototimetunnel.com/in-the-tracks-of-tom-pritchell-bush-horseman

Featured Image: ‘Old’ Cooplacurripa believed to be Cooplacurripa homestead in the mid-1800s

A PEEP INTO THE PAST: GOOD OLD DAYS ON COOPLACURRIPA.

GOOD ALL-ROUND HORSEMEN AND ROUGH RIDERS.

Written ‘The Wingham Chronicle.’

BY RICHARD HINTON.

ARTICLE NO. 4.

I was about eleven years of age when I first went to Cooplacurripa Station. I was born at Cooplacurripa, and my father— the late James Hinton— was stockman, horse breaker, and blacksmith on Cooplacurripa for years before I was old enough to play a part m station work and station life.

HIRED BY J. K. MACKAY.

I was hired by Mr. J. K. Mackay, and he had a share in Giro Station. When on one occasion I was sent over to Giro Station, there was mustering work being carried out at the time at Glenrock, and I was instructed to go there. I met some of the crack riders of the day at Glenrock.

THREE GREAT HORSEMEN.

There were three dark fellows there. They were Jimmy Doyle, Jack Cook, and Albert Widders. These three men were great horsemen. Jack Cook was out on his own for breaking in horses and as an ‘all round’ horseman. Albert Widders was the best man I ever saw in a yard drafting wild cattle on foot. I have seen wild cattle charge straight at him. Albert would just step neatly aside, and the wild beasts would pass on. Under similar circumstances most other men would have been on the top of the fence.

Alec. Campbell was Boss on Glenrock Station at the time to which I am now referring. Billy Bristo was the head stockman on the same station.

‘TUGLO.’

On one occasion I remember we went from Glenrock Station to what was known as ‘Tuglo.’ This place is part and parcel of the Station property.We camped at ‘Tuglo’ for the night.

When morning dawned, we went to look for our horses. I did not bother taking a bridle with me. I could see a grey horse up on the ridge, and I thought it was mine. When I got up to the animal, I dis covered it was not mine. I did not bother going back for a bridle. I got on the tracks of the two horses I was looking for and followed them down the creek for about two miles. They were making towards Giro. I eventually overtook the two horses, put the hopple straps round one fellow’s neck, and the other one followed me. As I was returning up the’ river again to where we had camped the previous night, a mob of wild horses happened along. Some of the Glenrock chaps had started them when they were after their horses. My horse caught sight of the wild mob, and he set out after them at full gallop, 1 only had the hobble strap round his neck, and no saddle on.

‘STUCK HIM.’

I stuck him going down into a steep gully. He jumped over the gully, and was cutting out the pace in fine style going round a steep sidling. I thought it about time to leave him, and I seized a favourable opportunity and threw myself off. I rolled about 25 yards down the hill before I struck a tree. However, I was not seriously hurt.

The two horses caught up with the wild ones and went on with them. When I returned to the camp, I told Mr. Campbell what had happened. He sent two men after the horses. They got them on a high top, and the wild horses kept the two station horses away from them. The two station horses were duly caught and brought back to camp. One of them had been ‘bit’ about a little by the wild horses.

HAPPIEST AND JOLLIEST.

Some of the happiest and jolliest stockmen I ever’ met I was brought into contact with at Glenrock in my young days. There were many smart horsemen amongst them— men who could hold their own with the best men that ever hopped into a saddle.

OUTLAW FROM MUSWELLBROOK.

When I was at Glenrock, Mr. Alec Campbell bought an outlaw horse at Muswellbrook. He brought him over to Glenrock Station, and wanted some of his men to ride the outlaw? None of them showed any burning desire to mount the animal. Jack Cook, who was in the employ of Mr. Augustus Hooke at Curricabahk, was at Glenrock Station at the time. Cook was helping them to muster at Glenrock. Mr. Campbell said to ‘Cook: ‘What about you having a seat on him, Jack?’ Cook replied: ‘No, Boss. I’ll buy him from you.’ So Campbell finished up by selling the outlaw to Cook for the same money he had paid for him at Muswellbrook.

Cook took the outlaw over to the blacksmith’s shop and shod him. I helped to hold him whilst this was being done. After he had been shod, Jack Cook saddled the outlaw, and mounted him. He took him over into a little paddock near the homestead before he got on him. He was a very hard horse to get on. He used to rear straight in the air as soon as Jack put his foot into the stirrup. Jack managed to get into the saddle anyhow. The outlaw wheeled round, and bucked clean over the fence without touching it. From there he bucked down over a steep bank into the creek. He then bucked down the bed of the creek, in the water. He struck a rock while bucking in the creek, and the result was that the girths broke.

There were quite a number of station hands watching the exhibition of horsemanship. We sang out to Cook that his girths were broken. Cook jumped off. As soon as he did so, the saddle slipped round on the outlaw, and he gave it one kick and sent it flying yards up along the bank of the creek.

Cook still held the bridle and stuck to the outlaw. He brought him up into the same paddock again and saddled him once more. He then hopped on to him. This time the outlaw bucked over the fence on the opposite side to that he had cleared in the first instance. It was a two-rail fence. Cook had the best of the outlaw, and the outlaw never touched it. Shortly after and rode him to a standstill. He was the only man who ever did so.

Cook had this outlaw for years. He could ride him all right, but no one else ever succeeded in sticking him. Cook sold the horse at various times to different people— on trial—but every time he got him back— none of them could ‘sit’ him.

HORSEMEN I HAVE KNOWN.

I have ridden with many rough riders in my younger days, but I would say that the late Duncan McPherson and W-. H. Mackay were out on their own— that is to say, as real rough riders. They did a lot of rough-riding on Cooplacurripa years ago.

I do not want to blow about myself as a rough-rider in my young days, but I can honestly say this, that I could generally keep in sight of the best of them. The two roughest stations I ever rode on were Giro and Glenrock. They had some splendid horses on both those stations in my young days— no better’ or more spirited animals ever looked through a bridle. . .

My experience of bush riding is that you will find a lot of good riders downhill. However, where the good riding and judgment count is going round steep sjdings and into steep gullies ”at a good bat.”

TOM THE MAILMAN

To get away from rough-riders for a moment, might I mention another matter. Many years ago, Tom Briton used io run’ the mail’ from Gloucester to Walcha. He carried the mails, of course, on horseback. Tom was a hard old case and could pitch a good yrn with the best of the hands of his day.

Tom used to stop at Nowendoc at night— at Mr. Thomas Laurie’s— and he frequently had a great job crossing the rivers in flood time. He had to cross the Little Manning but went round the rest of the rivers. Whenever he came to a flooded stream, and he was mounted on his well-known black pony, Tom Briton was never afraid to put the animal into the stream. He used to reckon this animal was the best thing he ever saw in water. Tom said he would sometimes come to a river, find it was running a banker; but he would secure the mail matter, put it in bags, tie the bags up tightly, and fix them securely to the saddle.

Then he would put the black pony into the stream. Tom used to say that the only thing that troubled him was holding his breath long enough—as the mare used to ‘walk straight across the bottom of the stream.’ Tom swore by the ashes of his fathers that many a time ‘he ‘ ‘heard’ the logs’ clinking over the top of him.’

SNOWSTORM.

On one occasion Tom Briton went on to Walcha, and a heavy snowstorm came on. Coming back from Walcha with the mail, he lost his track in the snow. He got two miles out of his course, and then ‘struck’ a fence. Fletcher’s boundary rider from an ad joining station was on his rounds, and saw a horse tied up to the fence and covered with snow. The boundary rider went up, brushed the snow off the bags, and off the pony, and discovered it was Tom the mailman’s property.

Eventually the boundary rider found old Tom Britain lying against a big log. Tom had half a bottle of rum lying alongside of him. The boundary rider pulled the cork out of the rum bottle. Tom could not speak, nor could he open his mouth. It was frozen. So, nothing could be done with the rum just then.

HOT WATER.

The boundary rider got Tom on to his own horse and led him down to a hut about two miles distant. There he got Tom off the horse, and laid him down inside the hut, whilst he made a fire. He put on a quart of water. It was soon pretty well. boiling. He poured some of the hot water on Tom’s mouth, and through the medium of the hot water Tom the Mail

man recovered his speech, as he was able to open his mouth. He was also able to sit up and take a little nourishment—liquid and otherwise. Tom stopped there till the rum was finished, and he felt all right. Then he proceeded on his way to Gloucester, little the worse for his cold experience.

HEAVY PARCELS.

Tom Briton was one of those kind good-hearted old mailmen. There was a woman on his mail route those days who was always asking Tom to bring heavy parcels up from Gloucester for her. One day she asked Tom if he could bring a flowerpot up for her. Tom’s reply was pretty effective. He said: ‘No, Missus, I have a plough and harrow to bring up next time on horseback with. me, so it will be quite impossible to bring a flower, pot without breaking it.’

That was the finish of requests from the woman in question to bring ‘cargo’ along from Gloucester— and Tom was not sorry.

Tom died years ago at Gloucester. He had many genuine friends amongst the old hands, all of whom had a good word for him and at least some of the readers of this article will remember him.

Cooplacurripa Cattle Droving

See: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/159585374

See also: https://www.phototimetunnel.com/in-the-tracks-of-tom-pritchell-bush-horseman

The Gloucester Advocate (NSW : 1905 – 1954)  Fri 22 Jul 1932 Page 4 

PEEP INTO THE PAST

Top of Form

PEEP INTO THE PAST GOOD OLD’ DAYS ON ‘COOPLACURRIPA’

Written for the ‘Wingham Chronicle’

By RICHARD HINTON

Article. No. 14.

Featured Image: Cattle Droving Photograph c. 1950s

DROVING IN THE EARLY DAYS.

I remember in the very early days a big mob of mixed cattle being shifted from Cooplacurripa Station to the Barwon. Mr. J. K. Mackay had a station out on the Barwon, and also owned Cooplacurripa at the same time. ‘Mercadool’ was the name of Mackay’s Station on the Barwon.

As far as I can recollect, it was either J J Gallagher or John Higgins who had charge of that mob of cattle. John Higgins is dead — died some years ago. He has two sons at Gloucester to-day — Thomas and J. R. Higgins. Mr. J. J. Gallagher is still in the land of the living and has extensive property interests at Krambach and Bundook. J. K. Mackay was a very fine general in selecting men to do his droving. He knew just what qualifications were required for a big job, and ‘ he also knew the men who were likely to possess those qualifications.

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Chester or Chester?

Not to be confused. The ‘Scone Equine Walk of Fame’ lists ‘Chester’ in the category including Performance and Polo Horses.

Featured Image: Chester 1874 by Yattendon (AUS) by Sir Hercules (AUS) out of Lady Chester (GB).

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/equine-walk-of-fame/

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/polo-hall-of-fame-ponies-to-remember/

This entry should not be confused with the great thoroughbred CHESTER owned and raced in the 19^th century by leviathan giant of the turf the Hon James White.

See: Chester – Scone Vet Dynasty