Mollie McWilliam – equestrienne and athlete extraordinaire! Her name was Alice Mary McWilliam but she was always known as Mollie.
She rode from age six, and doted on horses so much her Dad, Fred McWilliam, got her a taffy pony named Dolly when she turned seven.
“The best coach horses in the entire world” – a deserved compliment often given to the horses of Jules Gascard in W.A.
Jules was based in Victoria and traded in horses all his life, including sending the first shipment of horses to India from Port Augusta.
Please note there may be images of Aboriginal people of the past, who have passed on, which may be distressing for some.
The Kinnear family started saddlery in Australia in 1852, Bill’s father George Kinnear established saddleries at Kilmore and Euroa in Victoria. Three of his sons became saddlers.
A Timor Pony population was established at Wanneroo from the 1830’s and continued into the 20th century. Apparently, a Wanneroo Pony was the bees-knees for Perth children once.
The furphy was a lovely strong water tank designed by Joseph Furphy. It could be pulled by a single horse and became very popular.
When we remember the famous charge at the Battle of Beersheba on 31st October 1917 let’s not forget the camels, who also charged earlier in the day.
A poem written by a student at Salesian College Rupertswood for a competition to win a place on the podium to read the poem at their 2017 ANZAC Day Service.
Mail coach owner and driver extraordinaire – Norman Richardson held mail contracts probably the longest of anyone in Australia – over 42 years – from age 20 until age 62, said to be the biggest mail contractor in South Australia for a good while.
Draught Horse Derby… started during WW1 – held as part of Heroes Day events, raising funds for the families of men killed in the war and the Red Cross.
In our horse days, the government ran many excellent experimental farms. These were also training schools for those going into any of the many branches of agriculture.
