Horse Enthusiasts Taste the Good
Life
With fabulous weather for
the whole time, local horse enthusiasts toured the Lower Eyre Peninsula
last week. Seven carts, fourteen horses and eleven people set off
on Tuesday 27 March from “Mallee Grove” the Tumby Bay property of
Julie Elliott. Over the next six days they traveled on the back tracks
and a few made roads for over two hundred Kilometers. For the recent
trip, the horse-drawn vehicles were prepared by Bruce Mills and Kevin
May and also by Julie Elliott, Dennis Eaton, Paul Clarke, Horry Richardson
and Barry Stirling. Michelle Swaffer also rode her horse “Suzie” each
day. All of these people except Kevin May who is a farmer from Kyancutta,
were from Tumby Bay. Terry Maloney from Mount Compass and Kevin McDonald
from Port Pirie were also invited to join the
trip. The organizer and prime mover for the trip was well-known Tumby
Bay identity, Bruce Mills. Bruce has had a lot of experience in horse
trips over the years. In August 1988, Bruce and a group of others,
including Kevin May (who was also on the present trip) began retracing
the Eyre Peninsula journeys of explorer Edward John Eyre. In subsequent
years, that group also retraced Eyre expeditions from Baxter Range
(North of Iron Knob) to Port Lincoln, and from Port Lincoln to Streaky
Bay. The group placed five of the eight bronze plaques which have
been put at Eyre’s staging points all over the peninsula.
Organiser, Bruce Mills, praised the support he had received from all
the people and their venues that he needed to make the trip possible.
The Cummins Show Ground was the ideal place for horses, with ample
strong yarding, and the Railroad Cafe provided a copious evening meal
and breakfast. Noel Smith and Bev Branson helped set the mood for
the campers with songs and music of the horse and cattle-camp days.
“John and Rosemary Foster at the Wepowie Farm Stay were also very
obliging and helpful”, said Bruce, “with the horses given a taste
of green grass in the former ostrich yards”. The stay at Dutton Bay
Woolshed was also memorable with excellent food supplied by Jacqui
and Craig Brown. Noel Smith joined the group again with guitarist,
Harry Letton. The horse-drawn vehicle enthusiasts who went were extremely
pleased with all aspects of the trip.The horses performed and behaved
superbly; the
gear and harness stayed intact; the organisation was meticulous; the
company entertaining and amusing; the venues of top quality, and the
food wonderful.
“It really was a taste of the good life”, said carter Horry Richardson.
“The Lower Eyre Peninsula really lends itself to this type of activity,
and even a lot of us who have been in this area all our lives, saw
places and things that we have never seen before. It was a great trip”.
Terry Maloney
The group were also very appreciative of the the courtesy of most
of the car and truck drivers who slowed and often stopped for a chat.
It doesn’t take long to establish links when you start to chat by
the
roadside, with horses resting in the shade under the trees. One traveller
commented “I think I am dying of relaxation!”Barry Carr (Bart) drove
Bruce Mills’ support vehicle carrying supplies for horse and riders.
The “Red Ruby” semi-trailer quickly became a signal to all that yet
another tea and coffee break was just ahead. Louisa Puckridge provided
morning teas and lunches which could only be described as ‘superb’
- often in out-of-the-way places. The group travelled across the peninsula
to Coles Point before turning south to Dutton Bay.
After 2 rest days at Mc Kechnie Springs Farm Stay, with green pastures
for the horses and a luxury BBQ and 6 course dinner for the group
the convoy of vehicles returned to the coast and to Tumby Bay. Otto
and Helga Enneking at McKechnie Springs, also provided top-quality
service and catering, “We are extremely lucky to be in a country where
such superb food is provided so lavishly and so cheaply”, was a frequent
comment.
Report from Terra Mahoni
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