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The Illawarra Light Horse Troop was formed in May 2005 after riding with the Eurobodalla Troop for a number of years. The Troop is a non profit organization and do not charge for our service. The Troops’ main function is to parade and take part in events such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day as a tribute to the courageous men and horses of the Australian Light Horse; and all members of armed forces, past and present, who have served our country with distinction. Illawarra Light Horse Troop was formed with Australia’s original horse, the Waler; with Newhaven’s and other Walers as a nucleus. The Newhaven’s excel in this role due to its calm, even temperament. There are several Newhaven's being used as troop horses today.

(above: Monty in front & Dusty reserve forces day 2005
below: Jess reserve forces day 2005 both Monty & jess are Newhaven’s)

Illawarra Light Horse has recently taken part in the Albion Park Dawn services & Wollongong ANZAC Day parade 2005, Reserve Forces Day Parade 2005 in Sydney; as well as a day with the Wollongong Cadets. We have been invited to attend both VP day and Remembrance Day later this year. We will also be attending other parades both this and next year.

The Illawarra has a long Military history going back to1870 when the corps was first formed, and was later known as the 21^st Illawarra Light Horse, based at Albion Park NSW. Around the same time the Illawarra was also a large horse breeding area: the property was owned by Harry Osborne and called Marshall Mount. It was in the hills near Dapto. The old house is still there, but now the area has become a farming suburb.

For more information: Contact
Mark Hanson: Troop Leader.
Illawarra Light Horse
ppwalers@hotmail.com

Since our first posting, the troop has become quite busy. To date troop members have taken part in the following events: 13 August was VP Day, a celebration of the 60^th anniversary of the end of WW2. A march was held parading through the main street of Port Kembla followed by a memorial at the Port Kembla RSL Club.

Sunday 14 August; the Port Kembla Breakwater Battery held an open day and troop members were invited to attend.

Monday 15 August; the official day that WW2 ended; the troop was requested to stand a memorial guard at Centenary Hall in Albion Park during the ceremony. After this, an exhibition was held inside the hall, with displays of memorabilia of the wars, both one and two. Troop members Bindi Reinhold and Mark Hanson attended this display, answering the many questions asked. As many as 900 children from the local primary and high schools as well as members of the public attended this display.

Saturday 20 August saw the Wollongong Cadets being honored by Wollongong City Council; they were given the ‘keys to the city’. The Wollongong Cadets honored the Illawarra Light Horse by asking the troop to lead their parade into the city for their dedication ceremony. Some of these events received both television and newspaper coverage.

As Troop Leader I would like to thank all those involved, or who came in support of us. Well done to the troop members who rode or attended the above events, you did yourselves and the troop proud; and I hope you enjoyed yourself.

Up coming events that the troop has been invited to take part in currently include the Re-Dedication of the Balgownie War Memorial, Remembrance Day and the Waratah March. This takes us towards the end of 2005.

Latest News

Balgownie

5^th November 2005 was the Balgownie WW1 Memorial Re-dedication. The Balgownie Memorial was unveiled in 1930 after it was originally proposed in 1919. Only 10% of Memorials in Australia has a females’ name on it walls; Nurse Alice Thompson enlisted in 1917. After many years of neglect two re-locations and recent vandal attacks, the Memorial was restored to its original condition. The Troop led the parade from the centre of Balgownie to the Memorial park about two kilometers away. The dignitaries included the British High Commissioner, the Belgian Ambassador, the New Zealand Consul General and Major-General B.W. Howard AO MC ESM (Retired). The ceremony went forever and the fly’s nearly carried the horses away. It was great to see the towns residents, especially the young, and the relatives of the fallen there to celebrate this day.

(David Howell, Rhonda Hanson on Dusty, Lucy Weir on Boris,
Mark Hanson on Monty & Neil Hughes on Jo. Only Jo is not a Waler)

Remembrance day

11^th November 2005 Remembrance Day Albion Park. This year is significant in Australia’s history as there are no WW1 Diggers still alive; but the Legend of the Anzac’s will always be alive. Lest we never forget them. The Troop attended this significant day, after the ceremony we were invited in for lunch and the odd beer or two. (Riders Bindi Reinhold, Lucy weir, Mark Hanson)

(Lucy Weir on Boris Remembrance Day Albion Park)

Waratah

30^th November 2005 marks the 90^th anniversary of the Waratah March. One of nine marches’ that took place in NSW. One in QLD. The Waratah March saw 50 men leave Nowra and March to Sydney arriving on the 17^th December 1915, walking 100 miles and raising 120 men along the way. Day one of a three day event down the coast, Wednesday 30^th November arrive Nowra show ground tack up and ride to the cenotaph; well not quite to plan 3.00am Wednesday morning Rhonda Hanson took ill and spent the day in hospital so the horses didn’t make it to Nowra, Bindi Reinhold and Jane Candy went down to stand guard on foot. Day two Thursday 1^st Dec Bomaderry Rhonda’s re-covered from the day before and we all made it down. Mark Hanson and Bindi Reinhold rode into the town to the Cenotaph. Jane held up all the traffic so we could cross the road safely as there are a lot of cars that time of the morning. Everyone loved the horses, especially

(Replica of the Waratah banner at Bomaderry) (The Waratahs leaving Nowra 1915) (Bomaderry little Emma Hanson WW1 nurse)

that they were Walers. One old timer mentioned he could remember in the late 30’s the army came though and took all the horses with them and you cold not get a horse anywhere. After the Ceremony everyone lined up to take pic’s of us and of little Emma Hanson in her WW1 nurses uniform; Emma was very popular. Then we packed up and drove to Berry were we camped over night. Day Three Friday 2^ndDec Berry; the local school got into the spirit all the teachers dressed for the period, the headmaster really looked the part. We led the way to the cenotaph; the school choir sang The Recessional, it was very moving. Both Rhonda and Max Brennan (a National serviceman we supplied a uniform to) were honoured to be asked to stand as guards of honors at the Cenotaph. After the ceremony an old gentleman in a walking frame came up for a chat. He said that he could remember when the Waratahs came though Berry, he was six years old at that time. Another lady could remember her father having Walers. Everyone seemed to know the two horses were Walers and they could not give them enough praise and could not thank us enough for coming down, they really looked after us. We do this free of charge and it was good to be appreciated. They want us to go back down early next year. Saturday 10^th Dec Wollongong 10.30am we led the parade down Market street to the cenotaph only the Waratah banner was in front of us Mark Edwell and David Howell in WW1 kit carried the banner we have worked together on a number of parades and it always looks great. The parade had all three of the cadet Units Army, Navy & Air force, Vietnam vets, National servicemen, RSL sub branches and descendents of the original Waratahs all took part in the march along with two bands. There was the normal amount of Dignitaries for the pomp and Ceremony. Afterwards a Lady came over and said these would have to be Walers. She said she had Stock horses they look the same except the Walers are heavier when she found out Dusty was only three and a half she couldn’t get over how laid back he was for a youngster “no surprise’s there”. The son of one of original Waratahs just had to have a photo with the two horses. Both his son and grandson were also there. His father joined the march at Port Kembla on Monday, Dec 6.1915. Out of the 120 men who joined the Waratah March 30 of them were KIA and a lot more wounded. As Leader of the Troop I would like to thank all our members and support crew who make this possible especially our chief strapper Jane Candy who we can’t do this without her.

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