ON THE WALLABY- 19th February 2007

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is hard business. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.": Rudyard Kipling - (1865-1936)

COBB & CO (REPLICA) RIDES AGAIN – IN AID OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

It was with great joy that I received an email from my former brother in law and top bloke, Geoff Chamberlain, of Holbrook NSW in which he told me of his and Chris O’Kane’s (a Wagga Wagga based journalist and a former member, like Geoffrey, of our Fountain & Co horse sales team) plans to build a replica Cobb & Co coach and head “up the road” to raise funds for breast cancer awareness in October this year.

“Up the road” will extend from Wagga Wagga on the Murrumbidgee River to Echuca on the “mighty Murray” River so there will be many opportunities to see this great venture that will replicate one of the truly great stories of Australian enterprise and get up and go.

The Cobb & Co coaching era represents a time in Australian history of huge challenges and extreme conditions as well as invoking romantic recollections. The fact remains that it was a short-lived challenge for the many operators including Mr. Freeman Cobb and his partners.

It wasn’t all that many years before horses were replaced by motorised transport including rail - and the Murray Darling system of riverboats in NSW, Victoria and into SA. During Cobb & Co’s height they were harnessing up 6000 horses per day with a pool of 30,000 at their many changing stations which were every 10 –12 miles – kept a lot of people in employment.

Most coach services in NSW had ceased by 1897 having begun in the Victorian goldfields in 1853.Cobb & Co had developed to become the successful company of its kind in the 19th Century – pioneering transport routes, delivering mail, gold and passengers – contributing greatly to the social growth and expansion of pastoral settlement.

The last Cobb & Co to finish a regular route was in 1924 in Queensland. Some were brought out again during the odd emergency or simply for the sake of nostalgia – the 1950’s saw some of the old drivers get together for reunions and enjoying a day out on their beloved coaches.

As time went on the appearance of the coaches became less and less and those that were not left to the elements ended up in museums or private collections. In the late 60’s a resurgence of interest began an at least one replica Cobb coach was built and used for charitable purposes travelling some three thousand kilometres from Qld to the NSW/Vic border.

Over the years other replicas and facsimiles have been built for various purposes and credit should be paid to the builders’ diligence in recreating these coaches. Now a partnership of three like-minded souls have got together and built one more – perhaps a little different in approach but never the less sympathetic in their interpretation of design and usability.

The Coach Project Partnership formed when enjoying an open fire and refreshments in the bush beyond Tumbarrumba during Easter 2006. The question was never “Why should we build a Cobb Coach” but “Why not”?

The Coach Project was on the way and with a little deliberation it was unanimous that it be built for function and durability – steel was the answer without the shadow of a doubt! From the wheels up this Cobb Coach is of steel/metal fabrication.

The original design and plans are from scale drawings of an original Cobb Coach built at Hay in the late 1800’s and given to one of the Coach Project Partners by retired coach builder Mr. Lindsay Collins, a former artisan at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat. The drawings were scaled down marginally and adapted to better suit steel fabrication methodology.

All measurements were recalculated to metric for a start! Steel Supplies at Wagga Wagga supplied all the steel for the fabrication and for that we are more than grateful.

The fun of building then began in earnest and after many long months, sometimes with due amounts of frustration, the Coach is ready for horses. Full credit must go to tireless and diligent efforts of all involved but none so much as Shane Mullins whose welding and engineering skills are unsurpassed.

As Geoffrey wrote, horses, harness and equipment are being put together for the months ahead of training and adjusting in readiness for the long treck from Echuca to Wilcannia along the Cobb Highway.

This is being undertaken with the support of the Long Paddock Committee, an organization formed between the shires of Murray, Deniliquin, Conargo, Hay and Central Darling to promote the Cobb Highway in a joint initiative with the Federal Government.

After discussions with the NSW Cancer Council, it has been agreed that the trip will be a major fund-raising effort to aid breast cancer research.

Their trip coincides with National Breast Cancer Awareness month (October) and they are still seeking a major sponsor to help with a designated trailer and fuel costs for the support truck. Travelling from Wagga Wagga to Echuca they will commence the 610klm journey on Monday 1st October 2007.

If you’d like to be involved, call Geoffrey at Holbrook on 02 60 363 482 or his mobile 0418 437022. His postal address is 50 Wallace Street Holbrook and his email addy is geoffchamberlain@bigpond.com. A song called the “Cobb & Co Coach” is to be released just prior to the trip.

As you know I am a real history buff and passionate about Australian history especially so this has come as really exciting news. What an opportunity for children (of all ages from 3 to 80) to see a magnificent coach bowling down the road, just like “in the olden days”.

Congratulations Geoffrey and Chris – I dips me lid to you both! Hopefully we can bring you some photos of the coach and team prior to departure and along the route.

Carpe diem

Tony

Tony Fountain

Professional Speaker, auctioneer and author

Sydney NSW Australia

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