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ABC News
23-04-2025
- General
- ABC News
Horse riders travel 750km in the saddle to honour WWI mounted soldiers
Two men dressed as World War I soldiers have brought a piece of history on horseback to a tiny public school of 14 students. In full Light Horse uniform, riders Pat Leary and Ross Smith trotted up to the schoolyard at Gerogery Public School, on the NSW–Victoria border, capturing the attention of every student. The pair, who are members of the re-enactment group the Australian Light Horse Society, stopped in as part of a 750-kilometre commemorative ride through northern Victoria and southern New South Wales. An Australian Light Horse trooper in Egypt 1915. ( Supplied: Australian War Memorial ) The long-distance tour is part of an effort to honour and raise awareness of the Australian Light Horse. The mounted infantry soldiers were renowned for their bravery in the desert battlefields of Egypt and the Middle East during World War I, from 1914 to 1919. "This is not about glorifying war, this is about remembering the sacrifices that the guys made 100 years ago," Mr Leary said. With just 14 students, Gerogery Public School does not often get visitors such as Mr Leary and Mr Smith. Primary school teacher Madeline Curnow said the experience had added a new dimension to lessons. "They really take that moment in and really enjoy that hands-on experience of learning," she said. "Being a rural school, sometimes you miss these opportunities because we often have to travel and there are costs involved, or students might not be able to attend excursions that are away from school," she said. Madeline Curnow says the visit was a treat for students. ( ABC News: Ralph Seria ) School student Hilton Hill prepared for the visit by reading books about the Light Horse. "It was really cool to see because you've read about them and you've researched them and you finally get to see them," he said. After hearing tales of the soldiers, the children fed the horses some carrots before heading back to the classroom. "They won't remember my name, but they'll remember the day the Light Horse came to their little school … and that means that legacy doesn't die," Mr Leary said. The horses are often treated to carrots during school visits. ( ABC News: Ralph Seria ) Six weeks in the saddle Mr Leary spent six weeks in the saddle meeting with veterans and community groups in 33 towns during his journey along the Chauvel Border Light Horse Trail. A visit to the Devenish art silos. ( Supplied Facebook ) At the Devenish silo art. Supplied: Facebook At the Light Horse statue in Wagga Wagga. ( Supplied: Facebook ) The Light Horse statue in Wagga Wagga. Supplied: Facebook The riders process through Wagga Wagga. ( Supplied: Facebook ) The riders arrive in Wagga Wagga. Supplied: Facebook Ross Smith and Pat Leary at the Bill the Bastard statue at Harden. ( Supplied: Facebook ) The 'Bill the Bastard' statue at Harden. Supplied: Facebook The members of the Chauvel Anniversary Light Horse Memorial Ride 2025 in Muttama. ( Supplied: Facebook ) The riders at Muttama, near Cootamundra. Supplied: Facebook With the residents at Blakeney Lodge in Tumut. ( Supplied: Facebook ) With residents at Blakeney Lodge, Tumut. Supplied: Facebook The trail runs from Shepparton in northern Victoria, through southern New South Wales to Harden, then back to Tallangatta, linking statues, monuments, and artworks. "They're magnificent statues and they've all got a story, but they didn't seem to be getting the recognition they needed or deserved," Mr Leary said. His ride aimed to encourage people to visit landmarks and raise awareness of the Light Horse. While some might be daunted by such a long journey, Mr Leary is an endurance rider who has twice conquered the prestigious Tom Quilty Gold Cup, where competitors ride 160 kilometres in one day. "You've got to well and truly pace yourself," he said. "Try and work out a distance between each town and keep your horse physically and mentally sound, but also keep ticking over the miles." Ross Smith and Pat Leary have spent some long days in the saddle. ( ABC News: Emily Doak ) Mr Leary said he was often asked about the condition of his buttocks on the six-week journey. "It's been better, I've got a few band aids placed all over my backside and my legs but they'll get better," he said. "I'm sure those guys 100 years ago had plenty of rub marks too." Mr Leary said he was also grateful for the support of other riders who joined him for parts of the journey and the support crew who cared for the horses. "They're not following me, they're following the uniform, the pride of what is the Light Horse," he said. Watch this story on ABC TV's Landline at 12:30pm on Sunday, or on iview.
CBC
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
RV industry hopes for more Canadian road trippers amid tariff uncertainty
Canadian RV dealers say they are concerned about the threat of tariffs on their industry, but are cautiously optimistic that travellers may have a renewed interest in exploring Canada in a recreational vehicle. The vast majority of RVs in Canada are produced in the U.S., mostly in and around Elkhart, Ind. So far, the vehicles have been spared from the United States's 25 per cent auto tariffs and Canada's equivalent retaliatory ones, says Shane Devenish, the president of the Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association. But, he says, dealers have been stockpiling units just in case. "[We've] certainly got our fingers crossed that we won't be hit.… It would tremendously affect our industry with these tariffs, if they come on," Devenish told Shelley Joyce, host of CBC's Daybreak Kamloops. Devenish says he wishes more RVs were manufactured in Canada, but the answer is not that simple. "It's a competitive advantage that the U.S. has," he said. "Elkhart is what's called the RV capital of the world. They have a workforce, they have a supply chain. They have the manufacturers right within about a 150-mile radius." Allison Blouin of Fraserway RV in Kamloops, B.C., agrees that the future is unclear. She notes that RVs in the U.S. and Canada use Canadian lumber and some Canadian steel, meaning U.S. manufacturers could be impacted too. "I don't know exactly where the price points will end up," she said. Blouin adds that there is optimism in the industry as they've seen a rise in interest from Canadians looking to travel within their own country amid a trade war. "The RV industry, I think, is going to be a beneficiary of that," she said. "Our backyard is massive. We are anticipating people wanting to spend their money at home and wanting to support local communities, local businesses." Blouin says her company, which also rents RVs, is doing a lot of business with travellers from Europe and the U.S. Devenish says he's hearing from Canadian RV owners who are looking to travel further afield in Canada. "I was at a Moncton [N.B.] RV show a couple weeks ago and more people were talking to me about taking those longer trips that they haven't taken in the past," he said. "People want to enjoy Canada and take the RVs right across the country." WATCH | Why it's the best time to stay local for your trips: How tariff turmoil could make 2025 the best year to get out with an RV and explore Canada 3 days ago Duration 1:49 Kamloops RV dweller to skip U.S. There has been an uptick in Canadians choosing to stay local for their vacations in recent months. Karl Willms, 80, is a Kamloops artist who's travelled the world with his wife and sketchbook — but he's never taken a road trip across Canada before. That's now something the graphic novelist and sketch artist plans to do, instead of his usual trip involving six months in Mexico after a circuitous trip of the southwest U.S. "We're just planning to go across Canada, because of the situation down south, we decided to patronize our own country," he said. Willlms says he plans to stay as far south in Canada as he can with his RV, nicknamed "White Fang." "If it's gravel roads that's fine," the artist said. "I'm very interested in small town Canada. "The Prairie towns I love are towns with a Main Street, a Chinese restaurant, bank and pharmacy, you know, basically. And there's still lots of those towns around."
