Emma Pritchard
Together, they left Australia’s shores, bound for foreign lands and a deadly conflict which would test and strengthen their mateship, resilience, and endurance, and create a legacy which will never be forgotten.
More than 100 years later, a reflective crowd respectfully came together in Copmanhurst on October 26, for the Dedication of the Light Horse and Rider Statue, mounted between the local cenotaph and the Copmanhurst and District War Memorial Hall as a permanent tribute to the thousands of men and their beloved horses who proudly and selflessly served their country and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Funded by the Grafton RSL Sub-branch and its Copmanhurst Chapter, the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), and the community of Copmanhurst, including many locals who participated in a commemorative ride from the rural village to Grafton in 2015, reenacting the steps and hoofprints taken by their ancestors along with renowned historical figure Lieutenant-General Sir Henry (Harry) Chauvel of Tabulam and their trusted steeds as they departed their homeland and headed overseas to heed the call of World War I (WWI), the majestic bronze statue expertly created by Townsville designer and sculptor Gary Grant drew plenty of admiration from those in attendance as it gleamed in the sunshine, while many subtly dabbed at their eyes as the emotion of the occasion overwhelmed them.
As President of the Grafton RSL Sub-Branch Leith Basset graciously acknowledged the crowd including visiting dignitaries and representatives of Clarence Valley Council (CVC), he also extended a special thank you to Brian Bultitude, Robert Page, Tony White, and Ted Brown, for their kind assistance during the planning and establishment of the monument, which he described as a beautiful way to immortalise an Australian legend and legacy.
After Chaplain Kevin Booth stepped forward to recite the Prayer for Remembrance and The Prayer for Peace, he respectfully lowered sprigs of rosemary into a bowl of holy water and commenced the official dedication of the statue before Mr Bultitude was invited to unveil a memorial plaque on the base of the monument.
Guests were then invited to stand and face the west while the bugler played Lament, and several riders astride their mounts, proudly representing the Australian Light Horsemen, dutifully bowed their heads.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Mr Basset invited guests to follow the eyesight of the rider proudly captured in the statue “and go straight the pub.”
Riders representing the Australian Light Horsemen proudly stood alongside the monument following its dedication. Image: Emma Pritchard