BRUMBIES

So now for some work that I have long wanted to start… this is the real story of the Snowy Mountains brumbies.

The story of the brumbies in the Snowy Mountains region is a heroic one, turned into indelible legend by the journalist and poet ‘Banjo’ Patterson. When the ‘Banjo’ penned the words of ‘The Man From Snowy River’ he probably had no idea how intrinsically he defined the Australian identity. The courage, respect and understanding of man, beast and the environment were all touched on and it was no surprise, that at the Sydney 2000 Olympics (so called ‘The best Olympics ever’) the very first image the world saw of Australia was a single horseman riding across the arena accompanied by the music from the film ‘The Man From Snowy River’…

I was at those Sydney Olympics working at the Olympic News Service and I was lucky enough to witness the Australian Equestrian Eventing Team win its third gold medal in a row and the first Australian gold medal of the games. It was a remarkable achievement and when the team rode its victory lap, the music they played… of course… The Man from Snowy River.

That day I saw hardened old journalists, quietly shed a tear in front of the podium… it remains one of the great moments of my life…

The rider featured in this shot is a young man named AJ Symons and is as truly a Snowy Mountains Man as the myth. With a seat like glue…he could sit on any horse that was doing anything or going anywhere…AJ comes from a line of stockmen who have long rounded up cattle and horses in terrain that would give most people vertigo.

The shot was taken, a mere 15kms from the banks of the Snowy River  at the Snowy Wilderness, a brumby sanctuary and eco resort where its possible to ride alongside the famed Snowy Mountains Brumby. While there is much debate about the fate of brumbies in Kosciusko National Park, there is no doubt what young AJ feels for them.

You can tell from his consoling pats on the neck to his erstwhile mount Pearl. ‘There’s a good girl… there’s a good girl’…