An Olympic hero lives amongst us and should never be forgotten.
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One of Australia’s greatest equestrians, Neale Lavis, spent most of his life in the Bodalla area.
Neale was born in Murwillumbah in 1930, and as a young lad, his love of horses grew from being double-dinked home on his father’s pony.
His love for the Australian bush and for horses grew as he helped mark calves in the rough and rugged bush around Belowra at the back of Bodalla on his pony Trixie.
Neale puts down his great ability to balance on a horse to those early days of riding bareback in the bush, a great introduction to cross country and three-day eventing.
He had no fear when galloping through the bush, jumping over creeks and fallen logs.
In 1955, Neale bought a horse called Benelong, who in 1956, he entered in the 12 stone novice hunt in Sydney.
Benelong won and this event convinced Neale that he wanted to participate in eventing.
Benelong won the first three day eventing competition ever held in Australia In 1957.
Neale competed in many one day events and then began a hunt for a horse to take Benelong's place, a more 'robust' horse.
After searching for some time, on the last day, he found a horse in Cooma that he knew would be just right.
This beautiful big brown horse was ‘Mirrabooka’.
Neale describes him as, “a kind horse, easy to train, and with fine breeding.”
During 1957-58 and 59, Neale and Mirrabooka trained together, and in 1960 they made it to the Australian Olympic team.
The team was coached by Franz Mairinger from the Spanish Riding School and Neale speaks very highly of his ability to meld a horse into just what is needed for the Olympics.
The locals got right behind Neale in his quest for Olympic gold.
The Moruya Pony Club raised money for him to buy a saddle when he arrived in England to train. He bought a Pariani saddle from Italy and when it wore out, bought another one, “they are so good!” he said.
The Bodalla community, so proud of its local hero, put on a large farewell in the local hall and virtually every person from the Bodalla area was there that night.
The team of four riders and one reserve, left for England.
While there, they participated in several events.
The 'Brits' did not expect much from the 'colonials' in badminton but to their surprise the Australians took out first, second, fourth, ninth and 11th placings.
It was reported in 'Horse and Hound', that “ the Australians had a lucky run with their little ponies”. This still brings a smile to Neale’s face.
At Great Aukland, in the International Combined One Day Event, Mirrabooka took out first and the judge predicted that he would go well at the Olympics.
As luck would have it and this is what I believe makes this story so incredible, five weeks before the Olympics, Mirrabooka came out of his stable in the morning, lame in the back leg. You can imagine how upset Neale must have been but he continued to train on his stand by horse Adeli.
As the time arrived to choose which horse he would ride, Neale chose Mirrabooka as he was a horse who never stopped, he just kept going no matter what.
During the dressage event, Mirrabooka did not compete as well as Neale hoped, due to stiffness through lack of work after being lame. However, the cross country event was a different story!
Bill Roycroft had taken a bad fall at the pipe jump which was extremely dangerous and was taken off to hospital in the helicopter, this placed the team in jeopardy and meant that Neale and Mirrabooka would have to do a clear run if the team was to have any chance.
Mirrabooka jumped a clear round and placed the team in a wonderful position.
The cross country track was so dangerous that after the trot up on the morning of the show jumping on the final day, only 38 horses remained from the 78 who started.
Mirrabooka performed a clear run in the show jumping, as did Our Solo with Laurie Morgan having only one fence down and this set the team up for gold!
Neale won an individual silver medal as well.
Neale says his proudest moment was standing on the dais, receiving his medal and watching the Australian flag flying in the wind, knowing that he had helped achieve gold for the folk at home who had supported him.
On his return home to Bodalla, Neale put on a demonstration of dressage to a proud community.
Mirrabooka danced across the oval, and everyone was. proud of ‘their’ Neale!
Neale says his proudest moment was standing on the dais, receiving his medal and watching the Australian flag flying in the wind, knowing that he had helped achieve gold for the folk at home who had supported him.
Neale also represented Australia at the 1964 Olympics in Japan.
He had further success following the Olympics, breeding and training race horses in Braidwood.
His first stallion, ‘Whiskey Road,’ sired Melbourne Cup 1981 winner, ‘Just A Dash', and also ‘Strawberry Road’, winner of the Cox Plate, the Derby and several events internationally.
He puts his success down to riding fearlessly through the great Australian bush.
There is a lane in Moruya named for Mirrabooka, which is Aboriginal for ‘Southern Cross’, so next time you drive through Moruya look for it; it runs off Vulcan Street just on the corner of The Air Raid Hotel.
This dear horse is buried at the property Strathallan in Braidwood where Neale and Velma's son Ross and his family live.
If you want to watch a wonderful video by the National Museum of Australia go to http://www.nma.gov.au/online_features/australian_bush_horses_and_riders/neale_lavis
You won’t be disappointed!