A hearty congratulations must go to all on what was accomplished despite it being in the middle of our region's annual show season and without the need for any "sideshow alley" type entertainment distracting from the authenticity of the day; that being a time for us to show our admiration of the gentle giants of yesteryear, the Clydesdale, or heavy horse as it was known, and to those who continue to breed them in admiration for what they achieved.

Almost every demonstration on both days centred around these magnificent animals and all were history lessons within themselves from ground-driven harvesters, hay binders and rakes to a horse-driven chaff cutter and grain grister.

For the young and not so young, the dairy took a hands on approach from milking the cow to sampling the milk, then on to separating the cream and making butter. This was all done under the watchful eye of Alan Wallett who, in his usual entertaining way, told the kids the front two teats produced strawberry milk while the back two produced chocolate milk; whether they comprehended his wit will be unknown.

The animal nursery was well patronised with the animals smothered with kindness, while the great many stall holders continued to sell quality treasured souvenirs and merchandise until nightfall.

However, there is a more serious side to this letter in the recognition of the important part this gentle giant, the draught horse, has played throughout our past hisotry.

Many arduous hours of toil were performed by this loyal animal, for, in some cases, little more than its keep and ending in a not so dignified retirement, if indeed there was one at all.

To the south of Barellan, the entire Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area's main canal from Narrandera to Griffith was excavated entirely through the efforts of these horses and to the north, thousands upon thousands of acres of mallee scrub was rolled and ripped under very dangerous conditions to both man and beast alike.

To my way of thinking, these animals have been dealt a savage blow throughout our history as after clearing many thousands of acres of land and performing every task asked of them, along came mechanisation; and what happened to the old draught horse? Ask the knackery!

May I suggest to the hard-working committee of Barellan that they may give consideration to the erection of a life-size statue of the wonderful Clydesdale stranding proudly along the highway alongside Yvonne Goolagong's big tennis racquet?

This could serve as both a memorial and a tourist attraction to the area.

Colin Pike

Leeton