Albany visit broadens Ross Smith’s perspective on continued drive to tell the story of Australia’s warhorses

The man behind a continued drive to spread the word about the contribution of Australia’s warhorses has said his first visit to Albany helped him “get a broader perspective”. Ross Smith was “like a dog with a bone” in his successful effort to have a sculpted tribute to the only Australian horse to return from WWI, Sandy, in his hometown of Tallangatta. Albany residents Sue Buckingham and Carmen Bairstow were among the crowd of thousands that attended the statue’s unveiling in May. Ms Bairstow participated in a parade of more than 200 horses for the opening, and Ms Buckingham had helped with research for the project through her involvement with the Albany War Cabinet group. Mr Smith said Ms Buckingham had insisted he come across to Albany. This week she took him to John and Kathryn Shapland Recollection of War Museum, through the National Anzac Centre and to the Desert Corps Memorial. He said he spent two hours at the NAC without getting out of the first chamber because there was so much to see — “it’s an absolute credit” — and that seeing Sandy’s hoof on display was “mind-blowing”. “I didn’t really see that up in Canberra (at the Australian War Memorial) because he’s not up on display there at the moment and there’s nothing major, just a bridle and a couple of photos,” he said. “Seeing that hoof. . . I couldn’t help but sit there and fuss over it and get photos of it.” He said the Desert Corps Memorial was “absolute magic”. “It just depicts the light horses through and through,” he said. Mr Smith started campaigning to have a statue paying tribute to Sandy in Tallangatta through his involvement in a horse group over a decade ago. He said his drive to spread the word about the involvement of horses in Australia’s war efforts has not finished and that he wants Sandy’s story told in a movie.