Horse to rock in remembrance

TERRY Clark has loved rocking horses since he rode one as a child.

In the 90s, the woodworker crafted one for his grandchildren. More than 20 years on, he’s built another for a special reason.

Mr Clark sourced a poplar tree cut down during one of the Ballarat Avenue of Honour’s restoration periods and has shaped the wood into a rocking horse in memory of the serviceperson recognised at tree 725.

That man, Corporal Dugald Leslie Walshe, served in the First World War in the 7 Infantry Battalion. He was a coach-painter from Ballarat East, and is the great, great grandfather of Mr Clark’s daughter.

“The rocking horse itself, named Dugald is finished and vanished,” Mr Clark said.

“I’m yet to make the stand and the leatherwork, but I’ve cut one of the suckers off tree 725, and I will mount it within the stand as a piece of Dugald’s tree.

“I’m going to brand the back of the horse with 725, and a crocheted poppy from Canberra’s World War One 100th anniversary celebrations will go around its neck.”

Mr Clark hopes the piece will become a family heirloom for his grandchildren to pass down the line.

Arch of Victory – Avenue of Honour Committee president, Garry Snowden said the horse will spark curiosity.

“It will sow a seed in the minds of people and they will think, ‘sometime, I will go to that Avenue in Ballarat and have a look at that tree’,” he said.

“Whenever you see families engaging with the Avenue, it’s a reminder that this memorial is still so important today.

“These people served 100 years ago, but there are people across the country that are still having close, emotional family connections to the trees and plaques.”