Event chronicler gave her all 

Former Lockwood South and Strathfieldsaye resident, the late Marion McKinnon (1938-2026), has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to community history.

For many years McKinnon was actively involved with the Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout – an annual competition held at the Royal Melbourne Show since 1934 and one of the most prestigious equestrienne meetings in Australia.

She authored two books about the event – Violet Murrell and Garryowen; Their Story (2001) and The Garryowen Tradition 2001 to 2014 (2015).

For these efforts she was awarded the presidents medal by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria in 2015 and was simultaneously inducted into the Garryowen Hall of Fame.

Named in her honour, the McKinnon Medal is now bestowed upon the best-placed exhibitor aged 45 years and over at the yearly turnout.

Her son Stuart McKinnon said Marion had always been engaged with horses.

“She’d been involved in doing dressage and she started the first pony club up in Robinvale, where we grew up,” he said.

“She was well known for that in the area.”

He said following an accident with a horse and cart, Garryowen became her passion.

“It was her way to fill in time rather than go on a world cruise,” he said.

“She wanted something to keep her involved so she went down each year to document the event, with my father Don taking the photos.”

McKinnon said that as there was very little history about the turnout at the time, his mother was named the official historian of the event and the family has kept “all of the research” and details.

“She was instrumental in getting the Newcomer’s Award going as well,” he continued.

“Her association with Garryowen was more about her love for the horses – she stayed very involved, but not in a pushy way.”

McKinnon said his mother, having been raised on a farm, was a very determined person.

“Whenever she decided she wanted to do something, she would do it,” he said.

“It’s just a pity that this recognition has come after she passed away.”