A history lesson with a difference

It is a case of mission accomplished for Rob Fairchild on the back of the four day Cobb & Co Mail Run he recreated to mark 100 years since the last run on the regular route between Yuleba and Surat in Queensland.

Rob, who runs Rob’s Carriages, put together the four day tour with his replica Cobb & Co coach to mark the centenary, visiting five primary schools as he embarks on the trip from Mil Lel to Penola to mark the 1924 milestone.

For Rob, it was a personal challenge given his strong connection and passion for horse drawn history, as well as a chance to share a slice of history with a new generation.

He had six to eight other horse loving companions each day of the trek and the time at the schools with the engagement with the kids made it all worthwhile.

“We had a great variety of questions from the kids but they were all fascinated in how long it used to take to get anywhere – they found it hard to understand how they can get to Adelaide in four hours and with the coach it was a four to five day trip,” Rob said.

“One of the highlights was the opportunity at the small schools to be able to take the kids for a ride around the oval.”

He believed having such a tactile, face-to-face experience helped reinforce the history lesson Rob and his team were sharing, including the delivering of mail to the Penola Post Office.

This weekend Rob has a booking for a 96 year old’s birthday, with a visit to the Jeparit Museum in Gippsland on the calendar for June and even a booking for an maritime Museum event at Port MacDonnell next year.

The Centenary Mail Run was made possible through the generous support of major sponsor Plantation Treated Timber Pty Ltd at Kalangadoo, Harfulls Chaff, The Produce Store, The Tack Room, T & S Kriegers Rural Store and the staff at E E Muirs, Penola.

PHOTO BY CHRISTY RADFORD