HARDY OLD BUSHMAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 22 April 1941, Page 6

HARDY OLD BUSHMAN

1400-MILE CAMEL RIDE VISIT TO THE SYDNEY SHOW Sydney, Apl. 9. After a 1400-mile camel ride, from the Northern Territory, an 86-year-old stockman is in Sydney for the Easter Show. He is Mr Dick Wilton Halgh, who has 3000 Shorthorns grazing on Crown land 100 miles from Alice Springs. With a companion, Mr J. Cummins, he took 15 days to make the trip, travelling through Queensland until he struck the north-west river system of New South Wales. He showed no signs of fatigue and after parking his camels on the outskirts of Sydney came to the city to see his first picture show. Mr Halgh lives on damper and meat at home. He has not tasted fish since he was in Sydney last, 35 years ago. “I am eating nothing but fish while I am in Sydney,” he said. “Once a year we go to Adelaide for stores, and we always bring back a two-gallon keg of rum That is for the medicine chest.”

Born in Sussex in 1855, he was three years old when he came to Australia in a windjammer. He made some money goldmining, and took up cattle-raising. “My place is called Struggles, and it has been a long struggle.” he said. “My wife died 40 years ago from shock, after we were burned out one night. Our only child died with her.” Mr Halgh’s grandfather, a military man, came out with Governor Macquarie. He supervised convicts who built roads in the Blue Mountains.