Lennie and Ginger Mick

I have discovered a great little story about a wonderful Australian who is not well known and I  am hoping you will enjoy reading about him.

 Although it was from a different time in our history when life was very difficult and children were given more responsibility, it shows the strength and courage and determination of one little boy and his pony.





It’s 1932 and Australia is in the grip of the Great Depression. One in three workers are unemployed. Decrepit shanty towns hug the outskirts of the big cities. A scrawny rabbit caught in a trap will feed a family for a week. Country roads are filled with broken men walking from one farmhouse to another seeking menial jobs and food. On the outskirts of the South Gippsland town of Leongatha, an injured farmer lies in bed unable to walk – or work. World War I hero Captain Leo Tennyson Gwyther is in hospital with a broken leg and the family farm is in danger of falling into ruins. Up steps his son, nine-year-old Lennie. With the help of his pony Ginger Mick, Lennie ploughs the farm’s 24 paddocks and keeps the place running until his father can get back on his feet. How to reward him? Lennie has been obsessively following one of the biggest engineering feats of the era – the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. He wants to attend its opening. With great reluctance, his parents agree he can go. So Lennie saddles up Ginger Mick, packs a toothbrush, pyjamas, spare clothes and a water bottle into a sack, and begins the 1000+ kilometer (600+ miles) trek to Sydney. Alone. That’s right.
A nine year old boy riding a pony from the deep south of Victoria to the biggest and roughest city in the nation. Told you it was a different era. No social media. No mobile phones. But even then it doesn’t take long before word begins to spread about a boy, his horse and their epic trek. The entire populations of small country towns gather on their outskirts to welcome his arrival. He survives bushfires, is attacked by a “vagabond” and endures rain and cold, biting winds. When he reaches Canberra he is welcomed by Prime Minister Joseph Lyons, who invites him into Parliament House for tea. When he finally arrives in Sydney, more than 10,000 people line the streets to greet him. He is besieged by autograph hunters. He becomes a key part of the official parade at the bridge’s opening. He and Ginger Mick are invited to make a starring appearance at the Royal Show. Even Donald Bradman, the biggest celebrity of the Depression era, requests a meeting and gives him a signed cricket bat. A letter writer to The Sydney Morning Herald at the time gushes that “just such an example as provided by a child of nine summers, Lennie Gwyther was, and is, needed to raise the spirit of our people and to fire our youth and others to do things – not to talk only.

 “The sturdy pioneer spirit is not dead … let it be remembered that this little lad, when his father was in hospital, cultivated the farm – a mere child.” When Lennie leaves Sydney for home a month later, he has become one of the most famous figures in a country craving uplifting news. Large crowds wave handkerchiefs. Women weep and shout “goodbye”. According to The Sun newspaper, “Lennie, being a casual Australian, swung into the saddle and called ‘Toodleloo!’”. He finally arrives home to a tumultuous reaction in Leongatha. He returns to school and soon life for Lennie – and the country – returns to normal. These days you can find a bronze statue in Leongatha commemorating Lennie and Ginger Mick.

Lennie and Ginger Mick before leaving for Sydney

But Australia has largely forgotten his remarkable feat – and how he inspired a struggling nation. Never taught about him in school? Never heard of him before?

Spread the word. We need to remember – and celebrate – Lennie Gwyther and his courageous journey. It's a great story. God knows we need these stories now, more than ever.

Lennie and Ginger Mick at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Statue of Lennie and Ginger Mick

Front Inscription

Lennie Gwyther & his pony Ginger Mick

On the morning of 3rd February, 1932, at the tender age of nine, Lennie Gwyther set out on his beloved pony Ginger Mick from his home farm "Flers" just south of Leongatha to ride 1000 kms to Sydney to be present at the opening of the newly constructed Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Neither weather nor bushfires dampened Lens resolution to be present at the opening ceremony of the Bridge (then the longest single span bridge in the world.)

Lennie`s parents, Capt. Leo and Clare Gwyther, had allowed Lennie to make this monumental journey as a reward for his work running the family farm for some months when Leo was incapacitated due to a major work accident.

Lennie carried a letter from the Wooryal Shire President to the Lord Mayor of Sydney.  When passing through Canberra Prime Minister Joseph Lyons, himself a Tasmanian farmer, shook Lennie`s hand and wished him well.   News of the boy and pony preceded them until all Australia could read of their progress.  Even the London Times recorded the determination of Lennie to follow his dream.

Stirred by the courage of the young boy from South Gisspland people were moved to come to roadsides to wave and wish hin `Godspeed`.  Honoured by an invitation to partake in the official opening parade, Len must have wondered why all the fuss, being a quiet retiring youngster.

The Gwyther family sincerely thank the people of Leongatha District, assisted by the Leongatha Chamber of Commerce and many other local groups for this tribute to one of their own.

This statue was proudly unveiled by members of the Gwyther family on 14th October 2017.

Source: MA