THE BOY WITH A DREAM

After the official, somewhat disruptive ribbon opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge by Premier Jack Lang on the 19th March 1932 there followed a pageant; a colourful parade of numerous extravagantly decorated horse and vehicular floats along with many groups of proud marchers representing their various achievements.  Among them, ahead of a small group of Aborigines daubed with white paint rode a young boy on a pony.  Who was this boy and how come he was riding in this spectacular procession?

Nine year old farmer’s boy Charles James Leonard Gwyther, known as Lennie, had ridden his pony ‘Ginger Mick’ 600 miles [725 kilometres] from Leongatha in the Gippsland region of South eastern Victoria to see for himself this wondrous bridge, that had taken the best part of eight years to build.  Lennie was enthralled by constructions.  Back home, newspaper photographs and newsreels had kept him informed of the bridge’s progress and its amazing two arches that began to reach high into the sky to be eventually linked together.  In Lennie’s mind, how could this possibly be done? An engineering marvel!

Lennie’s father, Leo Tennyson Gwyther was a veteran from the battlefields of World War 1; injured and traumatized by his trench experiences but decorated by King George V with the Military Cross and Bar for bravery.  He returned to Leongatha to the family farm but during the winter of 1931 fell and broke his leg and while recovering, Lennie, the eldest of four children took over his father’s farm duties.  Along with his mother he ploughed and cultivated the land for crops of potatoes and onions. He also milked cows for the dairy factory.  His father, amazed by what his young son had achieved offered him an award and Lennie, in spite of his young years asked permission to ride his best friend ‘Ginger Mick’ to Sydney.  After initial hesitations his parents allowed him to go, reassured that along the way he would be offered accommodation where necessary.  By the time he reached Sydney 33 days later Lennie and his pony were famous.  During his ride newspapers had reported his journey.  Arriving in Canberra he was invited to meet the politicians for afternoon tea in Parliament House then spent the weekend with the boys at Canberra Grammar School.  Then, on arrival in Sydney’s Martin Place a cordon of police had to protect him and his pony from a crowd anxious to see this brave boy.

During his time in Sydney Lennie stayed with family connections in the suburb of Campsie.  His second award was the invitation to join the procession across the bridge.  One can only imagine what would have gone on in this nine year old shy boy’s mind that day.

Mary Small