June 3, 2009
Outback characters are one of the special experiences visitors to the outback can encounter. Their colourful tales of a life filled with what they consider every day events leaves many of us living in today’s world amazed and enchanted.This is Kenny Read, he’s 73 and lives just outside Charleville. Kenny packed his swag, hitched his two wheel cart with his faithful horse and left his home in Forbes New South Wales at 13 years old. He made his way north working as a drover, horse breaker, station hand and any other job that came his way. He fathered 8 children, never married, bought some of them up by himself on the river bank. He drove 32,000 sheep from northern Queensland to near Sydney and wielded the whip driving this 5 horse Cobb & Co Coach.
A highlight for me was Kenny inviting me to his home and to see his shed – a pride in any Aussie boy’s life. Kenny’s shed is packed inside and out with his lifelong collection including 7 horse drawn vehicles.
A meeting such as this with Kenny is one of the experiences when I come into Queensland’s outback I treasure.
We salute our outback characters, those ordinary men and women doing extraordinary things very day of their lives.
