Kerrie Stewart and Stella Dowell at ANZAC Day at Jugiong.

Luke Dowell passed away in a tragic crash in September 2017, leaving partner Kerrie Stewart and his young twins behind. It shocked not only the Gundagai community from which he hails, but the wider district and the Light horse fraternity of which he was such an integral part of. His memory has continued to live on in the hearts and minds of his friends and family and he has now been depicted in a mural alongside other imagery depicting the Lighthorsemen.

The WA Mural which depicts Luke.

His widow Kerrie Stewart was unaware that Luke’s image was being used in the mural, but not surprised when it occurred. She said. “They obviously looked at images that they wanted to use and I think he was always really good at portraying that image of being a Lighthorsemen and what it looked like. He was so passionate about the Light horse and what it represented. We found out through another Light horse member from WA and they had seen it once it was completed and sent us a picture saying ‘check this out, Luke is on this.’ Kerrie said, “It was surprising and a shock to the kids and us, but we are really proud. Luke would be very proud and he would love to know that his face is on this mural. The pride he would take out of what that represents and by starting a troop and being a part of it, and how it depicts our servicemen and women. He would be blown away and beaming with pride….. it’s extremely special.”

 

Kerrie and Stella (Photo Anne Ford)

Luke founded the Gundagai Troop in 2012 with his father Ronnie before Luke went on to become a Director of The Australian Light horse Association.

Kerrie said, “It was a dream of his to keep this alive for generations to come. There’s a number of Troops around the area and with our daughter Stella riding on ANZAC Day it shows that the next generation wants to keep it going. In a matter of five years he went from having his first ride in a Troop to becoming a National Director.”

Kerrie and Stella (Photo Anne Ford)

 

Kerrie’s daughter Stella rode alongside Kerrie at Jugiong (pictured) on ANZAC Day. Right next to each other the ceremony must have been a mixture of loss and pride. Kerrie said it was Stella’s first time ever riding with the Troop. Kerrie is a positive women and her upbringing in Harden-Murrumburrah with brothers Robert and Matthew and parents Judy and Bob (deceased) provided her with a community orientated environment and a home full of love. Kerrie was extremely proud of Stella’s efforts and Stella has taken on her mother’s passion for horses and the Light horse.

Kerrie said, “Stella was wearing Luke’s uniform on the day including his hat, coat, pants and his saddle. It was really special and a really proud moment, especially for an eleven year old and a proud moment for the rest of the Troop.”

Horse riding has long been synonymous with the Stewart and Dowell families, Stella’s twin brother Angus also rides alongside his interests in soccer and riding up in the bush. Kerrie and the kids will be heading across to WA and she admitted it’s now on the bucket list. Luke was well-known across the region and he first rode with the Harden Troop in 2012. That spurred him on to commence the Gundagai Troop and it was his connections in the horse world from Harden to Tumut which allowed the loveable larrikin the ability to traverse between the towns with ease.

Kerrie said, “He was very well-known. They have members form the Tumut area and they now make up a Riverina Troop from the Tumut area, including Wagga and across to Grong Grong. We have members from Goulburn and even as far as Melbourne. His involvement really left a legacy and I believe its helped other Troops to evolve and grow.”

 

Luke (white jacket) with mate Wes Leseberg Pictured (far left) with fellow reenactors in 2015 in Binalong. (Photo Twin Town Times)

Luke was also heavily involved in the Gold Trail events in the region and he counted Wes Leseberg as one of his best mates, alongside Tom O’Brien and Kim Johnson. Kerrie said, “They really just got together and said let’s do something else also and they added another historical aspect with bushrangers.” Kerrie said, “He played Johnny Gilbert and performed in the re-enactments all over the countryside.” Luke also had some very well- trained steeds including ‘Bess’ who is a grey and at 25 now is still going strong with Kerrie and the kids on the family property.

Kerrie said, “She looks really well and is doing well for her age.” Luke trained one of his horses to lie-down so he could hide behind her while firing his blanks from his pistol. It was a great spectacle. Another ‘party trick’ was to take another one of his horses straight in to a pub through the front door and order a beer and consume in on horseback in front of the other patrons. With most of the patron’s eye lines at the withers of the horse. Luke would then turn and head out they door, ducking his head on the way out.

The Binalong Bushranger re-enactment in 2015 saw up to 1500 people attend the Main Street of Binalong (Fitzroy St.) in front of Hotel Binalong. It showcased the final minutes of his main character of Johnny Gilbert and his life. The riders came in, as did the police members of the day and a battle ensued which concluded with the instant death of Gilbert, played by Luke. Luke played Johnny very well and his image became synonymous with the bushranger era as well as the Light horse themes.

The story of Johnny Gilbert can be surmised in the following:

He was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1842. His mother Eleanor (née Wilson) died shortly after his birth. His father William subsequently married Eliza Cord, a girl only slightly older than his eldest surviving daughter, Eleanor. In 1852 John accompanied his family to the Victorian goldfields. Nine members of the Gilbert family arrived in Port Phillip on board the Revenue in October 1852. They included William and Eliza, Eleanor (Ellen), Frank, James, Charles, Thomas Charbonnelle and Nicholas Wiseman. A contemporary of Hall and Gardiner, Johnny Gilbert, alias Roberts, was one of the gang charged with the robbery of the gold escort at Eugowra Rocks, but had not been captured. His uncle, John Davis, was found shot in April 1854 Gilbert (then known as Roberts) was arrested and charged with murder. He was acquitted but later jailed for horse stealing.

At eighteen he fell under the influence of the bushranger who used the alias Frank Gardiner. In 1862, John Gilbert was first named as an accomplice of Gardiner when they and two others held up a storekeeper. Just over a month later, John Gilbert was involved in another robbery, this time with Gardiner, and Ben Hall. From then on John Gilbert was identified as being involved in several hold-ups between Lambing Flat (Young) and Lachlan. Frank Gardiner enlisted the assistance of John Gilbert, Ben Hall, John O’Meally, Dan Charters, Henry Manns, Alexander Fordyce and Johnny Bow, to rob the Forbes gold escort at a place called Eugowra Rocks. On 30 July 1863, Gilbert and O’Meally were thwarted in their attempt to rob the Commercial Bank at Carcoar in the middle of the day, managing to escape from the town when the alarm was raised before they could carry out the robbery. That evening the pair robbed Stanley Hosie’s store at nearby Caloola, taking cash and a number of articles of clothing, including silk dresses, boots and shoes which they said they wanted for “their people”. At one stage Hosie challenged either of the bushrangers to lay down his arms and engage him in a “fair fight”; the bushrangers smiled at this and one said, “No mate, we don’t do business in that way”.

Senior Constable Charles Hales of the Binalong police station received information at 8:00 PM on 12 May 1865 that the two bushrangers had “stuck up” the Woolshed near Murrumburrah. He suspected they would be in the area of Binalong due to John Dunn’s relatives living in the area. He thought they might visit John Kelly, Dunn’s grandfather. Senior Constable Hale immediately gathered constables John Bright and Michael King and headed out to watch Kelly’s house. They watched most of the night, but saw no one enter, so returned to the police station about half a mile away.

The next morning at 8:00 AM, John Kelly (under the influence of alcohol) informed Senior Constable Hales that Gilbert and Dunn were at his hut. Hales gathered Constables John Bright, Michael King and Henry Hall and headed to Kelly’s place. Two parties were formed, Bright and Hall went to the back of the hut and were stationed in the creek. Hales and King were stationed at the front of the hut. The troopers watched for about an hour in the rain. At some stage Kelly’s son, Thomas, approached the stockyard. Hales called him over to ask if there were strangers in the house, to which he said “No.” Hales and King approached the house and the dogs started barking. John Kelly and his wife came to the door of the hut, and seeing Trooper Hales, Kelly called out “Look out, the hut is surrounded by bloody troopers.”

As Hales entered the hut two shots were fired, Hales looked through the slabs of the bedroom wall to see the shadows of two men. Hales immediately fired and ran to the front room of the hut. He then called out “Men, surround the hut—the bushrangers are inside”. Hales warned Kelly if he did not immediately turn out, they would burn the hut. Hales heard firing in the paddock at the end of the hut. He ran out to the area and saw the bushrangers firing at Constables King and Hall. The bushrangers kept up the fire as they got through a bush fence that led to the creek and took up position behind a large tree.

Gilbert used his revolving rifle on Hales and Bright but it misfired. Meanwhile, King and Hall took up positions. Dunn and Gilbert started firing their revolvers at Hall and King, and ran down to the creek. Hales and Bright immediately fired at the bushrangers, at which time Gilbert dropped. Hales ordered his men to follow and to chase Dunn. King was left to guard Gilbert’s body as King was wounded in the foot. The three constables chased Dunn for about a mile and a half, they were exhausted and had to give up the pursuit. Dunn escaped, but was caught later and was hanged on 19 March 1866.

It was this story and many others that the re-enactment group would portray as they travelled around the countryside. Kerrie said, “Luke posed for Light horse photos before his passing and his image went on to be used in a number of bronzed statues. The Military Shop were making statues to remember the Light horse and he was the model for those photos. There’s probably nearly six statutes that have come from the photos depicted on the mural.”

Unfortunately Luke never got to see the statues come to their final fruition as they were bronzed at the end of 2017, but he did know they were being made.

Kerrie said, “They are the most amazing statues. I always laugh, he is not only in paint he is also in bronze. They are sold through the Military shop, they come on a piece of timber, there is one where he is kneeling down watering his horse and it’s called the ‘Waler’s mate.’ Luke has also appeared on bar mats and stubby holders and lots of different apparel.

Kerrie said “It’s pretty cool that you can see him everywhere.”

Kerrie spends her time working 4 days week as an accreditation business at a Doctors and another day at her Children’s school. They have ten acres and enjoy the laid back and tight-knit Gundagai community. “I love that we can walk out the back door and that the ponies are there. We are a few kilometres out of town, it’s quite nice we have our own space. One thing is for sure, Luke has left a lasting legacy.

Stella.

The next generation is coming through and the family ties continue. Stella has represented her father and her family honourably.

Lest We Forget.