How A Nine-Year-Old Lifted a Nation

If you want to mix things up around the barbeque this weekend, drop this on the hot plate…

“Hey guys, what were you doing at nine years of age?”

The year is 1932 and Australia’s in the grip of the Great Depression.

On the outskirts of Leongatha, Victoria, a badly injured farmer lies in hospital with a broken leg.

His name is Leo Gwyther — a brave World War I captain — and he’s unable to work.

With the main breadwinner sidelined, his family faces the very real risk of going hungry.

That’s when his nine-year-old son, Lennie Gwyther, steps up.

With the help of his pony, Ginger Mick, Lennie ploughs the paddocks, tends the farm, and keeps the place running while his dad recovers in hospital.

And as a reward for his courage and hard work, his parents reluctantly grant Lennie one wish.

He wants to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

From regional Victoria, Lennie has been following the bridge’s construction closely — fascinated not just by its size, but by the engineering behind it.

Together with his war-hero father, he maps out the entire journey to Sydney by hand. He wants to be there for the opening.

So, on February 3, 1932, this nine-year-old boy saddles up Ginger Mick and sets off — alone — on a journey of more than 1,000 kilometres to Sydney.

All he carries is a swag and a simple haversack: spare clothes, a toothbrush, a water bottle… and a quiet determination well beyond his years.

It doesn’t take long for word to spread.

Newspapers begin publishing regular updates on Lennie’s progress, so by the time he rides toward a town, entire communities are waiting to welcome the boy and his pony.

Along the way, Lennie survives bushfires, heavy rain, biting winds, and even an attack by a petty thief.

When he reaches Canberra, he’s welcomed by the Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons, and invited into Parliament House for morning tea.

And when Lennie finally arrives in Sydney, the scale of it is astonishing.

Escorted by police, he rides into Martin Place to a crowd of more than 10,000 cheering people!

Dressed in khaki breeches and boots, sun hat, Lennie becomes part of the official celebrations.

But it gets better…

Lennie and Ginger Mick take part in the official parade and cross the Harbour Bridge on opening day!

They steal the show.

Even Donald Bradman — the biggest celebrity in the country at the time — wanted to meet him. The Don presents nine-year-old Lennie with a signed cricket bat.

A month later, when Lennie leaves Sydney, he’s a household name.

Crowds waved handkerchiefs and shouted their goodbyes.

And according to The Sun newspaper, Lennie — the ever-casual Aussie — swung into the saddle, called out “Toodaloo!”, and rode off.

Just like that, Lennie and Ginger Mick headed home to Victoria.

When he returned to Leongatha, the whole town turned out to welcome him like a hero.

Then Lennie went straight back to life on the family farm, just in time for his tenth birthday.

Happy Australia Day!

Adam

Source: This story is told as part of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb.

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