PG . 12
Vale
TRIBUTE TO “ BAILS ” THE GREAT HORSEMAN
BAILLIEU ( BAILS ) MYER ARTICLE BY : GAIL RITCHIE
Australia and all of those who knew Baillieu Myer in the equine and livestock industries have suffered an immeasurable loss from his passing on Saturday , 22nd February , 2022 aged 96 . He passed away at Elgee Park peacefully with his wife for 66 years Sarah by his side .
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have read many tributes written about Bails which focus on his many business achievements , his philanthropy or what Bails preferred to be called a social or community investment , as well as being an agriculturalist and viticulturist . All of which he was , but he was so much more .
I have known Bails since 1968 when I first met him and Sarah at the Sydney Royal Easter Show . Bails and his family came to the Block A Horse Pavilion to visit the King Ranch horses and to see the recently imported Clover Leaf horses that were at the show to perform cutting and cowhorse demonstrations . Both Bails and Sarah were foundation Councillors of the newly formed Australian Quarter Horse Association . Sarah ’ s father was instrumental in the importation and development of Santa Gertrudis cattle breed and Quarter Horses in Australia . Bails became deeply involved in his father- in- law and wife ’ s passions . He served as a Councillor and President of the AQHA and was instrumental in the success of the breed ’ s introduction to Australia .
The Yulgilbar Quarter Horse Stud is celebrating it ’ s 60th anniversary this year and Bails was very involved in organising the celebration activities . Throughout those 60 years Bails has supported Sarah in every aspect of their Quarter Horse Stud . Through those years as head of the Myer dynasty leading a demanding life in business , he never lost his love for the land and his wife and family . Sidney , Rupert and Samantha would religiously spend holidays with Sarah mustering at Yulgilbar when Bails would fly from Melbourne to land on the Clarence River only to spend a few days at a time .
Weekends were spent at Elgee Park , where again horses were the main activity until Bails decided to established the Morning Peninsula ’ s first vineyard . This was his passion on “ The Farm ” and he spent days nurturing his vines as Sarah , Sid and Samantha and less so Rupert , rode horses .
Over the past 60 years Yulgilbar Quarter Horse Stud have bred nearly 800 horses all of which Sarah and Bails have supervised in some way . They were delighted to receive Hall of Fame Awards from the AQHA along with many horses they have bred . Winning the NCHA Futurity twice has also been a highlight of their 60 year breeding program .
Despite many interests and proficiency in other sports , riding horses was not one that Bails had time to master . However , he never did faulter to support Yulgilbar Quarter Horses and his family . Not only did he support Yulgilbar Quarter Horses he also was generous in supporting the local , State and national AQHA and NCHA events through sponsorship .
In Bails latter years he spent more and more time on the land at Yulgilbar and Elgee Park . His quick wit , sense of humour and sage wisdom was nearly surpassed by his generous and inviting demeanour that he shared with all he met . I never saw him pass a person he knew at a horse show or cutting without having a chat . He loved singing the Yulgilbar song with Greg Anderson at his famous parties and telling jokes around the dinner table with friends . Most of all he loved Sarah and he loved his life . We who were lucky enough to spend time with Baillieu Myer can count ourselves as fortunate .
SIDNEY Baillieu “ Bails ” Myer , businessman , social investor , agriculturalist and viticulturist , has died aged 96 . He was born in San Francisco on January 11 , 1926 to Sidney Myer , retail entrepreneur and founder of the Myer Emporium , and his wife Merlyn Baillieu . Returning to Australia permanently in 1932 , the Myer family settled at Cranlana in Toorak , where Bails and his three siblings grew up . During WWII , Bails enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy and rose to the rank of sub-lieutenant . He was aboard HMAS Pirie in Tokyo Bay on September 2 , 1945 , when Japanese officials signed the official surrender document on board the US battleship Missouri , marking the end of the war .
After the war , Bails spent one year studying commerce at The University of Melbourne before completing his studies at the University of Cambridge , where he attended Pembroke College , stroking the college ’ s first eight , and graduated with a Masters of Arts , majoring in economics .
While he had worked as a boy in “ the store ”, as the family called the Myer Emporium , he began his retailing career in earnest after graduating . He joined the Myer Emporium in 1949 and as part of his apprenticeship he spent time overseas studying retailing methods at Harrods in London and Macy ’ s in New York .
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION - WWW . AQHA . COM . AU