VALE DAVID LESLIE BOWN
I was first introduced to Dave when Mr Howard Farrell Esquire
gave me a reference on Dave. You see I was looking for a Head
Stockman to help me run Hillgrove Station. Dave had been very
senior in the Mounted Police in Queensland, and carted cattle in
his truck to Casino (Northern NSW) most weeks, including many
of mine.
We met and he came to work with me.
What a brilliant man - he never said no when I would ring up. All I
had to do was to make sure I had made smoko, lunch- whatever of
course and always cash in my pocket of course.
You see the deal was Dave always saddled the horses, whilst I
would get caught on the phone (it never stops ringing here unless
the power goes off just like it did last week). So Dave got the job of
saddling, we would ride the mountain, take my dogs and his and
run the cattle
down the raceway, once we had
them sorted and
in a
mob.
In the heat and
pouring rain we
always got the
job done.
Dave had
sensational
Quarter
Horses, his
passion was
Quarter
Horses.
He was a
fantastic
campdrafter,
and took
so much
pride in the
turnout of
his stallions
at many
events.
Clarence
River Oak
was my
favourite
and still
is. Dave
always rode him
in a Swinging Fender.
Dave always rode my horses when he came to work, as I have way
too many and we had a lot of good times yarning as we rode.
He would teach me a thing or two, and I would teach him a thing or
two, there was never a cross word just a great mate-ship.
So God Bless you Dave, I am certain you are in heaven. You were
a Saint that never ever failed me or Hillgrove Station. I am totally
blessed to have met you, worked with you and your legacy will live
on.
Brain tumours are horrible things and David Leslie Bown is
survived by his mother, brothers, wife, children and grandchildren.
RIP my mate and Arawa Ronaldo (IMP) says G'Day - he misses you
and so do I.
Leah Braid AQHA, ASHA, WP&CS. (Froben Park)
Page 12 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • September • October 2015