Younger people may not be aware that pit ponies were an integral part in the work of underground mining up until the 1950s.
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Col Andrews believes the mines wouldn’t be what they are without the work of the pit horses.
“Horses were essential, you couldn’t get coal out of the mines without horses,” he said.
Mr. Andrews and fellow Kurri local Tom Outram are petitioning to have the pit pony recognised in the form of a statue in Rotary Park.
There are a few old legends about the pit ponies’ abilities in the underground workforce.
Mr. Andrews said the horses knew exactly what time knock-off was and if you put more than two skips on them they knew and wouldn’t move.
Mr. Outram worked in Richmond Main Colliery for years and the two men hope to honour the horses used in this mine.
“Horses played such an important part, they were a friend, a companion, a safety,” Mr. Andrews said.
“They’ve never been recognised.”
Mr. Andrews said that war horses have been recognised for their work, so he believes pit ponies should be too.
“They make a lot of fuss about [war] horses in those movies,” he said.
“We want horses to be recognised for what they did and what they stood for.”
Mr. Andrews and Mr. Outram contacted a woman in Cooranbong, whose husband was a miner who had died and had written a poem about the last pit horse.
She said she knew of a town who had erected their own statue of a pit horse, so they contacted Cessnock councillor, the late Jeff Maybury as well as fellow local Royce Moore who got behind the idea.
Cr. Maybury suggested they get a petition going, which received a great response.
“No matter where we went, everybody signed the petition,” Mr. Andrews said.
They handed it all over to Marcia Maybury who brought in Towns with Heart, which is now guiding the idea.
Towns with Heart community projects manager Lesley Morris said the committee was very supportive of the idea and liked the idea of being involved.
The group is currently undertaking research into design and construction, as well as looking at costs and sources of funding.
Anyone with ideas regarding the building of the statue including funding, or wanting to be involved in the project is encouraged to call Kurri Visitors Centre on 4936 1909.
