Kurri Kurri’s Pit Horse Statue Committee has been able to achieve such a milestone, with a recent donation from the CFMEU Mineworkers Trust helping them reach their six-figure target.

The $50,000 donation was secured in June, which allowed the project to be put out to tender, and was officially presented at a CFMEU meeting in Cessnock on Friday.

Towns With Heart community projects manager Lesley Morris said the story of the pit horse and the dedication of the project committee resonated with the union, as it has in the wider community.

“This donation got the project over the line; the passion of the committee really impressed on them,” Ms Morris said.

“They have done all of the hard work, they have the passion for this project and have raised an incredible amount of money.”

The project started with a petition in July 2015, and Towns With Heart quickly came on board.

Countless sausage sizzles, car boot sales and country music concerts have been held – but the committee never thought they would achieve their target in such a short time.

Local retired mineworker Robbie Bennett suggested the committee approach the union for a donation after attending a fundraising concert in Kurri Kurri last year.

Mr Bennett said mineworkers are recognised in many ways today – including plaques for long service and union membership – but there was nothing like that back in the days of the pit horse.

“Many pops will take their grandkids into Rotary Park and tell them ‘these horses used to go underground’,” he said.

“It will be a pleasure to take the kids along and show them.”

Mineworkers Trust chairman Grahame Kelly said it was important to honour the memory of the pit horse, and the committee’s hard work.

“It’s in the heart of the Coalfields, and the people have done so much work to deliver it,” he said.

“The Mineworkers Trust is about helping people and communities. It’s a very worthy cause.”

The committee announced on Friday that ​Dubbo artist Brett Garling has been chosen to create the pit horse statue, which will measure about six metres in length, including the horse and skip.

Garling has worked on many projects in the Hunter region, including a bronze war horse statue that was unveiled in Muswellbrook last year for the 100^th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba.

The statue is expected to be installed and unveiled in Rotary Park, Kurri Kurri next year.