THIS is the story of a nine-year-old boy, Lennie Gwyther, on the adventure of a lifetime.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was in the middle of the Depression and people were looking for good-news stories, so it captured the public imagination.
Lennie decided to ride from his home in Leongatha to be on the spot for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932 a journey of 1000 kilometres.
With his parents' blessing, he set out on what was to be a four-month odyssey with his pony Ginger Mick.
Feted along the way, he met prime minister Joe Lyons and Sydney's lord mayor and took part in the opening pageantry for the bridge. He even had a cricket bat signed by the Don.
A far cry from today, when many parents would be frightened to allow a child of such tender age to go unaccompanied to the local school.
