By Jeremy Sollars
The rolling Swanfels Valley east of Warwick will once again be the backdrop for this year’s Heavy Horse Charity Day at the property of popular local identity Mick Bradford.
The 17th Heavy Horse Day is on this Sunday 15 October from 9am, and will feature a packed program of working old-time farming displays including blacksmithing, wheelwrighting, hay-making, chaff-making and corn-shelling – and all done with true horsepower.
Mick’s Clydedales are something of a local icon and never fail to impress, and this year they’ll again be joined by two teams of bullocks who will haul timber and wagons, recalling the region’s rich timber industry heritage.
And visitors to Mick’s property could be treated to a fly-in by an RACQ LifeFlight helicopter, with all proceeds from the day going to the airborne medical rescue service.
The day is also run in conjunction with the Killarney Lions Club.
“Bring the kids for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see how things used to be done, without all the show and shine,” Mick said.
“The Killarney Lions will again have food and drink in the big blue tent.
“There will also be pancakes, ice-cream and syrup, Sno Cones, camp oven damper, an ice-cream van, market stalls, jumping castle and an animal nursery.
“Displays will include axes, whips, horse bits, harness making, and a local blacksmith and wheelwright.”
Mick will be working his famous “horse works” which pumps water, threshes corn and slices pumpkin.
Mick Bradford’s Heavy Horse Day has raised almost $100,000 for LifeFlight over the past 17 years.
* The Heavy Horse Day is on Sunday 15 October from 9am at 122 Swanfels Road, Yangan. Take the Yangan Road from Warwick and follow the signs.
