Sue Crockett is a renowned equestrian photographer, and a friend of mine. She took this photo out at a muster at Windorah in 2006. The photo has won Sue acclaim and has become a popular photograph among the equestrian set.

The man on the draught horse is a local character, “Willy”.

Reportedly Willy was nearly 90 years old, but no-one (not even Willy) was really that sure.

Towards the end of the day, they lifted Willy up onto this Draught Horse, and had him ride “his last muster”.

The photo is amazing and it inspired my song “Stock Droving Man”. In my song, “Willy” dies, but to my knowledge the real Willy is still hanging around Windorah.

Thanks to Lionel Doyle from Iman Country for allowing us to use his didgeridoo talents on this track.

Stock Droving Man (c) Garry Watson 2007 

Born in a wagonette, ‘bout 40 miles from town

West from Windorah, sun was burning down

His mother was a camp cook

 He rode before he walked, He could plait a rawhide whip

Chasing ringers through the scrub, never lost his grip

Not much time for schooling

CHORUS:           

Droving cattle through the Outback year after year

The toughest way to make a buck,     the only way out here

Fire and Flood and Sun and Rain sure puts you to the test

But when it came to getting the Cattle through, Willy was the best. 

He was a kid in 1943 when the Doctors flew to town

He still remembers the night the Western Star Hotel burnt down

He’ll live and die in his Cattle town

There rides a Stock Droving Man

REPEAT CHORUS:           

No-one knows what happened out there on that fateful day.

They found his horse wandering near the spot where Willy lay

They buried him in his cattle Town

CHORUS:           

Droving cattle through the Outback year after year

The toughest way to make a buck,     the only way out here 

Fire and Flood and Sun and Rain sure puts you to the test

But when it came to getting the Cattle through,Willy was the best.