Scone’s iconic Mare and Foal statue has enraptured residents for over thirty-five years. Unveiled in 1982 by local minister Eric Bedford, the sculpture was created by Gabriel Sterk, a Dutch born immigrant to South Australia who currently resides in France. His works are award winners all over Europe and Australia, and yet, in a dramatic turn of events Scone almost missed out on this piece.
Conceived as a commemoration of the Hunter Valley as a racehorse breeding centre, a committee of enthusiastic people worked to turn the idea into reality. The committee comprised David Archibald, Herbie Phelps, Barry Chapman, Jim Rodger, Jeremy Francis, Charles Duke and Alan Atwill.
Dr Jim Rodger spoke to Bluebloods about the statue’s beginnings.
“The inaugural Scone Horse Festival Week was in 1979, and a meeting was held at the golf club to discuss ways to promote the festival.”