The Harvey District Trotting Club was incorporated in 1936 and the milestones in the Club’s history were taken from that date. Ernie Green was their Vice President in the inaugural year and he continued to make a huge contribution to the Club, putting it on a firm footing.
This 1932 article gives an insight into his energy and love for horse breeding and racing.
WINBY STUD FARM. Mr. E. G. Green’s Enterprise.
When Mr. E. G. Green of Harvey, purchased an orchard property of about forty acres at Uduc in 1929, it was not with the sole intention of growing citrus fruits that he acquired the land. He was one of the many who realised the important role that trotting was playing in the State and after he had been in possession of it for about eighteen months he set to work and cut out in all 35 acres of oranges. His primary idea was to use the property as a spelling ground for horses engaged in the light harness sport. The first essential of such a property he considered an abundant and ever available store of feed and with this end in view he planted white dutch clover, paspalum grass, sub-clover couch and trefoils. With irrigation to encourage growth during the summer months, the vegetation made rapid progress till today it is to be doubted if there is a paddock which offers feed during the twelve months of the year of equal nutritive value. The property was sub-divided into small allotments and a stock shed of roomy dimensions together with a number of well advanced kurrajong trees offer protection for the horses in all weathers.
It was about eighteen months ago that Mr. Green entered into partnership with Mr. W. P. Baker, of North Perth and entered whole heartedly into the stud business. Mr. Baker immediately despatched the following mares to the property: — Victoria Direct (Direct Away—Victrous); Full swing (Guyaxworthy—Ruby Director) which he imported from U.S.A.; Miss Orish (Harry Wood—Orish), the mother of Petersen, winner of the last Derby and Sires Produce Stakes at Brennan Park; an unnamed mare by Borneo out of Nancy Hanks, and another mare just imported from the Eastern States, Adonis Wilkes (Adonis—Myrtle Queen). Mr. Baker signed over to Mr. Green the brood mare Rose Adonis (Adonis — Landammer). All the above, with the exception of Adonis Wilkes, who is in foal to Mintern Bell, prior to his arrival at the stud, have foaled to Alfred Donald. These foals are now on the property. Miss Orish’s colt, a half brother to Petersen, is entered for the Melbourne Derby. Miss Orisch [sic] has another foal at foot by Alfred Donald, a black colt, which is built on promising lines and is a natural pacer.
The mares are now in foal to Wilfred (2.14¼) by Alfred Donald — Princess Willow. A full sister to Wilfred, Willow Beach, which is entered for the next Derby and Sires Produce Stakes in W.A. was reared on the property; and Kateson (Alfred Donald — Honest Kate), which established its record as 2.17 as a three-year-old, was also reared on the property and ran second to Petersen in the last Derby and Sires Produce Stakes.
Amongst the horses spelled at Winby during recent months are — Moiri Fuller, Desert Bell (winner of the City Handicap and third in the last Trotting Cup), Inch Bonnie, Bar Bells (who died as a result of being staked on the butt of an orange tree), Spot Light (winner of a City Handicap), Wingfoot, Whilemena (a good stake winner), Prince Peter (second in the last Derby), Prince Laoma, Royfornia (winner of the last Country Club’s Handicap), Virginia Gold, Elsie Dillon, Alween (winner of the first race run at Brennan Park); Coonie’s Pride, Thorpie, Ruby’s Charm, Harry Roy, Lory Percy, Marvel Donald, Lady Winwood and foal, Lady Derby, Red Ophir, Bonder and Rex Hook as well as the gallopers Sir Sparta, a two-year-old gelding, the property of Mr. C. Wetherall and Mr. Gauk-Rodgers’, Arran Lee.
Daily Mr. Green is required to visit the property and muster the horses under his care when the horses are also changed from one paddock to the other. The horses receive every care as is demonstrated to owners by their improved condition when they return to work. It might be explained in conclusion that the name given to the stud, “Winby”, is derived from the native tongue and means “quick fellow.”[1]
Harvey Steam Puller – Fred Moyle (3rd from left), Ernie Green (2nd from left) and Henry Taylor (1st left).
Photo: Harvey History Online Collection.
Ernie Green was the founder of EG Green & Sons, a name synonymous with Harvey. Towards the end of World War 2 he died.
1931 advertisement for EG Green[2]
OBITUARY – The Late Mr. Ernest Green (1888-1945)
One of Harvey’s most esteemed and respected citizens, Mr. Ernest G. Green, passed away at the Harvey Hospital on March 1, after a long illness. The late Mr. Green endeared himself to many people, not only in the district, but throughput the whole State by his kindly and unassuming interest and indispensable help in many organisations.
Born at Pinjarra 56 years ago, Mr. Green was the son of the late William and Keziah Green of Pinjarra two of the State’s oldest pioneers. The late Mrs. Green was a Miss Keziah Jones, of Australind, and they were among the first couples to be married in the old church at Australind.[3] Mr. E. Green came to Harvey 34 years ago as foreman of the Government engineers employed in clearing the estates around Harvey. Later, he took up dairying and from there went to Balmoral Station in the North-West for a number of years, afterwards returning to Harvey where he took up a butchering business. In 1913 he married Miss Mary Collins, of Victoria and had since lived in Harvey.
He was a prominent member in the Harvey Trotting Club. As vice-president he did sterling work in putting the club on a sound basis. Owning one of the most fertile properties in the South-West, Mr. Green established a stud on sound lines, and a number of fine horses have been reared on this property. He was keenly interested in the Harvey Agricultural Society, particularly in the stock and ring events. The Harvey Hospital too, benefited a lot by his interest, and since the outbreak of war he was very generous to patriotic organisations. He was a citizen of sterling worth and will be missed by a large circle of friends.
After a service in St. Paul’s Church of England, the remains were laid to rest in the Anglican portion of the Harvey cemetery, about 400 people attending. The Rev. Paisley officiated. The chief mourners were: Mr. M. E. Green (son), Messrs A. H. Green, F. J. Green, V. R. Green and D. Green (brothers) and J. Molyneaux (brother-in-law). The pall bearers were Messrs Ross McLarty M.L.A., Jack Lowe, A. H. Jeffries and C. F. Robinson. A large number of floral tributes were placed on the grave. Mr. Green leaves a widow, two sons and a daughter to mourn their loss. The sympathy of the whole district is extended to them in their bereavement.[4]
This short obituary shows the effect World War 2 had upon Green and his horses:
LATE MR E. G. GREEN. Prominent in Country Trotting. Mr E. G. Green, whose death is reported, was a prominent figure in country trotting and as a member of the committee of the Harvey Trotting Club he did sterling work in placing that club on a sound basis. Owning one of the most fertile properties in the South-West, he established a stud on sound lines with General Malista as the leading sire. Owing to increasing bad health and lack of manpower, he was, however, forced to dispose of all his horses. A number of fine horses reared on the late Mr Green’s property include Alamein, Jewels Heir, Wise General and Synagogue.[5]
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[1] Harvey-Waroona Mail, 12 August 1932, p. 1.
[2] Harvey-Waroona Mail, 15 May 1931, p. 1.
[3] They were married in Harvey in 1913, not Australind, see https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justice.
[4] Harvey-Waroona Mail, 8 March 1945, p. 1.
[5] West Australian, 2 March 1945, p. 2.