05/02/2024
A true bushman
Lovely photo sent in by Diane, thank you..."Nelson Clifford, great horseman and wild dogs hunter, from Scone NSW. We worked with Nelson on Scrumlo, east of Aberdeen. Great character and horseman, still mustering cattle well into his 70s. He lived in an old hut and slept on an open verandah, even when it snowed. He always said if I get cold, I call the dog up on the bed."
Nelson, born 1911, worked all his life in the bush, either as a wild dog trapper (dogger) or stockman. He operated in country where a horse was necessary. As he shot wild dogs his horse/s were obviously trained not to worry about shooting. Had a quick look in archives for any extra info.
In 1943 at a very successful Moonan Flat Sports Day - proceeds going to the Bushing Nursing Assoc - "with one of the finest array of horses ever seen" he came first in the bullock ride out of 21 entries. He'd been in the area some years, his parents and extended family were there.
In 1948 there was an article about him getting a large "bitzer" - a wild dog that had taken many sheep in the upper Hunter area. Many had tried to get it, over two years. Apparently dingo types were the least of the catches, most were wild dogs of many colours, markings and sizes. He also worked around the Davis Creek area getting wild dogs (Scrumlo). To get paid, one had to show the scalps as proof, that is the skin from tip of nose all the way down the back to the tail.
In 1950 he was working for the Tomalla Dingo Destruction Association and living at Moonan Brook, an area partly running into what is now Barrington Tops National Park. He also lived at Mullee Station, Rouchel at some stage. He was in Scone in his last years.
Today we may decry trapping dingos of course, and tests prove they come in several sizes and colours so not all are not wild dogs, it can't be proved by coat colour only by DNA and skull measurements whether they're dingo, dog or a cross. Please take this as an historical photo of someone doing a tough job in times work was hard and even harder to come by.
Handsome horse, looks a bit like a Quarter Horse too, or is that just me? No Quarter Horse - he is Scrumlo Uranium, a founding HSH, see comments, thank you Karl! and Jade.
Certainly in prime condition and fit. His father William knew about horses, he used some for cane carting in Lismore - Tweed area, and brought the work horses with him when he moved down to Moonan Flat, so good old Australian lines, as he was from a family that knew their horses. This horse isn't Nelson's as it turns out, it's a station sire, on the place he worked at the time.
Thanks a mill Diane for another look into our past, and for the wonderful photo. A look online finds Nelson Clifford passed away in 2001, rest in peace, obviously a good chap, highly thought of by Diane.
To add, it's an Australian Stock Horse.
