Vale Matthew Rodgers

Saturday the 25th of October saw the passing of popular Doomben trainer Matthew Rodgers. Matt was well liked and respected by all members of the racing industry. His passing is a great loss and we extend our deepest synpathy to his family. I knew Matt personally and found him to be one of the most genuine people you could ever hope to meet. He was always quick to lend you a helping hand if you needed it and always conducted himself as a perfect gentleman. I am proud to have called him a friend.

 

RNA Championships

Congratulations to the Australian Farriers and Blacksmiths Association on the competition held at the Exhibition in August. The event went over three days with a record number of entries. With 15 teams in the Three Man Draught the event became the biggest Three Man Draught event ever to be held in the southern hemisphere. The Intermediate events were particularly hard fought with up 30 competitors in some events. Well done to all the winners, and to the losers take heart you have got a whole year to practice for next year. For mine there was one effort during the competition that really impressed me, yet I would bet has gone completely unnoticed. I speak of apprentice Andy McDonald who has only been shoeing for 3 months yet had the intestinal fortitude to have a go at 4 different events. Not only did he compete in the Novice division he also stepped up to the Intermediate Class in the Eagle Eye and came 7th out of a field of 30. So finishing behind this young man was some of the busiest farriers in Australia who have been shoeing for many many years. So those of us who finished behind him (including myself) you have been humbled. Just shows you that sometimes if you bite more than you can chew and chew like hell you can prevail. Her are a few pictures of the events.

More Pictures from the Ekka Click Here!

 

Mystery Solved

Being a farrier is a tough and sometimes thankless job. Our association strongly believes that we should honour those who dedicated their life to this trade and we do this by showing that we will remember and respect those who came before us. Wherever we can we will try to record for posterity the names and deeds of farriers who have gone to work in the blacksmith shop in the sky.

The mystery blacksmith shoeing a clydesdale in this photo has been identified. After searching on the internet and finding our site, a relative of this man found the photo and has provided me with the following details.

William Arthur Costigan – Known as Arthur.
Born Thursday 5.12.1889 – Died Wednesday 11.7.1945. Buried Drayton
13.7.1945.
Occupations: Line Repairer. Blacksmith. Hotel Manager.

Third Child of William Martin and Charlotte (Patch) Costigan.

William Martin Costigan was also a Blacksmith and according to his Obituary
(below) was apprenticed/worked with Mr Fred Snell in Toowoomba. William
Martin took over the business when Mr Snell retired, and passed it on to his
son William Arthur Costigan. Arthur worked in Pittsworth before moving into
a Hotel in Cooyar.

"Another old Toowoomba identity died yesterday in the person of Mr William
Costigan, of Gordon Avenue Street, near Gowrie Road. The late Mr Costigan,
who carried on a blacksmith’s business, was well known many years ago when
working for the late Mr Fred Snell. Afterwards he engaged in business for
himself until he handed it over to his son, who is now in Pittsworth.
Deceased leaves a widow and grown-up family.

Darling Downs Gazette – 27 November 1915."

 

The photo above is Arthur Costigan's father William Martin Costigan. I have been told this is the only photo in existence of this gentleman and we are extremely fortunate to have been able to secure a copy of it. We sincerly thank the relatives of Arthur and William for their generous donation.