In October 2007, after many months of hard work and planning, three friends undertook a trek along the Long paddock in a replica Cobb & Co coach, to raise funds for breast cancer research.Chris O'Kane, Shane Mullins and Geoff Chamberlain built the coach, planned the journey and organised the fundraising events held along the route.The trek began in Echuca/Moama and followed the Cobb Highway north through Mathoura, Deniliquin, Booroorban, Hay, One Tree and Ivanhoe.

The idea for this project was sparked by these three motivated men, while enjoying an open fire and a few refreshments in the bush beyond Tumbarrumba, during Easter 2006. The question was never "Why should we build a Cobb & Co coach" but "Why not"?

With a little deliberation it was unanimous that the coach be built for function and durability - steel was the answer without the shadow of a doubt! From the wheels up the coach was made of steel/metal fabrication.

The original design and plans were from scale drawings of an original Cobb & Co coach, built at Hay in the late 1800's, and given to one of the coach project partners by retired coach builder Mr Lindsay Collins, a former artisan at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat. The drawings were scaled down marginally and adapted to better suit steel fabrication methodology (and all measurements were recalculated to metric for a start!)

The fun of building began in earnest and after many long months, sometimes with due amounts of frustration, the Coach was ready for horses. Full credit must go to tireless and diligent efforts of all involved but none so much as Shane Mullins whose welding and engineering skills are unsurpassed. Once the horses, harness and equipment had been put together, months of training followed to enable the required adjusting in readiness for the long trek along the Cobb Highway.

National Breast Cancer Awareness month (October) arrived and it was time to depart on the long journey ahead.

Go to the stories link above or click here for a printer friendly version of an account of the trek, by Geoff Chamberlain, 16 October 2007.