The latest addition to the centre's collection

Mack Southwell's daughter Jane, his grand children James and Kathleen and his great-grand children, Molly, Isabella and Charlotte with his saddle.

Over the past two weeks, following on from some excellent publicity, we have had especially large numbers of interested visitors coming to visit our 'Selected Southwell Stories' exhibition, keeping the Sunday volunteers on their toes answering questions, offering further research opportunities and clarifying who was who on the Southwell family tree!

On Monday 18th March members of the Southwell family hosted an afternoon tea and final showing of the Southwell stories. Over the past year, since the exhibition has been in place, we have seen several groups of Southwell family members come to enjoy, admire, reminisce, dispute and often add to the information and items on show. Yesterday was a special event with the presentation of a saddle which has been in the family for four generations.

In 1934 Jack Southwell purchased a pair of 'youth Poley' stock saddles for his two sons Mack (Malcolm) and John. The saddle donated belonged to Mack who used it initially when he was woolclassing and working full-time on two Southwell properties - 'Rosevale' and 'Fernhill' (present day Lyneham).

Mack's daughter Jane kept the saddle in the family, with her children Kathleen & James using it when they were children.

In 1988 the saddle was used by the family for the long trek to the Coolamine Homestead in the Kosciuszko National Park and for the Bicentennial trek from Kosciusko to Canberra.

Mack's great grandchildren have used the saddle and recently showcased it at the Yass Show. The saddle is now 90 years old.