Twenty members of the Maleny Fifth Light Horse Troop are riding out on Anzac day, in commemoration of the Australian and New Zealand forces which landed on the beaches of Gallipoli, Turkey during World War One on April 25, 90 years ago.

Its members will be riding down  Maple Street at 10:30am, with the parade culminating outside the Maleny RSL by the Obi Obi Creek.     There then follows a one hour service of remembrance, gratitude and national pride for all the men and women who have fought and died in all wars.    "I feel very honoured in leading my troopers on Anzac day," said Troop Commander Joe Colreavey.  "It's a very emotional time for me."

The Maleny-based troop is now the largest in the country, with its membership swelling by 19 in just under four years.   The other two members of the 22-strong troop are busy with sponsor duties at the RSL Caloundra, whose recent sponsorship has been instrumental in providing tack and equipment for 14 more riders this year.    Also instrumental in helping the troop galvanise its stores and grow its ranks is its Quartermaster Jonathon Orr. "That guy is fantastic," said Joe.  "He is very special to our troop."

Dr Orr's army background and leatherworking skills, no-doubt adapted from sewing skills taught at medical college, have enabled him to assemble most of the new tack himself and save the troop thousands of dollars.    Joe, who confessed his passion for breeding polo horses was now refocussed on the Light Horse, said the main reason why he joined the Maleny Troop was because he learnt that kids of just 15-16 were tragically killed in Light Horse service.

This fact is now part of Joe's philosophy towards his own troop, which is one of the few in the country that allows children aged 16 and over into its ranks.    "It seems the right thing to do," said Joe.

"After all, we had troopers killed in battle at that age, so if young people today express an interest to me I allow them to join our ranks."    Joe is an accomplished polo player and is the driving force behind the troop, which regularly meets at his Maleny farm to fine tune its parading skills and play the odd game of polo.    And the troop's members have already proved themselves in competition because they are the 2002-2004 Amateur Australian Tent Pegging Champions!

The Australian mounted troops in World War One were a dashing mobile force that earned the admiration of the world.   The Light Horse fought dismounted in Gallipoli and afterwards repulsed a Turkish invasion of Egypt.   Resourceful and enterprising, they pioneered the British mounted force that drove the enemy back across Sinai, Palestine and to its final capitulation at Aleppo.   Despite suffering immense hardships, they eventually triumphed with the greatest feat of cavalry the world has ever known, and the last - at Beersheba.

For more information on the Maleny Fifth Light Horse Troop,
call Joe on 5499 9662.