THE dying wish of the late Ian Todd has finally been realised in Griffith.
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On Monday afternoon a stunning iron water trough created to honour the memory of horses used in the early development of the region was unveiled.
Mayor John Dal Broi and Mr Todd’s lifelong friend and executor of his will, Carol Dedman, did the honours.
The water trough was designed and built locally as part of a bequest to council by Mr Todd, who passed away five years ago.
The trough, which bears a plaque inscribed to the memory of the horses used to develop Griffith and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA), proudly sits outside Griffith City council’s administration building.
Ms Dedman said she was delighted to see the finished product in place after so long.
“Finally, it’s beautiful,” she said.
“Ian would have been very happy with this.
“People can read the plaque and remember the Todds now.”
Cr Dal Broi said council was honoured to receive the wonderful gift.
“On behalf of the city of Griffith we extend our gratitude to Mr Todd’s family for this bequest,” Cr Dal Broi said.
“The location of the trough strengthens the cultural precinct in Neville Place and complements the Nancy Blumer Monument, the memorial to Pioneer Women and the Lifestyle recognition of cultural diversity, establishing an attractive view down Banna Avenue.
“I have a special feeling for draught horses. As a young bloke on the farm at Yoogali we had two draught horses, so I know the amount of work they did in those early days and in the construction of canals around this area.
“I didn’t know Ian Todd that well but I did see him drive around town.”
The design of the water trough is based on the Annis and George Bills’ horse troughs that were manufactured in Australia.
“The troughs were installed to provide relief for working horses in the first half of the 20th century,” Council sustainable development director Neil Southorn said.
“A total of around 700 troughs were distributed in Australia and 50 in several other countries.
“Council’s urban design and strategic development unit provided the design and local engineering firm Collier and Miller was awarded the job of construction.”
