An accomplished rider from Narrandera, Emilie Roach competed at agricultural shows across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland from the age of seven until she retired in 1955. She launched her career when she entered her first Sydney Royal Easter Show in 1914. Roach later recalled, "The Sydney Show really GOT me, and I was not able to think of school lessons or music anymore, for I had seen Mrs Stace riding side saddle over those big fences and heard the thunder of applause from the crowds; it was then and there I decided to be a show rider".
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Among the National Museum's display of clothing, trophies and medallions from Roach's equestrian career, for me, this small bracelet so beautifully highlights her long association with the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales. The RAS member badges date from 1925 to 1940, encompassing the "golden years" of the Australian show-ring, and Roach's most successful years of competition when riding some of her favourite horses.
Roach rode her Uncle Will Weir's horses during the 1920s, and became a popular performer on the show circuit. In 1920, she was the first female rider to record a show-ring jump higher than seven feet, riding Musician. After Weir retired in 1929, Roach continued to ride his horses with their new owner Bob Chittick, another Narrandera rider.
Riding Dungog in 1929, Roach set a new Australian jump record of 7 feet, 2 inches (2.18 metres) at Newcastle, and then a new Sydney record, clearing 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 metres). With Lady Radium, Roach won every event she contested at the 1930 Royal Easter Show.
The bracelet chain is fastened with a "Packard" badge, a link to Roach's husband John (Jack) Burton. Roach married Burton in 1925, after he made several record motor vehicle drives across Australia. The couple lived in Sydney, travelling from there to countless agricultural shows, where Emilie would compete and Jack, a Packard Specialist, would sell cars.
Although the bracelet is missing a 1939 badge, Roach did compete that year, winning the Royal Easter Show over fences contest for her thirteenth and final time, riding Albert Payne's Royal. The last year on the bracelet, 1940, marked the closure of most agricultural shows until after the Second World War.
Roach won many prizes, but never accepted payment from any owner for riding their horses. Looking at the bracelet, I can easily admire Roach's great passion and dedication to her sport, which she continued to support until her death in 1986.
Emilie Roach's bracelet is on display in the National Museum of Australia's exhibition Spirited: Australia's Horse Story, which is open until March 9, 2015.
Jennifer Wilson is a curator at the National Museum of Australia.
