Trots heritage lives on at Nyah

Most people know little about the Victorian Murray River township of Nyah – other than for its 50-year history with “the trots”.

The Nyah Harness Racing Club’s meetings were moved, somewhat controversially, to the neighboring major regional centre of Swan Hill in 2012, but the love of the sport lives on at Nyah.

That heritage has now been immortalised in paint, with a striking mural of two horses and their drivers trotting to the finish line.

Nyah local and passionate history buff, Julie Sutton, decided to organise the mural as a tribute to the almost 50 years of harness racing in the small community.

“In memory of so many years of enjoyment of racing in Nyah, I decided to organise a mural for the locals and tourists to benefit from such a prestige view of local history,” Ms Sutton said.

“I am born and bred in Nyah, I’m proud of our local history, and I see this as proof of the success of our local trotting club.”

Vinifera painter turned mural artist, Glenn Evans, has painted two trotters and two drivers, with the iconic horseshoe signage.

“Many thanks to Glenn Evans, who dedicated his time and professionalism in a painting showing part of Nyah’s history,” Ms Sutton said.

Getting the mural up has been a real community effort, with involvement from several community groups.

“This project would not have gone ahead without the consent of the Nyah District Harness Members, for their approval to conduct such memorable art work on this site.

“I would also like to thank the O’Bree and Kentish families for permission to copy images of their horses for the mural.

The Nyah District Harness Racing Club was active from 1965 to 2012, when the Victoria Harness Racing Club decided to extend the local club and move it to Swan Hill.

Long-time regional participant and Swan Hill president Gerard Moloney said the mural was a fitting tribute to the area’s harness racing pioneers.

“Harness racing has gone to a new era in Swan Hill, but the past should definitely be remembered,” Maloney said.

“The Kentishs and the O’Brees tell the stories of how they used dynamite to blow trees out to clear the site for the track and get things started, and I think it’s great that a tribute’s being paid to the pioneers of trotting in the area.

“I spent a lot of time out at Nyah and I enjoyed my time out there very much. Some of my greatest memories in the sport are there with winning two cups with Send Me A Dream and it certainly holds fond memories for a lot of people in the sport.”