THE documentary Man from Coxs River has been a big hit at the Narooma Kinema transporting viewers to the wilderness of the Burragorang Valley.
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The film covers the complex issue of removing a small herd of around 80 brumbies or wild horses from the wilderness area around Sydney’s main water source in the Blue Mountains.
It tells the tale of horseman Luke Carlon and his fellow bush men who work with National Parks ranger Chris Banffy to capture, break in and literally manhandle the horses the five kilometres out of the wilderness, water catchment area to the nearest road.
The scenes of the wild horses being broken in for handling are epic and horsemen and ranger do an amazing job to get the horses out all the while dealing with issues around animal welfare and the ethics of wilderness and conservation versus cultural heritage.
Just as remarkable as their success with the horses is both sides ultimately coming to share each others’ views, building mutual respect.
But the story is not over as there are still around 30 horses in the wilderness area and whether there is the political will and resources to finish the work remains to be seen.
Husband and wife director and producer team Russell Kilbey and Amy Scully have been touring the country with the film and last Thursday evening came to the Narooma Kinema.
They introduced their film that took them five years to make and then afterwards answered questions from the audience.
Some of the audience had direct connections to the Coxs River area in the Blue Mountains including David Williams of Cobargo, who brought with him a photo of he and his wife Mary on horseback taken while on one of the Carlon family’s packsaddle rides all the way back in 1964.
It was Luke Carlon’s father Bert that took them on the ride, one of the very first offered along the Coxs River.
Kilbey and Scully are hoping word of mouth spreads and as many people get to see the film in cinemas before it goes to DVD.
John Griffiths at the Narooma Kinema said the documentary had been very popular and will be screened again tonight, Wednesday, July 18 at 6pm and then again next Monday at the same time.
Learn more about the movie and its characters at wwww.themanfromcoxsriver.com
