WHEN Sandy Munro was handed the microphone at the 2023 Moree picnic races and told it was his turn to make a speech, the look of sheer pride on his face fully captured the very essence of bush racing.

The horse Sandy part-owned, Fiocchi, had just won the Boolooroo Cup – for the second year in a row – and Sandy was beside himself.

Wind back the clock 151 years and a thoroughbred mare named Topsy, owned by a publican, of course, played a pivotal role in the foundation of Sandy’s beloved cattle-breeding empire, Weebollabolla, on the eastern edge of Moree.

In 1873, pioneering brothers Alec and Ross Munro began planning the purchase of Weebollabolla Station and neighbouring property Bullerrue from George Hall and his brothers.

Hall’s father, also named George, in 1836 established Bingera Station, the property in which the township of Bingara gets its name.

In 1838, George and his seven sons founded Weebollabolla.

George Hall Snr died at Pitt Town two years later. A son, John, died in 1869 and two more sons, Thomas and William, died in 1870 and 1871.

In 1873, eldest son George decided to sell up the vast family holdings, which included connected properties Weebollabolla and Bullerrue.

Also listed was Bingera Station, Cuerindi and Mondoway on the Liverpool Plains, and Stoney Batter, Wallamumbi and Mount Mitchell in the New England district.

On Wednesday, March 26, 1873, Alec Munro attended an auction conducted by George Matcham Pitt at Greville’s Commercial Rooms on George Street, Sydney.

About 200 interested buyers attended. After some spirited bidding, Weebollabolla and Bullerrue, as well as several thousand head of cattle, was knocked down to Alec Munro.

An advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald stated: “As a safe investment no finer property can be found in the colonies. The well-known character of the herd, the permanence of the water, and abundance of grass at all times and all seasons, guarantee the purchaser a large interest for his outlay. Weebollabolla and Bullerrue contain about 57,800 acres. The country consists of open myall plains, with here-and-there small belts of timber. The herbage is most luxuriant, and the carrying capabilities equal to fully 6000 head of cattle.”

At the time, leased land attached to freehold property was vulnerable to public selection during the transfer of ownership.

Weebollabolla Station was made up of the freehold head-station, neighbouring conditional-purchase blocks and other leases.

This meant parts of the vast property could be “selected” before ownership was finalised.

Immediately after the auction, Alec telegrammed his brother, Ross, who rode three different horses 130 miles from Tamworth to Warialda Court House to “select” vulnerable parts of Weebollabolla Station.

Ross arrived at Barraba, changed mounts, and rode to Bingara.

With time running out, Ross borrowed half-handy racemare Topsy from a Bingara publican he knew well and galloped 25 miles to Warialda.

He arrived at Warialda the next day, Thursday, buggered but not beaten, and lodged claims on the two crucial main blocks of Weebollabolla Station, thus ensuring the property remained a viable size.

On Friday, when the front doors of Warialda Court House swung back, hopeful claimants aware of the window of opportunity afforded by transfer of ownership, were astonished to learn of Ross Munro’s breakneck gallop on three different horses to get there first.

That epic ride 151 years ago, stopping only to change horses, was the cornerstone of a cattle-breeding and farming empire that survives to this day.

Shortly after Alec and Ross Munro purchased Weebollabolla Station, Australian Town and Country Journal sent a correspondent to the district to report on the sale.

“The station is capable of carrying 6000 head of cattle in all seasons; there are now about 4000 head upon it, and the present proprietors, who haves only recently taken up the runs, have introduced so many fine stock, that a description of them must be deferred for a separate article. Fencing is being proceeded with, and as nearly the whole of the river frontage has been secured, Weebollabolla is fast merging into a free-hold estate.”

The Munro brothers set about establishing a showpiece and Weebollabolla Station remains largely the same, and still under the ownership of the Munro family.

Sadly, the man who for many decades walked proudly upon the cherished ground of Weebollabolla, died in July.

Alexander Forbes Munro, better-known as Sandy, was 75.

He was buried beneath the rich, dark soil he proudly walked, worked and cherished.

Sandy Munro was a giant of a man with a heart of pure gold.

He was a farming behemoth, not just across the fertile black-soil plains of north-western New South Wales, but throughout the country and around the world.

Despite his social standing and noble heritage, Sandy Munro was salt-of-the-earth, a man with no airs or graces.

He formed friendships with people from all walks of life and backgrounds. Most importantly, he kept those friendships forever.

It was an honour to know the man, and Alexander Forbes Munro held the same, principled respect for his many friends and colleagues.

Close friend Phil Shaw remembers a humble man deeply rooted in family tradition.

“My friendship with Sandy goes back 55 years,” Phil said.

“Sandy was not about accumulating wealth or recognition. He was about the great privilege of maintaining his family heritage and the success of the wonderful breed of shorthorn cattle.

“He was very conservative when it came to risk-taking. His focus was preserving the Munro family name in the beef industry. This is a genetic trait in the family, and has been for more than 150 years,” Phil said.

“Sandy was humble and generous. He was not about accolades or the high life, and was passionate about the land. He dedicated his life to Weebollabolla and his family legacy,” Phil said.

At times, Sandy debated farming and irrigation matters with his father, Wallace.

Wally was a cattleman, blood-rich with tradition. Sandy was a young, sometimes brash, innovator, and often looked outside the square.

Sandy wanted to diversify, and boldly began redeveloping family-owned country on the Gwydir River, near Pallamallawa.

Phil Shaw said Sandy turned the property, Redbank, into a showpiece.

“Against his family cattle-grazing tradition, Sandy developed Redbank into a successful farming and irrigation block,” Phil said.

“I remember there were quite a few family disagreements with this move. However, Sandy persisted and produced a new direction for the business. He then went on to do similar work, but on a much larger scale, at Boonal.

“I remember having a quiet drink with Wally not long before Wally died, and he acknowledged the work Sandy did and the improvements he made,” Phil said.

Friend and confidant, Angus Bruxner, maintained a close friendship with Sandy for 65 years.

“Following in the steps of his great-grandfather, Alec, grandfather Roley and father, Wallace, Sandy was an exceptional stockman. His invaluable contributions to the Moree district and the beef cattle industry – particularly, his beloved Shorthorns – leaves a significant legacy,” Angus said.

“His experience, knowledge and wisdom will be sorely missed by many.”

Angus met Sandy in 1960 when boarding at Gowan Brae, the site of The King’s School Preparatory School.

Sandy played rugby, cricket, and tennis. However, he excelled in rifle shooting.

Sandy was awarded his Colours for shooting in 1965, 1966 and 1967, and captained the TKS shooting team in 1967.

During these years, King’s secured the GPS shooting premierships in 1965 and 1967 and was joint runner-up in 1966.

In 1965, Sandy was awarded The Laurence Memorial Trophy for recording the best aggregate score in the Buchanan Shield, an historic and important GPS shoot, held annually.

In 1966, Sandy’s name was etched on The Verge Cup for contributing most to the Rifle Club during the year.

“The intent of the donor was that the cup be competed for annually, as a prize for the champion rifle shot of the School Cadet Corps,” Angus said.

In 1967, Sandy was awarded the school’s Star Badge for outstanding shooting and for being selected in the combined GPS team, a squad he proudly captained.

“From 1960 to 1967, Sandy was well-schooled in the ways of The King’s School, and he accepted and respected the traditions and disciplines for which the school was renowned,” Angus said.

The school motto is Fortiter et Fideliter, meaning ‘Bravely and Faithfully’.

“Sandy exemplified this motto in relation to everything he sought to achieve and, in fact, did achieve during his lifetime,” Angus said.

“Having fitted in so well within the TKS environment, Sandy regularly and proudly cited the well-used adage which many might say accurately identified him throughout his life: You can always tell a King’s man, but you can’t tell him much,” Angus smiled.

Equipped with a TKS education and experience, Sandy returned home to Weebollabolla in 1968.

“Sandy absolutely lived and breathed agriculture. He was an outspoken advocate for the industry and vociferous opponent of those whom he felt conspired against anything situated or conducted ‘west of the sandstone curtain’,” Angus said.

“Our friendship was cemented even further after we left King’s. I made numerous visits to Weebollabolla, and will always value the wonderfully rewarding relationship which I enjoyed with the Munro Family during those years.

“Moira and Wallace were an amazing couple and were devoted parents to Sandy and his three wonderful sisters, Jane, Susan, and Mary,” Angus said.

Sandy married Judith Howle in November, 1972, at Pymble Ladies College Chapel in Sydney. Soon after, they returned to Redbank.

“Throughout their lives together, Sandy maintained an enduring love and passion for Jude, their four wonderful daughters, Catriona, Kirsten, Jennifer and Jacquelin, and their twelve grandchildren,” Angus said.

“It would be difficult to imagine another family who is so closely bound by mutual faith and love.”

By the 1970s, the annual Weebollabolla bull sale was a must-attend auction for every Shorthorn breeder on the east coast.

In 1973, 154 bulls grossed $537,758 at auction to average $3,492, selling to a top of $16,000.

The following year, an incredible 631 Weebollabolla-blood bulls sold privately as well as at auction, with sales as far away as Moolla Boolla Station in Western Australia.

During the partnership between Sandy and his father, Wally, land acquisitions included Tobermorey near Boulia, Lucknow Downs and Bendboi near Surat, Pipersleigh near Texas, Bryanunga near Tulloona and Mittiebah Station, near Tennant Creek.

In 1980, the partnership diversified to irrigated and dryland farming, producing summer and winter crops, primarily on Boonal.

Sandy’s father, Wally, passed away 24 years ago.

A family decision was made to restructure the business, a process facilitated through dissolving the AGF Munro Partnership and the sale of Redbank and Mittiebah Station in the Northern Territory.

Around this time, Mayvale, at the foot of Mount Lindesay near Barraba, was purchased.

“Sandy absolutely loved Mittiebah, and he played an integral role in developing it into the magnificent cattle production operation it was when sold to North Australian Pastoral Company in 2001,” Angus said.

Sandy and his sisters, Jane Munro, Susan Ross and Mary Moses, worked closely to achieve a positive succession plan, resulting in Sandy becoming managing director of Norland Pastoral.

Angus Bruxner played a pivotal role and was subsequently appointed a company director.

“Loyalty, integrity, passion, humility, resilience, generosity, and wit and wisdom are just some of the personal attributes possessed by Sandy Munro,” Angus said.

“One could never overestimate his enthusiastic and innovative contribution to agriculture, and, more particularly, the pastoral industry in which the Munro Family has maintained an eminent role and reputation for what is now five generations.

“Sandy’s boundless energy and zest for embracing life to the fullest degree made him a larger than life personality,” Angus said.

“He had the ability to walk with kings and queens – and, given the opportunity, he would have revelled in doing so – while not losing the common touch.

“It is a measure of his worth that such a broad spectrum of personalities from so many walks of life were present at his memorial service,” Angus said.

Alexander Forbes Munro is survived by his wife, Jude, daughters Catriona, Kirsten, Jennifer and Jacquelin and their partners, sisters Mary, Susan and Jane, and 12 grandchildren.

Sandy Munro was a big man with a bigger heart.

May he rest in peace.

Words: Bill Poulos