Author John Elsegood |
Henry Ethelbert Thomas Miller Champion reinsman
Born: Palmyra, 1932
Died: Wattle Grove, aged 91
Not many called Ethelbert make a name for themselves.
In fact, 1100 years separated Ethelbert, King of Kent and Wessex, and reinsman Henry Ethelbert Thomas Miller — “Harry” — whose career in pacing was highlighted by winning the 1960 WA Trotting Cup.
The medieval Ethelbert had to fight to keep his kingdom free of Viking invaders; Harry Ethelbert also learnt to fight and was WA lightweight wrestling champion in 1952.
However, his toughest battle came eight years later, against champion driver Phil Coulson, in a nailbiting finish to WA’s premier pacing race.
Both the race and aftermath were sensational. Peppercorn (Jim Schrader), the favourite, appeared a likely winner on the turn, according to press reports, but he broke in the home straight and veered outwards, taking the challenging Jackie Scott (Miller) and Taxi Boy (Coulson), who had come from last, with him.
On the post that pair were separated only by the proverbial lip, but the photo showed it was Harry’s small pacer prevailing. Coulson immediately fired in a protest, for interference, but the stewards let the original verdict stand, giving the young driver his finest moment in the sport a day before his 28th birthday.
But Harry’s notes dispute reports that Peppercorn was a certainty before breaking into a gallop.
He wrote: “Jackie gave Peppercorn a terrific start, caught him easily on the turn and was on the bit when Peppercorn left his feet (galloped) under pressure. Coulson won us the race when he hit Jackie, who was galloping, right back into gear . . . ”
The win was no fluke.
The pair struck again at Gloucester Park to win the 1960 Easter Cup — once again defeating Taxi Boy, thus completing a truly memorable double.
Such quality wins added to the illustrious Miller family list of victories, including his jockey father, Jim, who won three Railway Stakes and a Perth Cup.
Ironically, Harry had once applied to be a steward but there were no vacancies and the “stipes” advised the lightly built applicant to apply to be a reinsman and be in the spider, rather than the tower!
Faith and family were important ingredients to the Miller make-up.
Harry was one of nine children born to Jim and Cath Miller and left school at 13 moving to Welshpool.
In May 1962, he married nurse Theresa Steber. The couple set up home in Wattle Grove.
Harry had become smitten with his sister Margaret’s friend, first seeing her on a Lambretta scooter, and apparently was much taken by her muscled arms! His wooing technique was rather unique, telling Theresa that he had a great Jersey cow and “if you marry me you can milk her and keep your hands soft”. That did it. Clearly no reasonable girl could resist such a proposal!
Harry plied his trade as a qualified refrigeration mechanic, as well as training pacers, and eventually started his own business, building up a large clientele.
But his passion remained horses, competing on many country tracks in the Wheatbelt and South West.
He always commenced those journeys with prayers for safety. He only ever had one demerit point!
Nevertheless, there were dramatic road dramas for the “Road Runner”. Once in nearby Welshpool, the railway boom gate came down, between his car and the horse float — with the latter only just clear of the tracks. Normally a good judge of a run, this was not Harry’s best drive. It was a moment where faith and good humour were needed, something he possessed in spades.
Even worse was when a float overturned with two horses, causing bad injuries to his second-best pacer, Mary Major, when returning from Kalgoorlie. She recovered, under tender care.
When winners were light-on he tried his hand at various jobs.
Once, when working as a bread deliverer, he asked his boss, Reg Brennan: “When do they put those vitamins into the bread?” Reg replied: “When they put the label on.” In his last few weeks of life he asked Theresa, about his medicine: “When do they put these additives in?” She replied: “When they stick the label on, Harry.” He roared with laughter.
Apparently, he tried bread-making but a family friend, Stan Bailey, compared them to bricks.
Harry also had stints as a cleaner at Lesmurdie Primary, and a trade job at the Parmelia Hilton.
His faith was real to him, and he was a member of various Catholic groups, plus was involved with the Wattle Grove Primary School, being chairman of the P&C for three years.
He tried unsuccessfully to win a seat on the Kalamunda council and was involved with the Democratic Labour Party.
Harry also tried his hand at equine breeding, standing his stallion, Jack Oro, to serve his mares and outside clients’ horses. Theresa said that the stallion was a fine sire but added, loyally, that Harry was even better, as all eight of his progeny were winners! (The couple also finished with 15 grandchildren and three “great grandies”).
Harry had the Miller trait of spinning a good yarn and has left some, for posterity on video clip, and even assured there is another Ethelbert — a galloper — trained by son, Patrick.
As someone able to laugh at himself he would have appreciated a strange finale to his Wooroloo Cemetery burial.
Harry had always been a stickler, to his children, that when they left the house, to do chores or play on the seven-acre (2.8ha) property, that they must “shut the door”. However, his constant refrains were inevitably ignored by his merry band.
So, as mourners dispersed to leave the cemetery, family members in the official limousine discovered, to their chagrin, that the door, on one side would not close.
Harry had got the last laugh, complete with a final reminder!