LEONE Creamer of Bermagui has had a few passions in her life, including horse racing, tennis and helping young people.
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“I’ve always been terribly keen on horses,” she said.
Originally from Sydney, she was born in 1929 and became a sports mistress, teaching sport at private schools.
She did not inherit her love of horses from her family, however they did support her and when her father got her a horse she rode it from the top of Bulli Pass to Randwick, with her mother driving behind her.
“I was just crazy then,” she said.
She married stock and station agent Stan in Nimmitabel in 1959, then in 1960 they moved to Bermagui and bought a house in George St.
She said she was the first female horse trainer in NSW, beginning in 1966, and had the “best horse on the South Coast” - one called Lady Colice.
Ms Creamer would race on Lady Colice, and “won a huge amount of races” in Bega, Randwick and Canberra.
She said it was much easier to have a drink while riding back then.
“In those days there were no breathalysers and you could stop in and have a jolly good scotch on your way home,” she said.
In 1986 she stopped racing and began dressage, as well as teaching children to ride.
While she never had children of her own, she said she made up for that by working with other kids, teaching many as a local tennis coach.
A great moment for her was in 2009 when at age 80 she won the Nature Vet Fossil’s Cup at the Bega Showjumping Club’s Annual Fossil Cup Day while riding her horse Patrick.
Ms Creamer currently helps to teach Sophie Wintle, who suffers from cerebral palsy, how to ride after obtaining a saddle with a specially designed seat.
Sophie is riding well, and has won a couple of ribbons from a race day at Jindabyne High School.
“I hope she will be able to ride on her own, and I think she will,” Ms Creamer said.
These days Ms Creamer spends her time doing lots of work in the pony club, playing social tennis, going trail riding and having a swim when it’s not too cold.
“I think I’m still very lucky to be alive and healthy enough to enjoy it,” she said.
To hear more stories about Ms Creamer’s fascinating life, a “This is Your Life” event about her is being held on Sunday at the Bermagui Country Club.
Her story begins at 4.30pm and entry is $5.