Violet Murrell The Film

This article is from the November 2019 Horse Deals magazine.

Not in any way to take away from Michelle Payne’s Melbourne Cup victory and her efforts to get there, which have been documented in the film “Ride Like A Girl” the story of Violet Murrell is just as, if not more inspiring. The story of the late Mrs Murrell has it all; passion, romance, heroism and ultimately tragedy. There is no happy ending, but the story is captivating, with a hint of the modern-day #MeToo movement and animal welfare giving the story a modern seasoning. Violet fought for women’s rights, especially in the racing industry where unlike Michelle Payne, she was not permitted to ride against men in city and metropolitan races. The fact that Michelle can is due to the efforts of women like Violet who had a passion for horses, especially racing. Violet is famous in equestrian circles and some of the broader community for dying in the attempt to save her beloved horse, Garryowen from a stable fire. She should be famous for an amazing albeit short life and wonderful talent and had social media been around in the 1920s and 30s she would be famous Australia wide. As it was, she was very well known and admired at the time, as in those days racing and showing exploits were well documented in the daily newspapers.

Film opening scene. A man, Caulfield racehorse trainer, Harry Farmer carries a crying baby out to the stables and sits her on a horse; she stops crying and so begins the life long passion Violet had for horses.

Violet Farmer was born in June 1904 and into the racing world. At seven she was given a pony, Gipsy that would occasionally come into the house and was taught to perform tricks. When she was older, about 14, she rode trackwork for her father. It was said, that by the time she was a teenager, she was experienced and talented both as a rider and handler. She won her first race against men at 14 and in one season won 17 of 19 starts against men. She left school, Mentone Girls Grammar at 16 to pursue a life with horses. As a very young woman, Violet joined the Purple Cross Society, a group that promoted animal welfare, especially horses. Very early on, she joined the Win The War Equestrienne Club where presumably young women would provide a saddled horse so that young men could ride to the reciting office and join up during WW1 (1914-1918).

It was her passion to become a jockey and she campaigned for women to be allowed to compete against male jockeys in Group 1 races. But she did not limit herself to racing as she competed with great success in showjumping, steeplechasing, point to points, hunting (she rarely missed a meet with the Melbourne Hounds), novelties, hacking and racing. Most of her racing, and she rode at 48kgs, was in the country and at picnic races.

You can see the attraction she must have had to Bill Murrell, a dashing young former steeplechase jockey turned trainer. Their combined passion for horses led to a love match and it is fair to say we can presume to know what the conversation was around their dinner table. They married in 1927 when Violet was 23 and Bill was 26. Bill very much supported her efforts to ride in the city and helped her in every way he could and Violet, in turn, attributed much of her success to her husband’s support and skilful coaching. Even on their honeymoon to Sydney, Bill rode a winner on the way and at Randwick Violet was the first woman to gallop a horse on the track. Violet was described as fearless and strong-minded, but also kind and gentle. She also had an artistic side and was quite a talented sketcher and painter; always horses of course.

We look at photos of Violet today and they do look dated, but doubtless, she was wearing the fashion of the day and the horse was turned out to perfection for the times. She was a well-known equestrienne Australia wide with enormous talent and racing then was, if anything, more popular than it is today. The 2019 Garryowen winner, Jess Stones is more in the mould of Violet than any other winner in recent times. Jess is a successful Grand Prix showjumping rider as well as an outstanding show rider. She is married to a talented horseman and is Jess fearless and strong-minded? Undoubtedly.
William Jones was in the horse export business and gave Garryowen to Violet when the horse was four or five years old. He was bred in NSW out of a station mare by the imported Thoroughbred, Cambuscan (UK). The details of why Jones gave her the horse are unknown, but it turned out to be an amazing partnership. Apparently Violet could just whistle him up from the paddock and he would come running. It was said that the horse was “like a lamb in her hands, although he could be difficult with others”. He began his showing career at five and was a Champion Hack at Melbourne in 1931, 1932 and 1933. In his short career, he won over 200 sashes and competed in jumping events as well.

Then came the fire at 2am on Saturday the 24th of March, 1934 in the stables just 50 meters from Violet and Bill’s Mentone home. “We all would like to think that is the person we are, to run in like Violet and try to save our horses,” says 2019 Garryowen competitor, Melissa Gillies. We all like to think that, but it is what Violet did. And Bill, seeing the love of his life run into the flames had no hesitation running in to save her. And save her he did. In a badly burned state himself, he carried an unconscious Violet from the stables and back to the house. The scene must have been horrific; flames consuming everything, the screams of Garryowen and a two-year-old filly and Billy the dog being consumed by the flames.

At least Bill and Violet got out, but Violet died in hospital the next day and Bill succumbed to his injuries a few days later. She was 29 and he, 32. Violet’s funeral was huge and how affecting would have been the sight of her coffin draped in the rug she made for Garryowen from his sashes.

At Bill’s funeral several days later Violet’s mother, Mrs Ethel Farmer placed the following poem above Bill’s photograph.

We must make our lives sublime
And departing leave behind us
Footsteps in the sands of time.
‘Henry Longfellow.’

It is no wonder a group of fellow competitors got together to create the memorial class, celebrating its 85th anniversary this year (2019). The first Garryowen class was conducted in September 1934. And there have been “footsteps in the sands of time ever since”.

The Melbourne Cup is certainly better known than the Garryowen, but Violet’s is a wonderful story. Perhaps it is too tragic to put to film; it unlike Michelle Payne’s does not end in winning the Melbourne Cup.

The photos in this article are as featured in the books...
The Garryowen Tradition 2001 to 2014 &
Violet Murrell and Garryowen, Their Story.
(both books are available for purchase at www.garryowenhistory.com.au)

Article written by Anna Sharpley

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