Jack Howe the legend

There are very few people who can influence and participate in various events of history and still command our fascination, respect and intrigue over one hundred years later. Jack Howe was such a person.

There are many anecdotes and stories told about Jack Howe - here are just a few.............

Frequently Jack is referred to as ‘Jackie’ and it has been stated that he was also known by that name to his friends. According to his children, he was always called ‘Jack’ and they would vehemently defend that fact. In those days the name of ‘Jackie’ or ‘Jacky’ was bestowed on some Aboriginals who, in the 1800’s, were not held in high esteem. Therefore, to be referred to as ‘Jackie’ would have been perceived as derogatory in those times and would not have been used.

So much is spoken about Jack Howe the Champion Shearer that his abilities as an athlete are almost unknown. . He was recorded as having long-jumped a distance of over twenty feet, high jumping over five feet and a hop-step and jump of forty feet five inches. However, it was at running that he really excelled as the Rockhampton man who had an almighty opinion of himself as a runner found out. This cock sure visitor to the shed where Jack was shearing at Springsure, said he would give any shearer a start of ten yards for a stake of £10. Young Jack, who was known as a bit of a flyer to his mates, backed himself against the challenger. The race took place on a clay pan track - Jack won hands down. The challenger, taken aback but still full of confidence, bet he could take Jack from an even start. Bets were placed and Jack beat him again. Finally, Jack gave his opponent a start of ten yards for all the money he had left - just a few pounds- and for the third time the hero of the woolshed breasted the tape first.

Another account of Jack's athletisism was, when an athlete called Frank Rodgers was training at 'Langlo Downs' for the big Botany Bay Handicap in Sydney - then the 'Pedestrian Derby' of Australia - and Jack, who was shearing there, gave him trial runs of 100 and 150 yards. Jack was barefoot; the professional sprinter, in orthodox spiked running shoes. Jack, having just shorn 217 sheep, ran dead heats in both races. To run 11 seconds on a grass track in bare feet after shearing all day was a remarkable feat. Later, Rodgers lost the race in Sydeny by just half a yard. Frank Rodgers advised Jack to buy spiked shoes as he believed that with training, he could be the next champion sprinter of Australia. Jack did this but certainly did not take running seriously as, while winning a foot race on a sports day in Warwick, he stopped dead within a few yards of the finish line to have a yarn with some friends! It was at that same event that he won the Irish Jig and Sailer's Hornpipe dancing competitions. In addition to these physical talents, Jack was known as an excellent public speaker and also had a fine singing voice.

Jack was obviously in fine physical form - just how good shows through in his vital statistics at his peak:

Height: 5ft 11ins or 177.8cm

Chest: 50ins or 127cm

Biceps: 17.5ins or 44.45cm

Forearm: 14.5ins or 36.8cm

Thighs: 27.5ins or 69.85cm

Left Calf: 19.25ins or 48.89cm

Right calf: 18.5ins or 46.99cm.

Weight: 14 - 15 stone

His hands were likened to tennis racquets and he was said to have strengthened his hands and wrists by squeezing a rubber ball hundreds of times a day.

A New Year's card from Jack to Victoria. Note the formal terms used. The card reads:- To Mrs J.R. Howe. With kindest regards and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year. From J.R.Howe. New Year. Wealth peace and plenty, love and mirth. All sweets and pleasures known on earth. Whate'er the truest joys may be I wish them now, to thine and thee! Ellis Walton.

As Jack Howe was a remarkable man so too was Victoria Howe an exceptional woman. She was a lady of slight, tiny stature, about 4ft11ins (150cm) in height. She was an intelligent, capable woman and a perfectionist - she was a dressmaker by trade. Her tenacity and inventiveness shows in this account: she owned a Packard car which had a problem with the starter. Times were hard - repairs would be expensive so she decided to put off the repairs and to crank the car for a while to start it. Some time later, the garage owner, noticing the car was starting perfectly, commented:

"I see you have a new part for your car, Mrs Howe."

"Indeed I have not, Mr Muir," she replied. "I sent for a book and rewound it myself."

Before Jack made his way to Blackall, he was working in the Tambo area. At "Langlo Downs" apparently the cook's preaprations were nothing to write home about and some of the shearers were fed up with his efforts. Jack took it upon himself to talk to the cook on their behalf. The cook took exception to his so Jack used his shearer's prerogative and sacked him. When the shearers knocked off for their meal there was no food in sight - it took some time to organise another cook. The ringer of the shed, a loud mouthed chap who had a fondness for food wanted to know what had happened to the cook. "Young Jack sacked him." was the reply. "And what bloody right has a young sapper like him to go and sack the cook! If the cook's to be sacked then a real shearer should do the job!" "I'll show him who's he sapper around here!" was Jack's retort when this was reported to him. The next day, Jack shore 211 sheep - the ringer had been shearing 150 up to then - and the 'gun' threw his blades down in dispair, not even reaching his 150, packed up his gear and left the shed!

Perhaps the most unusual story concerns the time the Governor of Queensland, Lord Lamington and Lady Lamington were touring the wool growing areas and made a special request to see Jack Howe shearing. However, the presence of a woman on the board in thise days caused some consternation. Tradition decreed that any woman who entered a shed had to have her foot raddled (raddle being a red chalky substance for marking sheep). Even though she was a titled lady, tradition had to be observed and Jack stepped across the board, raised the hem of her Ladyship's skirt and 'raddled' her shoe. By the time he had finished, Lady Lamington's face apparently was as red as the raddle Jack used!

On Monday, 10th October, 1988, ninety six years to the day and date that Jack Howe set his blade shearing record at 'Alice Downs' 19km north of Blackall, 550 locals and visitors witnessed the unveiling of the bronze statue of Jack Howe. Built with money donated by his granddaughter, Jenny Muir and a Bicentennial grant, the bronze statue now stands at the site of the Hotel he once owned and remains to commemorate the remarkable life of Jack Howe - the man and the legend.

Statue of Jack Howe

in front of the Universal Garden Centre and Gallery, Shamrock Street, Blackall.