As Snow Carrigan served with the AIF in New Guinea during World War 2, he must have wondered if he would survive the jungle warfare much less reach the grand old age of 100 - but survive he did and he celebrated this magnificent milestone with his large family at Gunnedah Rugby Park.
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Surrounded by four generations of the Carrigan family, including his brother John, who is 94, and brother-in-law John Hallman, Snow was the centre of attention, even receiving congratulations from Queen Elizabeth, the Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Snow was also honoured with an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis, presented by parish priest Father John McHugh at Mass in St Joseph's Church on Saturday evening.
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Born into a farming and sporting family at Moree on June 16, 1919, and christened Clarence Patrick, Snow acquired his nickname early in life due to his tow-coloured mop of hair.
The third child of John Carrigan and Mary Doran, Snow grew up with his brothers Charlie, Lionel and John and sister Enid on the family property Hazeldene at Boomi on the Queensland border.
He was introduced to horses and farming life at an early age but due to the property's isolation, he was sent to boarding school at the Inverell convent to ensure that he received a good education. After completing primary school, Snow boarded at De La Salle College in Armidale, where his sporting skills were quickly recognised and he captained the under 14 cricket and rugby teams.
After completing the Intermediate Certificate, Snow returned to Hazeldene during the challenging times of the Great Depression. He helped work the property until 1938 when his father bought the historic Milchengowrie near Boggabri.
The Carrigans moved in to wheat growing which proved disastrous the first few years but with better advice and land management it was finally a success.
As the face of the Second World War changed from Europe to the Pacific, and Australia became threatened by the Japanese, Snow was called up for military service in the Lighthorse Brigade. He enlisted on August 21, 1942, and after a few months basic training at Rutherford was shipped to New Guinea as part of the 80 Australian Transport Platoon. The platoon moved around the war zones, transporting supplies and ammunition from the docks to camps at Lae, Madang and Finchaven.
This was fraught with danger as they avoided shelling during the day and listened to the bombing at night. A stint at Buna proved to be one of the wettest on record, with Snow eventually succumbing to the ravages of malaria and a duodenal ulcer. On September 3, 1945, he was discharged from the AIF and spent six weeks recovering in Concord Repatriation Hospital before returning to Milchengowrie.
The Carrigans were well known for their sporting achievements but it was in the field of horse racing that the family excelled as owners, trainers and amateur riders.
Snow became serious about racing in 1946 and quickly gained acclaim as the most successful amateur jockey in the north west, proudly wearing his blue and yellow silks. In one season, Snow rode 23 winners in nine days of picnic racing. In 1950, he won the family's first Wean Cup on Tempest King, followed by a win on Lord George the following year when he also took out the Wean Bracelet.
All four brothers took a keen interest in the training of their horses but by 1954 Snow's riding days were over after a spectacular fall in Warren where he suffered a broken jaw, arm injuries, lacerations and concussion. By the time he retired Snow had booted home 300 winners at amateur meetings and won 30 "whips" for most successful rider.
At the birthday celebration, the top of Snow's cake boasted his jockey silks in blue and yellow.
Snow's bride Joan Mary Kenniff was the love of his life. They tied the knot at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Boggabri, in July 1947 and raised their family of four girls and two boys on their property Dia-Lynn adjacent to Milchengowrie. Snow Carrigan continued the sound farming techniques practised by his father and won a field wheat competition with a crop that yielded 54 bushels to the acre. In the 1960s, Dia-Lynn produced a record breaking irrigated soy bean crop, despite flood water covering part of the crop for up to 10 days.
Snow's keen interest in horse racing has never wavered, with the Carrigan horse Tuvista winning the Wean Cup in 1970 and Summer Rain winning two races and placing in two - minus an eye. The greatest upset of the year came when Snow's Royalty ridden by Ray Selkrig, defeated odds-on favourite Strawberry Hill at Randwick in his fourth start, with the prize money yielding more than Snow had paid for the colt as a yearling.
Snow and Joan Carrigan retired from the farming life, with its highs and lows, and settled in Gunnedah where they became much loved parishioners at St Joseph's. Their offspring Maria, Judy, Jerome, Paula, Arna and Anthony had all spread their wings and Snow and Joan enjoyed watching their families grow.
It was a proud moment for them when their grand-daughter Sara Carrigan took out the 130km road race at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
It was a huge loss for Snow when he lost his wife Joan in December 2010. Snow stayed on in their home, only letting go of his driver's licence when he was well into his nineties. Two years ago, Snow moved into frail aged care at Alkira, where he is popular with staff and residents alike.
He still attends every Anzac Day commemoration and follows horse racing with great interest.
For someone who has lived through the Great Depression and World War 2, seen many changes in farming practices, transport and technology, watched man land on the moon and modern aeroplanes take flight, Snow Carrigan has led a full and interesting life.
Today's fast paced world is a far cry from the post World War 1 era he was born into, but looking around at his loving family at the birthday party, Snow Carrigan had a warm smile of contentment - his legacy, six children, 15 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren, soon to be 28.
