It was 40-years-ago that a bold 10-year-old Maitland boy rode his horse onto the town hall steps to shake hands with the-then Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam.
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That boy was Glenn Campbell.
Born and raised in Maitland and living at Louth Park, he attended St John’s Primary School and the former Marist Brothers High School.
Maitland people had come together in all their glory to parade along High Street in honour of Mr Whitlam’s visit to the town.
Mr Campbell, now an engineer and father of four living in Tamworth, was invited to take part with his fellow Maitland Pony Club members, including Olympian Heath Ryan.
The Mercury’s records show Mr Whitlam came to Maitland Town Hall on October 19, 1974.
“I rode my horse in the parade through Maitland and I dressed up for the occasion.
“I wanted to go as Maitland’s Black Boy [the statue]. I wore knee-length bloomers and a matching shirt and someone painted my skin black.
“I can’t remember how they did it but mum [June Campbell] and my family helped me.
“The Black Boy spoke to me as a symbol of Maitland, an icon who represented the town, he is all about Maitland.
“He had been stolen and put back in his spot in High Street a few times in the 1970s.
“That statue has so much heritage; there is not a statue like that in every town.”
During the visit and while on horseback, Mr Campbell made a spur of the moment decision as an outgoing, self-assured young boy to make a dash to meet the prime minister.
“On was on horseback the whole time. I decided it would be my chance to meet Mr Whitlam, it seemed like a good idea, it was all good fun and no harm done. I was only a kid,” he said.
“My horse went up the steps with me on his back.
“I can’t remember Mr Whitlam’s exact words, but he commented with something witty about how I looked.
“He was a tall man. He had a big grin on his face when I shook his hand.”
It meant a lot to a young Mr Campbell to meet a very powerful man.
“There was something about Gough Whitlam, a presence, even before he became prime minister.
“As a kid, I remember Mr Whitlam made a big impression. He was a man who stood out in a crowd.
“I admired him. I couldn’t help but like the guy.
“I could tell he was enjoying the whole occasion at the town hall.”
Mr Campbell’s memories of Maitland in the 1970s come from another era.
“As a kid growing up in Maitland, in Louth Park, it was a good community, country orientated, it was safe, with a lot less people,” he said.
“Maitland’s main street was the place to be, with all the traditional, family-owned shops back then.
“I have only good memories of Maitland, a great place to grow up.”