Having only recently exited from running the Kiama & District Sports Association for 43 years, Col Rathbone is heading out on the adventure of a lifetime.

Beginning in Healesville, Victoria, this September, Col will be tackling the 5,330km National Trail to Cooktown with only three horses and a 60kg pack.

“I first heard about the Trail when it was opened in ’88, and I thought I’d love to do that one day,” Col says.

The Trail follows historic coach and stock routes through Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT.

Divided into 12 sections, less than 60 people have completed the entire route.

“It’ll take me 9 months to Cooktown, all going well. Horses walk at about 6kms an hour so I’m looking at 30-40kms a day,” says Col, who is 76 this year and was Kiama’s Citizen of the Year in 2017.

“That should get me through the Snowy Mountains in summertime so it’s not real cold, then through the northern part in wintertime so it’s not too hot.”

Raised on a farm in Griffith, Col has never been particularly involved with horses despite always having a love for them. He initiated the Kiama Light Horse Brigade in 2015, which now attends all memorial services.

Aside from the horses, Col will be traversing the country solo and plans to spend as little time in town as possible.

“I’m hoping to come across a country pub or something every four or five days so I can have a good counter meal and cool beer, and that’ll keep me going for the next four or five. But that’ll be the only time,” he says.

After the passing of his wife Roni two years ago (she was Kiama Citizen of the Year in 2000), Col feels there’s no time like the present.

“I’m not getting any younger. Most of the family think I’m a silly old bugger, but it’s a now or never thing. One of those ‘bucket list’ dreams,” he says.

“I’m going to do a fundraiser for the Melanoma Foundation too, for my wife. I’ll talk to them for some sun tips as well.

“That’s the disadvantage of starting from the south, you’ll be going into the sun all the time. But the wind is at your back, so there’s that.”

Col is heading down to his daughter’s property in a few weeks to begin training.

“I’ve got a five year old stockhorse mare called Daphy and an eight year old ex-trotter called DJ. Hopefully we’ll find a third one that they like, as they’ve got to get on,” he says.

Col wants to encourage others to take the leap and pursue their own dreams, no matter how crazy they seem.

“Don’t hesitate, don’t put it off. You can always find reasons to not do something, so just do it.”

The Bugle will be following Col along his journey, with details of his fundraiser to follow in future issues.