Stirlings Reserve - a family story

Stirling Fritz Blacket is not only the Grandfather of Riversands owner David Blacket, but also a Gallipoli veteran and bushman of the Maranoa.

At the tender age of 19, Stirling enlisted in the Second Light Horse and rode his way into ANZAC legend. Despite being wounded at Gallipoli, he returned as a despatch rider.

He was one of the last to be evacuated on December 19 1915. He recalled “The final group was split into three for the evacuation. A Party left about dark. B Party followed at midnight. I was in C Party. We departed at 3.00 am. There was none more pleased than I when we were out of reach of shell fire. I can well remember clearing the Dardenelles as daylight was breaking!”

Gallipoli was followed by 3 years of Lighthorse desert action in Palestine, Sinai and Gaza. He received the Military Medal for capturing 11 Turks before the charge of Beersheba.

After his discharge Stirling returned to Carpentaria Downs in the Gulf where he had been jackarooing before the war. In 1927 he bought “Tamanick”, a grazing property located between Mitchell and St George. Stirling married Freda Hamilton in 1928, thereafter developing a fine breeding line of Hereford cattle and raising a family of four.

Stirling lived to the grand age of 98 and maintained the best thing he ever did was marry the woman he did! Stirling’s Reserve Red Liqueur Muscat is dedicated to Stirling Blacket’s life.