A defining moment in Birchip’s history now stands proudly above the town, with the remarkable story of Ray Neville and Rimfire brought to life on the Birchip silos.

The project, driven by Birchip Community Forum, was first initiated by the late Joan Glen in 2023 and has been passionately carried forward by her husband Rod.

Ray Neville’s story remains one of the most unique in Australian racing history. Growing up in Birchip, he was just 15 years old and had only a handful of race rides to his name when he was given the opportunity of a lifetime, securing a last minute ride on outsider Rimfire in the 1948 Melbourne Cup.

Starting at odds of 80 to one, few gave the young apprentice any chance. Up against some of the most experienced jockeys in the country, Neville rode with composure beyond his years, positioning Rimfire perfectly before making his move in the straight. In a dramatic finish, Rimfire surged to the line to win by the narrowest of margins, delivering one of the biggest upsets in Cup history.

Back home in Birchip, the town erupted. Families gathered around radios to listen to the race, and as news spread that a local boy had won the nation’s biggest race, celebrations followed.

The story will continue to be celebrated by locals and visitors alike now with the murals, painted by renowned artist Kyle Torney capturing the emotion and scale of Neville’s historic ride.

Funding

Funding for the project was secured through Regional Development Victoria via the Tiny Towns grant, alongside grants from Buloke Shire Council, Cargill Cares and Victorian Tourism and Business Innovation Grants Program.

A wide range of private donors also supported the project, including Mary Fielding, Lowry Brothers, Tony Ryan, Luke O’Donnell, Rod Glen, Leon Hogan, Willy Cantwell, Dan Coffey, Matt Ryan, Peter Russell, Lachlan Barber and Donald and District Racing Club.

Local businesses played a key role, with Greg’s Digging, Buloke Hire, Norton Plumbing, Midland Electrical and Andrew Lee and Andrew Barber (co-chairs of Cargill Cares) all donating time and equipment to help bring the vision to life.

The project is a testament to community persistence, with countless hours contributed through meetings, phone calls, applications and compliance processes. It stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved through local collaboration.

Special thanks were also extended to Kyle Docherty from GrainCorp and Mark Ireland and Associates from VicRail for their support in obtaining all the necessary permits and compliance requirements.

The silo project which has finally come to fruition not only celebrates a sporting fairytale but also recognises the strength of what can be achieved when a community works together with locals and external organisations.

Related story: Birchip’s silo art begins
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 26 March 2026.