Emu feathers on slouch hats stand as a strong emblem of the Australian Light Horse, and two army veterans are working together to ensure the tradition continues.
Former soldier Dale Kirkman crafted his first plume over 20 years ago for his own hat. Today, he produces up to 200 plumes annually for the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, veterans, and historical re-enactment groups.
“It’s all about the plume’s fullness and the feather colour,” Mr Kirkman explained.
“In the Light Horse, darker feathers symbolized a more skilled rider.”
A lasting military tradition
Although the emu plume rose to prominence during World War I, it traces back to the 1890s Queensland shearers’ strike, when mounted infantry were said to have plucked feathers from emus while riding.
Today, members of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps still wear the plumes with pride, including Captain Henry Lindsay from Wagga Wagga.
“We maintain the tradition that when someone joins the regiment, they are gifted an emu plume for good luck — it’s not something you buy,” Mr Lindsay said.
“Every time I wear my slouch hat with the emu plumes, I feel a deep sense of pride, especially when I can feel them fluttering in the breeze.”
A meticulous craft
Each feather is carefully sorted by length, glued, and stitched into kangaroo leather pouches representing the Australian Coat of Arms.
“I aim to use feathers with well-shaped tips,” said Mr Kirkman.
“By layering different sizes, the plumes cascade beautifully over the slouch hat.”
To source the feathers, Mr Kirkman partners with Ian Marston, a fellow veteran and emu farmer from southern New South Wales.
The two met while working at the Kapooka Army Training Centre in Wagga Wagga, and today, they trade feathers for farm work.
Mr Marston breeds emus with lush, full feathers, carefully managing their diet.
“We’re always experimenting to enhance the shine of their feathers, improve oil quality, and refine meat flavour,” Mr Marston said.
The broader emu farming industry
At Mr Marston’s farm, 750 emus supply feathers, meat, leather, and decorative eggs, but the main product is emu oil, valued for its use in health supplements, skincare, and cosmetics.
“Each bird yields about 9.5 kilograms of fat, which produces roughly 8 litres of oil,” he said.
Wholesale, this oil can fetch up to $80 per litre.
Chris Gregory, president of the Emu Industry of Australia, reported that about 45 tonnes of oil were produced nationally last year, with rising demand in Southeast Asia and the United States.
While emus have been farmed in the U.S. since the 1970s and in India, China, and Japan since the early 2000s, Mr Gregory noted that production in these countries has shrunk to a few farmers, much like in Australia.
Mr Marston believes Australian farmers have an edge due to selective breeding for emus that produce higher levels of vitamin K2-MK4, prized for its health benefits.
“Many people don’t realise there are five varieties of emu,” Mr Marston explained.
“Even if other countries farm emus, they might not have the right breed for producing our sought-after vitamin K2.”
