Ex-soldiers preserve emu plume tradition on slouch hats to honour army history

Emu feathers on a slouch hat are a powerful symbol of the Australian Light Horse, and two army veterans are combining their skills so the tradition lives on. Former soldier Dale Kirkman first made a plume for his own hat more than 20 years ago and now makes up to 200 plumes each year for the slouch hats of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, veterans and re-enactment groups. “It’s all about the fullness of the plume and some of the colour,” he said. ” The tradition was the darker the feather, the better the rider for the Light Horse. “…