| | ALBURY ON THE MURRAY.  May 14th – 16th. 2004.Reproduced from the June 2004 HCVC Newsletter On a lovely Melb Autumn morning we, Pat, Bill, Ray, and Lynn O’H. left home for Albury. After 2 brief stops at Wallan and Glenrowan, we arrived at Brendan’s workshop at 4.30pm to get info and map on accommodation and the nights entertainment. We settled at Trek 31 and at 7pm we were picked up by a shuttle bus that took us to Brendan’s for a BBQ tea. We were very spoilt with salads, rice, spuds, and great snags and marinated steak and lovely homemade slices for desert. Thanks Sandy. A lot of catching up was done and too much information was heard at Dave H’s table. What was her name? Murray Langford, (Mt Gambier) had bad luck near Ararat on his way over with his White Mustang. The White took 2 ½ years to restore, a great job, and on its first trip out it put the fan through the radiator. What should have been an 8 hour trip took 2 days. The shuttle bus had us back at our respective accommodation by 11pm, we waited up till Bronwyn Matt and Boys turned up and settled down by 12. Up at 7.30 and outside Maccas by 8.45 to begin the day with a run to Howlong for morning tea at the Bakery, then a photo shoot at Howlong Memorial Park. The Truck count is as follows: Brendan and Sandy – British Bedford, Rob French – Peterbuilt, Glen and Janiece – Inter C1100, Pat and Bill O’H – D3F Dodge, Trenny – Bedford, David and Christine – Bedford, Brendan – Inter- (driven by Keith Clarkson), Russ, The Pres. –Ford-, Jarrod – Inter, Helen and Bruce – Inter, Terry B – Leyland Tanker, Dave H – Bedford, Ron Stone – Studebaker, Murray – White Mustang, Gavin Spenser- -Mack, Ron Graeme – Kenworth, Andrew McIntosh (photos) – Blitz, Terry Lowe – White (not as much room for 2 small boys as the Diamond Reo), Des Laffan – Chev, Mick’s Mack, Lynn and Ray – Leyland Bus, Martin and Geoff – Modern, and Bronwyn Matt .Connor and Devin – Modern.  Terry’s 2 boys, Aaron 3 and Ben 2, and Connor, 4, had a great weekend playing together, l think the common interest in trucks gave then heaps to talk about!!
We left Howlong at 11.30 and had a good drive through to Chiltern and lined up in the Main Street at noon for a bit of lunch and a wander around this very quiet town The Museum was the local servo. It was full of old signs, bowsers, oil cans by the dozen, old trucks and all sorts of motor Memorabilia including an old Metz. We went the Star Theatre, built in 1866 with a common wall between the theatre and the Star Hotel. Over the years it has been used for Live Productions. Balls, Card Nights, Political Rallies (Isaac Isaacs, 1st Australian born Governor General, made his 1st Political speech here.) Boxing and Roller Skating. Closed due to TV and Drive Ins, it was opened again in 1973 when Rhonda and Charlie Summerfield bought it and operated it as an Antique Shop and private use. Then in 1996, their son, Peter, restored The Star back to a Theatre and collected cinema memorabilia and footage, posters, old seats from around the country, old torches and built a replica Ticket Box. Rhonda gave us a brief history and we watched a great mix of 30/40s nostalgia movie shorts, Adverts for vegemite, a Felix the Cat cartoon, previews for ‘Gone with the Wind’ and ‘Oklahoma’, and a scary ‘Thrills on Wheels’. After Chiltern we headed to beautiful, colourful Beechworth, (it’s Autumn, say no more), The town had their Harvest Festival on Sunday so the Main Street was closed and we had to park behind the Court House, which was interesting for the big vehicles especially the bus, which had about ¾ inch to spare on one side. We all went to the Famous Beechworth Bakery for afternoon tea. Their Beestings are the best!! We had a quick look around and headed back to Albury by 5.30, a quick clean up and change and picked up by Brendans’ brother, Danny in a 46 seat Denning Landseer for a noisy drive to Poachers Paradise, Rutherglen for Roast Beef and Veg and Apple Pie and Cream. YUM. Andrew had his camera going all weekend and got some lovely shots here, with lots of grins and grimaces. The Door Prize was won by me, Lynn, a nice set of mugs and mud mops,(handcrafted cloth coasters, to those who don’t know) and Ron G won a bottle of JB. Left Rutherglen at 9.30 and drove through a very dark cold night to Balldale Pub. That’s it, just the Pub, I don’t think this small lonely pub will get over being invaded by 40 odd (odd being descriptive) truckies and partners. Had a few drinks or cuppa and left about 11, a very raunchy and noisy trip back to Albury. Whose ‘bits’ are in that photo? Sunday Morning is cool and cloudy and again we are at Maccas at 8.45. We head out to “Merv’s Shed” by 9.30. A large Factory/workshop/warehouse is opened up for us by Merv McIntosh, his collection of 45 years is amazing. To walk into the entrance is to be met by a 150 year old Beer Barrel and a large 1881 French clock, lots of gold and brass, it had 2 sets of bongs, so the servants didn’t have an excuse not to hear it  Through to the main area and Merv’s lst Vintage car, 1926 Clyno is on show, one of about 13 Vintage/Classic cars, a Dennis Fire Engine,1 Inter Oil Tanker, 2 x 1915 Coal Scuttle Inters’, (l restored and l under construction.) and 1956 Excelsior Autobyk. Also the Smallest and largest of globes, O rings, forks, vices, ropes, G clamps, and about 160 jacks, a wool press and 70 year old carriage, as well as many other interesting articles. In Mervs’ private sitting room is a Doctors Chair/scales. A beautiful antique, that is very rare, over 100 years old made by W&T Avery, London & Birmingham, also a wonderful cane wheelchair. Merv also has the first “The Football Record”. The first Melb Critics Book of the VFL, April 27th, 1912. cost 1 penny. Many thanks to Merv.
We left at 10.15 to go to Rick McCrackens. (KRACKRZ) to see his 1964 B model Mack, Ramblin Rose. We lost Dave at the corner, somehow! This Mack was Ricks’ Dads and he found it 7 years ago and has taken 4 years and 80 thou to restore, an extremely impressive truck. It has its own shed. The kids found the TV in the authentic Mack grill fascinating, but a crying shame to some oldies. Russ wasn’t with us today, he headed home as Jean wasn’t we ll, hope all is OK now. After a nice morning tea, Rick joined our convoy at 11am for a pleasant drive through Thurgoona and Kinross Woolshed and arrived at Ettamoga Pub. Not a lot to see at this tourist attraction as most of the shops are closed, but nice to see this cartoon pub still operating. The youngsters were concerned then thrilled to see the truck on the roof!! We left and headed back to Brendans’ for lunch. Do Bedfords really need fuel to go? We had tasty homemade soup and sausages for lunch and after more chatting and laughter, we were all on the road by 2.30. Many thanks to Brendan and Sandy for feeding us so well and a great weekend. My apologies to those I’ve forgotten or misinterpreted. See ya next time! Lynn O’Halloran Photo's From:- Andrew McIntosh and Jarrod Blair |
