The trucking community is tight knit and supportive.
Truckies from all across Australia are always keen to help out a fellow rig lover, and for this year’s 14th Clunes Historic Vehicle Show, that’s exactly what they did.
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The Historical Commercial Vehicle Club (HCVCA) initiated this event, but member Murray Pope was the one who “pestered” the president of the club to open up a Ballarat branch.
Branch president Chris Londish says it wasn’t long after the Ballarat branch was inaugurated that the HCVCA decided to have their own display day at the Clunes Showground, where it’s been held ever since.
“This show was our way of tributing Murray because he’s been quite ill, so us, along with his family were worried that this show may be his last one,” he says.
“They managed to bring three of his restored trucks, plus the truck he drove around for 23 years.
“We had his Commer Knocker that he’s restoring, an R190 Prime Mover with a big petrol engine, a big 406 and a restored 1950 Albion Prime Mover.”
What’s truly unique about the historical Clunes show is the diversity of machines on display. The rule is simple, all vehicles must be at least 25 years or older.
“There was everything from a 1924 Dodge Buckboard, right up to a Mack Super-Liner,” Chris says. “Most of the rigs were small, old trucks from the 30s, 40s and 50s, just displaying Australia’s trucking history.”
Chris says the day was an “absolute banger” and one of their best shows yet.
With 110 big rigs standing proud on the grounds, it was the biggest turn up on a Saturday night they have ever had.
“By 11am on Sunday, the arena was full of all types of machinery, cars, stationary or antique engines.”
The weekend wasn’t just a great help for Murray, but for another young truckie who is quite unwell and has a family.
The trucking community got to work once again, hosting a charity auction and raising about $8,000 for one of their own.
And the show’s charitable spirit continued to shine, with this year’s contribution pushing their donations to around $30,000 to local causes over the years.
“It felt nice to bounce back from last year as it went terribly, we had the chair kicked out from under us,” he says.
“Both days were 40 + (degrees celsius) , and we broke even which wasn’t good because we give all our money raised to charity.”
Chris says his team aren’t the ones who need the money, donating the raised funds to charities like Fiona Elsey, CWA Lismore and a young truck driver who lost his legs in a rollover.
“What’s the point of keeping the money in the bank? We don’t have a home for our members, just a trailer we store all our things in.”
So, as the community, alongside historic vehicle enthusiasts from all over, gather to pay homage to the machines that have shaped the past century, Chris couldn’t be prouder of his team and their sponsors as the show reaches new heights.
With the support of the community, Clunes will continue to thrive and offer truck lovers a chance to show off their preserved history, supporting those in need of a little help along the way.
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