A sweltering Father’s Day weekend saw nostalgia and history come alive at the 27th annual Rusty Iron Rally in Macksville, NSW, welcoming vintage and restored machinery enthusiasts from across Australia.
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Despite the sizzling heat, with temperatures soaring into the mid 30s, organiser and social media manager Calissa Keough says a strong crowd made its way through the dusty gates of the local showground to check out the display of vintage cars, bikes, trucks, engines and tractors.
“Two or three generations love to come to the rally together and reminisce,” she says.
“The older generations tell their family members, ‘I used to have this truck and engine when I was a kid, I haven’t seen it for so many years.’”
“I think it’s nice — we’re not losing anything, we’re keeping the history alive.”
The two-day rally was temporarily home to stationary engines, vintage tractors, Kenworths, Macks, Internationals, Western Stars and beautiful old Bedfords, some of them close to 100 years old.
The rally traces its roots back to a small group of dedicated restorers, preserving old machinery and beginning their first rally around the 90s.
A shared passion between a few men has turned into a community that keeps growing thanks to Calissa and her family, who took over the event five years after it began, and have plenty of their own vintage machinery to show off.
“We started off with a little grey Fergie, and now between all of us, we have tractors, an engine and an old Kenworth my husband grew up in,” she adds.
Every year, a select few come home with awards for their beloved rigs.
This year the winners included Steve Aylward, whose LTL Ford was named Truck of the Show, and Brian Bunt, whose Mack Super-Liner took out Best Restored.
This rally means a lot to the community of Macksville, which Calissa says is clear because they come back every year.
“There’s a reason they come back year after year, because we’re doing something right at the rally,” she says. “It’s a good, friendly rally.
“We might see these people once or twice a year at different truck shows and rallies and you get to know people and become good friends.”
Each year, the rally also serves a greater purpose.
Not only is it a way for people from all over the East Coast and central Australia to spend time and money in the NSW town helping local businesses to flourish, but Calissa ensures charities get a portion of the proceeds
This year, they supported Little Wings, an organisation that provides vital assistance to families with sick children.
“We will be donating between around four and a half thousand to Little Wings, and then we also support our local Surf Life Saving,” she says.
“They man the gates and parking for us and they do a wonderful job, so we give them a donation because they’re helping out for three or four days, setting up and everything.
“Without their help, I’d have to be manning the gates!”
Managing the rally’s online presence, Calissa shares photos and videos of the event on its Facebook page, capturing every great moment or display, highlighting the community spirit and keeping everyone connected.
The Rusty Iron Rally is a testament to the beauty of nostalgia and connectiveness, preserving the stories of the past while inspiring future generations to cherish their roots.
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