Towards the end of last week, I returned to Sydney late on Thursday afternoon so that I could attend Sylvanvale’s 75th Anniversary Reception at Government House that meant I had to cut short my days at the Chrysler Restorers Club of Australia’s National Rally being held in beautiful Wangaratta, Victoria.
For 12-months people have been telling me that the weather in Wangaratta is always cold no matter what time of year you visit this picturesque north-east Victorian town. How wrong that warning was.
(Above) Our first stop on the Hume Motorway south was in Yass for fuel. Photo: Steve Core
It was clear that this year's Rally would have a strong Ned Kelly theme. Ned Kelly for those of you who do not know was Australia’s most famous or infamous Bush Ranger. Ned lived and earned his reputation in this district in the mid to late 1800s.
Steve Core, my traveling companion/navigator & myself departed Sydney early on Monday morning 3:00am (26th September) fully booted & spurred with all our winter woollies for the 7-hour road trip to Wangaratta in my 1964, Plymouth, left-hand drive, 2-door (three on-the-tree manual) special sedan.
(Above) A great pit stop on the road south is the unbeatable Holbrook Bakery for its tasty selection of baked goods, pies and a hot cuppa. Photo: Steve Core
We arrived at our Big4 North Cedars, Holiday Park on the outskirts of Wangaratta at 10:30am after a very pleasant & uneventful journey from the Sutherland Shire. Admittedly it was overcast when we arrived, however it was far from bitterly cold as l had been warned for the past year, which was great news.
Once we checked into our accommodation it was now time to start enjoying the action that the organising committee from the host Victorian Club Members had organised for all participants enjoyment.
Day 1 - Monday 26th September 2022.
A country drive south to visit the Swanpool Cinema.
(Above) A wide variety of Chrysler cars fill a rain soaked car park outside the Swanpool Cinema. Photo: Steve Core
Swanpool is a small rural community located on the Midland Highway between Benalla and Mansfield. Light rain tumbled down on arrival and we parked adjacent the Cinema, in a muddy car park filled with Chrysler vehicles. An impressive sight for tiny, little Swanpool. With many passing motorists stopping to take photos.
(Above) The overcast afternoon really made the Cinema's front-of-house lights stand out. Photo: Steve Core
The Swanpool Cinema is a traditional and well-maintained 1950’s picture theatre run by an enthusiastic group of local volunteers. We enjoyed lunch and some automotive themed background films on arrival. That was followed by a number of short feature films in black & white selected for our viewing pleasure.
(Above) Traditional for recreating a cinema of this era, an Organ for live musical backdrop. Photo: Steve Core
Then later in the afternoon at 6:00pm most participants meet up at Rally HQ for our evening meal in Ned’s Hideout (Wangaratta Racecourse) where l had the opportunity to catch up with many old friends & acquaintances from previous National Rallys.
With our early start, Monday had been a huge day for middle-aged men like us, so we hit the sack around 10:00pm to catch up with our beauty sleep and prepare ourselves for the following days adventures.
Day 2 - Tuesday 27th September 2022.
Drive to Yarrawonga on the banks of the Murray River for a Paddle Steamer ride and visit to local private museums.
(Above) The Paddle Steamer Cumberoona moored on the banks of the Murray River, preparing for our tour around nearby Lake Mulwala. Photo: Steve Core
The 80 Kms or 50 miles drive to Yarrawonga, on the Murray River, which is Australia’s longest river was very enjoyable. Once we arrived at Lake Mulwala we then boarded the Cumberoona Paddle Steamer that is no longer a paddle steamer because it is now diesel powered for a delightful 1-hour cruise around the lake in overcast, but calm weather.
(Above) The ghostly looking outlines of hundreds of dead river red gum trees, that were all water-locked when the river became a lake back in the 1930s. Photo: Steve Core
After the cruise around Lake Mulwala it was now time to visit a couple of private museum collections in the area.
First cab off the rank was to visit the Graeme Ford collection, Graeme's a local collector who has organised his collection of tractors, cars and memorabilia in a large shed on his property the collection is well organised and presented, and includes household domestic goods of years gone by.
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(Above) Just part of an amazing collection of tractors on display, this one of course is a John Deere, manufactured in Moline, Illinois
After Graeme’s farm we then moved onto Frank Keenan’s collection.
Frank is another enthusiastic, local identity intent on preserving history and has set out about collecting, cars trucks, tractors and farming equipment that was in use before he was born. It is a ramshackle collection with many unexpected gems that would excite many scrap metal merchants.
We returned to Wangaratta later in the afternoon, we took a side trip through the picturesque wine region of Rutherglen as glorious afternoon sunshine illuminated the bright yellow fields of Canola on surrounding properties.
(Above) Just a small part of Graeme Ford's amazing collection of vintage equipment, machinery and antiques. Photo: Steve Core
We returned to Rally HQ at 6:00pm for dinner at Ned’s Hideout followed by a round of all-in Bingo for the punters then off to look at the inside of my eye lids for R&R for Wednesday’s adventure.
Day 3 - Wednesday 28th September 2022.
When I originally booked the Coach Tour to Shepparton many months ago to visit the Museum of Motoring Evolution (MOVE), Steve had not been included in the rally so unfortunately he missed out as the Coach was chockers with 55-people on board.
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(Above) At the MOVE Museum they have a car parking area reserved for cars with chrome bumpers only.
If you are passing through Shepparton, do not miss this magnificent dynamic, ever changing collection of vehicles on display, with machines from every era, and every corner of the globe. As well as Loel Thomson Costume Collection, Clayton Gramophones, telephones and radio Collection.
(Above) The MOVE Museum has an outstanding collection of everything automotive.
What we decided to do, l would still go to Shepparton for the day and l would lend the ‘64 Plymouth to Steve for him to please himself to go on his own adventure’s.
He choose to visit - Glenrowan. Steve mentioned to me later that evening that he did not actually visit the Kelly Museum itself. However he really enjoyed just walking around the picturesque town of Glenrowan taking photos & talking to the locals, he also highly recommends if you have the time to visit Glenrowan it is definitely worth the effort.
(Above) On Steve's' trip south, the '64 Plymouth parked in the Main Street of Glenrowan, with plenty of other Chrysler owners out cruising and enjoying the mostly sunny day. Photo: Steve Core
Wednesday evening was our last night in Wangaratta because Steve had to get back to Sydney to start work on Thursday evening and I also needed to be back in Sydney to attend my evening with Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beasley, AC, QC, Governor of NSW at Government House to celebrate the 75th Anniversary Reception for Sylvanvale.
It was very unfortunate that we could not complete the whole Rally, because you cannot be in two places at once.
(Above) HQ for the Rally was nicknamed 'Ned's Hideout' and was the events & function center at Wangaratta Racecourse. A perfect setting for all our social get togethers. Photo: Steve Core
Reports l have received from one of my fellow Chrysler tragic friends is that the weather God’s were with them for the rest of the Rally including the highly anticipated display day on Saturday morning. l have seen photographs from the display day and they are sensational, because the weather was perfect with plenty of sunshine.
Final event for this year's 16th National Chrysler Rally in Wangaratta was the Presentation Dinner, finished off a very successful event enjoyed by all those that were fortunate enough to attend.
If you are unaware of where the 17th National Chrysler Rally will be held in 2025, l have hot news straight off the press... it will be in Griffith, NSW. God willing, we all hope to be still around to see each other for another outstanding Rally in 2025.
Cheers from the “Squire” from the Shire.
Warbo
Remember my motto: Adventure before Dementia
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