Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car Show: Another roaring success

Despite the heat (33C or 91.5F ), the seventh Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car Show on Sunday 17th September 2023 was a roaring success. Crowds flocked to see the stunning selection of vintage cars on display, with an estimated 7,000 people visiting the event during the course of the day.

The Flora Street Council Car Park in Sutherland was the perfect venue for over 100 cars, stalls, kids activities and Food.

People we support enjoying themselves in Nick Holden's 1912 Model T Ford. (Photograph taken by John Stanley)

The annual Car show is a fundraiser for Sylvanvale, my parents were the founding members of this charity 75 years ago.

Funds raised on Sunday will make a difference to the lives of people moving into the organisation's brand-new, state-of-the-art Specialist Disability Accommodation in Illawong.

 

Sylvanvale CEO, Leanne Fretten, was thrilled with how the event went.

L-R. Jeff McCarthy (Chairman of Sylvanvale), Jenny Ware (Federal Member for Hughes), Leanne Fretten (CEO of Sylvanvale), Ken Warburton (Custodian of event), Mark Speakman ( Leader of Opposition in N.S.W.), Carmelo Pesce ( Mayor of the Sutherland Shire). (Photograph taken by John Stanley)

"We are delighted with the fundraising outcome, which exceeded our expectations. I am proud to report that this year we increased our fundraising by 33% from last year. The funds raised will well and truly furnish our new state-of-the-art disability accommodation. This will be hugely beneficial for the people who will soon be moving into their new home." 

Mike Dalton from Channel 9 News reporting live from Andrew Webb's 1913 Model T Ford speedster.  (Photograph taken by John Stanley)

Special bonus for our show this year included the appearance of Mike Dalton from Channel 9 News (Click here to watch!).  Feedback we have received is nothing short of sensational for our unique Vintage Car Show. 

The exposure that we have received for Sylvanvale  and our current sponsors and future sponsorship for next year's event is priceless.

Qantas Volunteers. L-R. Siggy Jablonski, Ed Ronsisvalle (sitting), Graeme Bethell, Denise Armstrong,Tony Moorhouse, Andrew Heath.  (Photograph taken by John Stanley)

Without the support of the Sutherland Shire Council, staff from Sylvanvale, (30) Qantas Volunteers, all our sponsors, including Platinum sponsors mySupply Store and Nexon Asia Pacific, this exceptional Sutherland Shire Community event would never have happened.

 

My inner circle team of John Bateman, Geoff Graddock, Trevor Eisler, Chad Holmes the electrician, Julie Everton (Sylvanvale) worked together like a well oiled Model A Ford engine. I am so proud of you all for your 120% efforts throughout the many months it takes to organise this event. As I keep saying to my team "if you don't do your homework, you will never pass the exam."  

I would also like to give a huge thank you to John Stanley who did a marvelous job taking photos on the day and produced all the wonderful images attached to this post.

Let me tell you all from the bottom of my heart, you have all passed with honors, that is why we can all enjoy the outstanding success from last Sunday. 

Jo Akroyd worked all night from L.A. to Sydney  (17hour tour of duty) disembarked her flight, went home, had a shower to freshen up and was back in Sutherland to Volunteer at our car show all day selling raffle tickets and looking sensational. Why wouldn't you buy a book of tickets from this stunner.  (Photograph taken by John Stanley)

I also must mention the winners of our raffles:  1) David Musso. Chauffeur driven in my 1931 Model A Ford Tudor to the Sea Level Restaurant in Cronulla. 2) Adam Tokarczuk.  500 degrees. 3) Peter Beyer Bunnings. 4) Ross Williams Lively Catch. 5) Lena Teixeira Highfields.  Congratulations and a BIG thank-you for supporting Sylvanvale.

Peter Shaws 1925 T.T Ford Tow Truck.  (Photograph taken by John Stanley)

Phillip & Ann Joseph's 1929 Pierce Arrow 2 door Classic (1 of only 2 in Australia) & The Hesse families 1938 Phantom lll V/12 cylinder Rolls Royce.  (Photograph taken by John Stanley)

Last BUT not least my choice for the best car of this years (2023) Sylvanvale Pre- WWll Vintage Car show went to Robyn and Bill Betts (from Berrima) in their immaculate and very rare 1908 Renault (see photo).

Robyn and Bill Betts are very special people, they have supported our Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car show every year since our innaugral show at Cronulla Mall in 2015. Not only do they exhibit their 1908 Renault they also come dressed in period dress. In the next photograph Robyn is standing beside their 1908 Renault. The clothes rack next to her is chock a block full of period clothes. To help us raise more funds for Sylvanvale both Robyn and Bill dress you up in period clothes then sits you in their 115 year old Renault Vintage vehicle for the photo shoot of a life time, where else in the world can you do that!! 

Families with their children cherish this opportunity with photos that money just can't buy. 

Robyn standing beside her 1908 Renault waiting to dress you up for the photograph of a lifetime.   (Photograph taken by John Stanley)

Bill and Robyn accepting their 'Best car of the Show award' from yours truly.  (Photograph taken by John Stanley)

That my friends is all she wrote until next year. We are so grateful to everyone who was part of it. Show us how much you appreciated the show by coming back to see us next year because it will be bigger again with many new entrants for you to drool over.

Stay safe, looking forward to catching up with everyone in the future and the prospect to meet  new vintage car enthusiasts.

Sincerely

Ken Warburton. (Event organiser and Custodian of this unique event.)

About Sylvanvale. 

Sylvanvale was founded in 1947 when a group of 5 sets of parents (including my Mum and Dad) united to form an organisation that would give their children with a disability a better quality of life through access to education and social inclusion. Today we support over 750 children and adults, 28 group homes throughout Sydney and the Blue Mountains from a range of cultural backgrounds to live and participate in their community, as they choose.

Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car Show. 17th September ‘23. Sutherland Shire Council Car Park.

 With only 7 sleeps until this years 7th spectacular annual Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage car show it is almost time for me to say to all our very special entrants, “Ladies and Gentleman, start your engines” of your Vintage and Classic motor vehicles because you will need to allow the engine oil to get up and around the top piston rings of your pride and joy before you venture out to the Shire next Sunday.

This year's unique event is once again shaping up to be really exciting, we have organised a very special show this year with versatility being the main theme. Our car show is like no other in Sydney, we bring to you and your family a multi-Million Dollar Museum on the asphalt in the Sutherland Shire Council Car Park in Flora Street Sutherland.

1939 Rolls Royce Phantom lll  V/12 engine. This is the vehicle you can have your photo taken in.

Some of this year's treasures are as follows, 1939 Rolls Royce Phantom lll  V/12 engine (see photo), bringing an elegant presence to the show. The owners of this very rare vehicle have given us permission to allow enthusiasts to have their photograph taken in this vehicle for a small donation, so do not miss out on this opportunity. Also on display on Sunday will be a huge selection of Pre-WWll Vintage Classics, here are just some of the other makes that will be on display.

Ken's 1931 Model A Ford Delux Sedan. If you win 1st Prize in the raffle this is the vehicle you will be chauffeured to and from the best restaurant in Cronulla, Sea Level.

1908 Renault - 1935 Studebaker Commander 8 - 1929 Pierce Arrow ( 1 of only 2 in Australia) - 1929 Lincoln passenger Limousine V/8 - 1923 Alfa Romeo - 1930 AA Ford Flat bed Truck (used to build the Hoover Dam in the U.S.A. 1931-1935) - 1936 Derby Bentley - Vintage Speedcars - Packards - Buicks -  Chevy’s - Austin 7’s - Dodges - Hupmobile -  Model A and Model T Fords, the list goes on and on. Other highlights include a special display of Pedal Cars - Scooters - Prams - 100 year old Wooden Penny Farthing bicycle.

Joining us again this year to enhance the atmosphere of our event will be a group of performers from Steampunk wandering in and around the car park in their Period Costumes looking very dapper.

May I suggest if you feel comfortable getting dressed up in Period dress please feel free to do so, because I am. If you like getting your photo taken please take advantage of this unique opportunity because with the backdrop of the Vintage vehicles it makes unbelievable photographs for you to treasure in the future with your family and friends.

For those of you fortunate car enthusiasts that have joined us in the past, please come and visit us again because we will not let you down. There are also scrumptious food vendors, the Chrysler Car Club also donate their time and effort to cook on their B.B.Q. the best bacon and egg rolls and steak rolls in the Southern hemisphere, so don’t have brekko before you leave home.

We have raffles, the number one 1st prize this year is a dinner for 2 at the Shire's number one restaurant, Sea Level, overlooking the beach and ocean at North Cronulla. I will pick you up personally (in the Shire) in my vintage 1931 Model A Ford 2 door Delux Sedan (see photo) and Chauffeur you and a friend to the Restaurant dressed in period dress. I will wait for you to enjoy your dinner and then drive you safely home again after your truly out of this world experience. Where else in Australia can you do this?

The huge crowds, in excess of 5,000 people - as well as the extensive media coverage that this event attracts makes it the Premium Community family event in the Sutherland Shire throughout the calendar year. All funds raised will make a difference to the lives of our residents moving into our brand new Specialist Disability Accommodation in Illawong.

Our new Illawong homes will accommodate eight people living with disability across four properties, with unique dwellings and state-of-the-art accessibility.

Make sure that you place this event in your Papyrus Diary and we will see you in Sutherland on Sunday 17th September ‘23 earlier the better.

Regards for now, stay safe.

Ken Warburton. (Event organise and Custodian of this very unique event).

Map of the Sutherland Shire Council Carpark to help you find the event.