Roadtrip to Collarenebri in the Clanger PART 1

Give me an apartment on wheels & I will head for the hills. I am the happiest when  I am on the road in one of my Classic vehicles on a road trip to somewhere.

I know that I have mentioned this before, however this time I really do not know where to start with my story to visit one of my Grazier friends. Farmer John & his wife Biddy Witts,  live in Collarenebri in northern N.S.W. which is only 92kms or 57mls from the Queensland state border.

Farmer John & Biddy live on a 24,000 acre crop & sheep property called “MUNARGO” Farmer John recons it is a hobby farm when you compare it to his next door neighbor's property.

Their neighbour’s property is, wait for it, 500,000 acres, yes that’s the truth. They only do things up this neck of the woods big time. 

What really blows my mind is the maintenance that would be required on the fencing, 100’s if not 1,000 of miles of fencing to look after to keep control of their cattle & sheep.

I am going to try to keep this blog to the bare minimum,  however with my story & photographs that need to accompany this adventure it will still be over the top. I think that you will need to go to my facebook page to read about my week being spoilt rotten with country hospitality, everyone looked after me like a Silkworm.

Departed Sydney at 0400am to beat the traffic out of metropolitan Sydney in my 1931 Model A Ford 2 door Delux sedan to commence the 740kms or 460mi. road journey to Collarenebri. 

My 1st rest break was approximately 2 1/2 hours into the journey beside Lake Windamere. (see photo) Earlier that morning I had prepared a picnic basket that included Salmon & onion sandwiches on 9 grain bread, I also had 2 rock cakes slathered with real butter & to wash it all down I had made myself a Thermos of Black tea with lemon & sugar.

First rest break, parked beside Lake Windamere between Gulgong & Mudgee.

Once I had refreshed myself it was time to hit the bitumen again, there wasn’t too much traffic on the road which made the driving conditions a real pleasure on the open road in my beautiful 92 year old 1931 Model A Ford.

Just after dawn is when the wild life is on the move & definitely the most dangerous time, there was an abundance of road kill (see photo) on the road as you can see with my next photograph. Unfortunately this Fox was a little too slow & never made it across the road.

For the next couple of hours I had to be on my toes to dodge Kangaroos & Wombats that wanted to share the road with me, thankfully no hiccups or near misses.

I drove the Model A Ford all day with 3 petrol stops along the way before I finally arrived into Colli around 1630pm as the sun was setting in the west. I must admit to be behind the wheel for 12 hours of a 92 year old “Clanger” really takes it out of you. I was very relieved to pull into “MUNARGO” to be greeted by my friends Farmer John & his delightful wife Biddy.

Biddy had prepared dinner for us, we enjoyed a few cool amber transfusions, told a few lies, ate dinner & off to the land of nod. Rest assured I did not need any rocking to sleep that night.

Farmer John was up to his ears with shearing his sheep when I arrived. 

We were up at 0600am the following morning drove out to the shearing sheds to meet the shearer’s & their team. I was fascinated to watch the full process of what needs to be done with the process of shearing. I watched in amazement the back breaking work that the Shearer’s do (see photo). There is no room for the weak hearted out here, they all work their butt’s off. 

O.K. the Shearer’s make big bucks, they are paid $3.50 for every sheep they shear, I was talking to one of the guys & he told me that he had shawn just over 200 sheep yesterday, do the math on that & you realise the big bucks they earn.Trust me they deserve every penny of that.

The shearing team hard at work. One of the guys that started flying with me as a Trolly Dolly 48 years ago who now lives in Sweden loved this photograph & compared it with Tom Roberts  “Shearing of the Rams” painting in 1890, 123 years ago. Not too much has changed.

Later on that afternoon Farmer John & yours truly went mustering 600 sheep in the paddocks on Farmer Johns property on his very, very fast side by side Pioneer 1,000 Honda, accompanied by his 2 sheep dogs, we were preparing the flock of sheep that would be shawn the following day into their holding pens.

These 2 unfortunate sheep in the holding pen had been singled out to be short loin lamb chops later in the afternoon.

On the way back to the homestead that evening we decided to drive down to the Barwon River to check out this “BIG” semitrailer that had 4 huge tractors strapped to its trailer (see photo). 

I parked the Model A Ford next to this enormous rig & got a chat on with the guys to find out what they were up to. They were returning from a town called Coolatai, near Moree where they competed in a “Tractor Pull”. They told me that they had won everything that they entered. All I could think of was “boys with their toys” good luck to them.

My 1931 Model A Ford parked beside the Semi that was transporting the Tractors that competed at Coolatai in the “Tractor Pull”.

They offered us a cool beer so I decided to stay around for a while, as you do in the lay back country environment of Cooli. The boys told me that they we’re overnighting beside the Barwon River to catch a few fish & down some amber transfusions. 

While we were there they caught some fish (see photo) yellow belly I believe they were called.  Not too shabby I thought, fresh fish cooked on an open fire for dinner that evening, you can’t do too much better than that can you, if so let me know!!

They would head home in the morning to Griffith & Tarmore with their toys.

My very best new friends showing off their catch of the day.

It was such a magnificent afternoon I decided to take the Model A Ford for a quick trip through the township of Colli to show it off to who ever was wandering the streets on their way to the refurbished Collarenebri Hotel, then on the way back to the homestead I stopped the car just before you drive over the Barwon River. See photo for this classic photograph.

Model A Ford parked just before crossing the Barwon River.

To be continued... PART 2 to be published in a couple of days. 

T - Minus 4 Months from today. Sylvanvale Pre - WWll Vintage Car Show.

 Just a gentle reminder to make sure that you have our Sylvanvale Pre WWll Vintage Car Show locked away in your grey matter, because time is ticking away & I would hate to think that you miss out on our spectacular Car Show this year that will be held once again in the Council Car Park in Sutherland on Sunday 17th September 2023.

Our events team are already toiling away at the coal face once again this year to make sure that this years event will be even bigger & better than last years.

We have many more entries this year, the mix of different makes and models should make for a wonderful extravaganza once again, I have just returned from the Pre 1931 Autumn Tour in Cowra & have a real spring in my step after making acquaintances with many new entrants and their Vintage Cars.

*Photo of Phillip & Ann Josephs 1929 Pierce Arrow 2 door Classic vehicle. Phillip told me that this is only 1 of 4 Pierce Arrows in Australia, very rare indeed.

If you are going to trailer your pride and joy to Sutherland this year, rest assured that there is plenty of trailer parking, so there is no need for concern about where to park your trailers. Not only that,  where we are situated in Sutherland there is also heaps of free parking for spectator vehicles at no cost. 

Public transport is near by, Sutherland Railway Station is only 500 mtrs from the Sutherland Council Car Park within easy walking distance.

*Photo of classic vintage vehicles that you can feel, touch, and smell. These vehicles are over 100 years old and still running around the streets in all their glory.

As we get closer to the event on Sunday 17th September 2023 I will forward a map of the area so that you won’t have any problems finding us on the day. For those of you that attended last years event I have changed the entry to the car park.

This year all entrants and food vendors will enter the car park via Belmont Street in Sutherland which will make it much easier for everyone concerned.

Another big plus for the Sutherland Car Park where all the vehicles will be displayed is that there is plenty of shade.

*Photo of Paul and Ursula White dressed in Period dress standing beside a spectacular wooden spoked Buick. Paul is the President of the Buick Club of N.S.W. so expect to see plenty of Buicks at our show this year.

Looking forward to catching up with every one once again this year,  we are all now like one big family. Our first Pre-WWll Vintage Car Show started off in Cronulla Mall in 2015, since then we have outgrown Cronulla and now our permanent home will be in Sutherland.

Don’t forget to spread the word to all your fellow car enthusiasts and your friends, because our Car Show is a wonderful family outing especially for the children to experience something that the younger generation have never seen before.

Our real purpose is to help raise money for those people that are less fortunate than us to reach their potential, and that is a good purpose.

Stay safe and look after each other.

Regards for now.

Ken Warburton. ( Custodian and event organiser).

Event: Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car Show.

Date: Sunday 17th of September 2023. 
Location: Sutherland Council Car Park, Flora Street Sutherland 2232.
Time: 9.00am until 3pm.
*Food and beverage venders on site*

Congratulations Mark Speakman.

I was absolutely delighted yesterday when it was announced that my friend & fellow motoring enthusiast Mark Speakman was elected the new N.S.W. opposition Liberal leader here in New South Wales.

Photo of Mark Speakman & myself (15/4/2018)  posing in Darren Grant’s 1911 Classic Vintage vehicle (Emmy Lou) at our 2018 Sylvanvale Pre WWll Vintage Car show at Dunningham Park with North Cronulla beach in the background.

Mark, the N.S.W. former attorney general defeated former planning minister Anthony Roberts 22-13, to get the gig.

I sure as hell do not envy him, he has a huge job ahead of him. It will be a long road to hoe for him & his troops to make headway with 4 years from the opposition bench’s.

Best of luck, mate.

I honestly thought that Mark would want to have a shot federally & take Scott Morrison’s seat of Cook when Scott vacates his seat when ever that may be.

I first met Mark & his lovely wife Caroline many, many years ago in the dining room at the Anzac Day Dawn Service breakfast in the Cronulla R.S.L. club in Cronulla.

Mark has been a staunched supporter of the Sylvanvale Pre WWll Vintage Car show since  I started it way back in 2015, when I requested his support to lead the official party & dignitaries. 

He has always put his hand up without one exception.

I just hope that now he is the leader of the opposition here in N.S.W. he can afford the time to join us again on Sunday 17th September for this years Sylvanvale Pre WWll Vintage Car Show in Sutherland.

Photo of Mark Speakman, Sutherland Shire Mayor Carmelo Pesce & yours truly in Cronulla Mall on 15/4/2018 beside my 1930 Model A Ford Special Delivery Wagon.

Photo of Mark with Dirk Regter from Holland (in Cronulla mall) on 14/4/2019 seated in Dirk’s 103 year old Model T Ford that was on a round the world trip (80,000 miles or 130,000 kms) visiting all Continents raising money for Dirk’s preferred charity.

Due to the wretched Covid Virus we were forced to cancel our Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car show in 2020 & 2021,  however we managed against all the odds last year to get the show back on the road in 2022.

Last years Pre-WWll Vintage Car show that was held on 20th March ‘22 we absolutely blitzed it at our new location in Sutherland raising well over $30K for people with a disability that are less fortunate than us to reach their potential.

Needless to say we & our volunteers are full steam ahead for this years Pre-WWll Vintage Car show to be held in Sutherland on September 17th 2023.

If you are reading this email & contemplate joining us for this years event please keep Sunday 17th September vacant, we only have 150 places available so it will be 1st in 1st served.

You can contact me on 0438 692 737 or via email warbo47@gmail.com & reserve your position well ahead of time if you prefer.

We have a little less than 5 months until the BIG day, I will keep you all in the loop as to the progress of our exciting extravaganza come September, trust me if you are a car tragic like myself you will not want to miss this wonderful community event.

If you don’t have a Vintage Vehicle to exhibit to the many thousands of people in the “Shire” you can always join the thousand of spectators that enjoy these Classic treasures from yesteryear.

The children absolutely love checking out these works of art from a long gone era.

I will finish off this email with 2 photographs of which I am very proud of. 

Looking forward to looking back.

Thanks again, looking forward to another tremendously successful Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car show in September ‘2023.

Stay tuned, stay safe.

Cheers

Warbo.    (Event organiser & proud custodian of this special event).

Where am I now, you may ask??

 Hello everyone again from the Insular Peninsula,

I have been laying low since my return to good old Sydney Town at the beginning of March from my 3 month sojourn in Phoenix Arizona, however this is just about to cease.  I thought that it would be a good idea to give you all a breather from my travels & emails from the other side of the world.

Good friend Andrew Heath & yours truly enjoying a ‘Dog’s eye’ with the works, mash potato, peas & gravy. Absolutely scrumptious.

Our Chrysler Restorers Club of Australia were invited to exhibit some of our members' vehicles over the Easter weekend. (see photos). 

There were 20 vehicles that showed up to give our Club some very public exposure with a good variety of the Mopar brand over the years. My 1964 Plymouth/Valiant 2 door Sedan with some of the other members' vehicles in the background that were on display.

As you can see in this photo we were blessed with perfect weather for our day out.

Have you guessed where we are as yet ???

Upon arrival the “Trolly Dolly” from Down-under as usual looked after his mate Andrew like a silk worm with a fresh cup of  HOT tea & HOT Cross buns, slathered with butter & Blackberry jam, trust me, Andrew said that he would leave home if I continued to spoil him like this. I kindly reminded him that he does not have enough money to move in with me, besides he is definitely not attractive enough.

The suspense is killing me, I will now let you into the secret where we were on Easter Monday. None other than the Sydney Royal Easter show. We were instructed to meet at Gate No.10 at the Showground between 0700-0730 so that we could be escorted to our privileged prime display area before all the punters arrived.

It has been many years since I have attended the Royal Easter Show, as a matter of fact over 28 years to be precise. Nathaniel, my son, was only 5 years old the last time I went to the Royal Easter Show & at that time the Show was held at a completely  different venue here in Sydney. The Easter Show was first held in Sydney in 1823 by the Royal Agricultural Society of N.S.W. It started at Parramatta Park, moving later to Prince Alfred Park then Moore Park. Sydney Olympic Park has been the venue since 1998. The show is allowed to use the “royal” moniker thanks to Queen Victoria, who gave her permission in 1891.  The show is Australia’s largest annual ticketed event. Rodeo riding remains an attraction at this event. The show regularly attracts crowds of around 1 million people each year. However the Royal Easter Show would be nothing if it weren’t for all the animals & magnificent displays of produce. Not to mention side show alley, the unbelievable wood chopping events held every 10 minutes, daredevil motorbike events that are called the wall of death.

One of my favourite attractions is where all the different growing districts throughout N.S.W. make up these enormous displays where they show off all of their area’s vegetables, fruit, wool & what ever else they produce & are judged in the best exhibit competition. This years winner was the Northern Districts that includes, Kyogle-Moree-Coffs Harbour-Guyra-Murwillumbah-Casino-Ben Lomond & many other areas too many to list in my blog due to limit restrictions.

Getting to know you at the Royal Easter Show 2023.

Once we had parked our vehicles in the allotted area I said to Andrew “Why don’t we venture out into all the attractions before the thousands upon thousands of spectators arrive”.

Andrew is a Royal Easter Show expert, he has been to the show year after year for many years so I used him as my very own Show guide which worked out absolutely fantastically. I can assure you we didn’t miss out on too much, towards the end of the day I was completely exhausted & ready to return to my ‘64 Plymouth/Valiant for a well earned R&R relaxing on the front bench seat of the car for a very well earned rest.

Looking back on our excursion to this years Royal Easter Show I was pleasantly surprised by the quality & versatility of all the events, I would definitely recommend a visit to this wonderful yearly attraction.

Our Chrysler Restorers Club of Australia display was very well received by the many thousands of car enthusiasts that attended the show that did not expect to see anything like they did which made our day so much more enjoyable.

Stay safe.

Cheers from the “Squire from the Shire”.

Warbo.

Ken Warburton

M: 0438 692 737

E: warbo47@gmail.com

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