The Mount Alexander Vintage Engine Club is holding its 25th annual Vintage Engine Rally on the weekend of April 9-10.
Taking pride of place at this year’s event at the Dave Bennett Reserve in Muckleford, will be MAVEC’s latest acquisition a Clayton & Shuttleworth threshing machine generously donated to the local club by the Walsh family of The Railway Farm at Trentham.
MAVEC president Stephen O’Connor said club members travelled to the farm last month to carefully load and move the incredible piece of vintage machinery to its new Muckleford home.
Walsh family matriarch Mary Walsh and some of her children and grandchildren were on hand to witness the intricate operation.
Mary, who is of Irish descent and worked as a nurse at Kyneton Hospital for most of her life, and her late husband Tom have nine children and 22 grandchildren.
The machine, built in England in the 1920s, was one of the last of its kind to be imported into Australia and Mary’s son Simon estimates it was last used by the family in the 1950s.
MAVEC member John Blake said 20 men were required to work the machine.
“Three operated the steam-driven traction engine and a further 17 were needed to load and operate the machine, which separated grain from the sheaf,” he said.
“The steam engine would have been located some distance away to ensure a spark did not ignite the hay.
“The family tell us that among the workers was the ‘The Mouse’, whose job it was to crawl around under the machine and grease all the critical components to keep it running smoothly. What a job!” John said.
In addition to the threshing machine the MAVEC rally will also see a host of other vintage engines and tractors on display taking visitors back to a bygone era.
This year’s featured engine is the ‘Howard’ and the featured tractor is the ‘Ford and Fordson’.
MAVEC secretary Graham Mason said they had exhibitors coming from across the state and beyond and the weekend would also feature memorabilia displays, tractor pull demonstrations, a jumping castle and activities for the kids, a major raffle and lots more.
The Dave Bennett Reserve is located at the corner of Muckleford-Walmer Road and Muckleford-Castlemaine Road next to the Muckleford Railway Station.
The event runs 10am to 5pm Saturday April 9 and 10am to 2.30pm Sunday April 10.
Entry is just $5 adults. Children under 16 free.
