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Pine Hill and Serviceton Stations Historical Day
The freshly washed gleaming luxury coach had seating for about 60 and I think half the seats were taken by BVRC members. The occasion was April’s National History Month Sunday outing and this year it was a gem. As we headed north then east for Pine Hill Station we were shown huge areas that had once been wide expanses of impenetrable native scrub and other areas that had been dense forests of tall native pines – now all cleared. A4 colour photos were passed around of native animals that once roamed these local lands; now extinct. Another area had once been enormous rolling sand dunes filled with prolific wild life and nomadic well content Aboriginals; the latter two are long gone, the former have been transformed into roadway materials. First disembarkation was at the site of the now demolished Pine Hill Station and wandering out several hundred metres from the road we stood beside two small stone chimneys. We had with us a photograph of the old station buildings taken in the 1980s and clearly showing their chimneys and with a very distinctive three trunked tree in background. All that remains now of this truly historic and quite massive 1800s slab and daub and thatch building are the two lonely chimneys and the tri-trunked tree. So sad. From there we went to the Pine Hill School; now also gone BUT the nearby Glenelg tree was truly spectacular. From the road it certainly looks ‘ho-hum’ and maybe that’s what has saved it from too many trampling tourists with their trash and vandalism because the closer you walk (and walk and walk), toward the tree the larger and larger it grows. Standing under its natural arch I was staggered it loomed about two metres higher than the top of my Stetson. A wonderful hidden gift from Mother Nature.
But it was time to be moving on and next it was the contentious SA/VIC border and enthralling stories and anecdotes – too many to record here – about the drama debate and debaclism of mapping this ‘line in the sand’ long before the GPS was even dreamed about and when mechanical clocks set in Greenwich London were the only means of navigating and chart reading all the way by sail around the other side of the planet; fascinating stuff.
By then we were running late for our final visit, the Serviceton Railway Station and its afternoon tea and I will not write too much as I doubt there’s a reader among you who has not visited this stunning architectural wonder from the golden age of rail. Being given a free hand to explore the depths of the various dark and gloomy basements, the dungeon and the prisoner cells below the station, the various offices, ticket booths and waiting rooms of the main station complex, plus going upstairs to the secret hidden accommodation rooms cleverly hidden under the roof eves by the architect in his design, well, what a ripper end to a ripper day for this newcomer to the Tatiara.
About the only slight negative to the outing was that it was so action-packed that it was long after fully dark by the time we returned to Bordertown and having never dreamed it would go so late I didn’t have my night driving glasses and thus I was forced to continued to sit back in a comfy passenger’s seat while Helen steered us home...so maybe that wasn’t such a negative after all.
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Saturday, July 2, 2016
Pine Hill and Serviceton Stations Historical Day 2016
Mundulla show ontinued 2016
Mundulla Show cont.
Accompanying this story is a photo of Matt Rowett and his brilliant HQ Holden Monaro, Matt’s standing with his four children. This photo is pertinent because at the club meeting prior to the Show it was raised that modified vehicles should be allowed in the club. As the debate on this began to flourish among the members present it was raised by a senior long term committee man that modified vehicle were already allowed in the club, had been accepted into the club previously and that what seems to have happened over the last few years is that everyone has become so obsessed with Historic Conditional Registration and with these vehicle having to be bog stock standard, that people have forgotten that modified vehicles are still legal in SA, are allowed on our roads and are not in any way banned or even discouraged in our Constitution; they simply cannot get Conditional Rego. This discussion on the night of the meeting arose because Matt was at the meeting and was keen to join in with a group of like minded automobile enthusiasts and to bring his family with us on picnics and runs and outings and all manner of BVRC social gatherings...and isn’t that what a club is all about? Hope you’ve joined by the time this issue hits the membership Matt.
Matt Rowett and his children and his HQ Holden Monaro
Mundulla Show 2016
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| Marlene Webb and friend Megan Hurtig dressed to the theme of Marlenes 1933 Ford Roadster |
10 a.m. until the conclusion of the Grand Parade at 3 p.m.
That was the attendance required of our club members who took up the offer of free entry into the Mundulla Show for our classic vehicles. At the time I have to admit I wondered if that almost full day was just a wee bit too long for my equestrian addled attention span. And then it was all made much worse when Helen informed me she wanted to be at the Show before the start of the harness carriage driving at 9 am. It looked like it was going to be a looong day.
Funny how things turn out though because time simply flew; so much to see, so many folk to chat to – including super friendly and chatty local and State politicians who sought me out not visa-versa and this being despite too, my not having a baby to kiss – food and drink, and then suddenly it was oops, better hurry over to Lucille and get the gal packed up ‘n’ cranked up and in line for the Grand Parade; which was longer this year than a WA iron ore freight train and that saw cars coming off the oval after their regal lap as other vehicles were still driving onto the grass. Lap completed and after quickly parking Lucy.
Once again it was time to scurry down to the ‘swamp’ to watch the whip-cracking heats for the Stockman’s Challenge. Not sure what time we finally left that day but clearly a time frame of 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. hadn’t been anything to worry about and I wasn’t the only one from the club who stayed on after the parade either.
Overall it was terrific to see so many wonderful and diverse club vehicles turn out for the Show, sedans, utes, sports cars, motor cycles, trucks and tractors, we certainly provided a bit of everything for sure and it was great that our cars were parked with the very well attended ute muster vehicles too; it made for a mighty fine spectacle which was just as well considering the presence of the ABC TV film crew loitering around all day filming an entire episode of the popular Back Roads series.
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| Megan Hurtigs grandsons in the back of the 1933 Ford Roadster |
Sunday, January 31, 2016
WALKERS FLAT AUSTRALIA 2016 PICS
More Pics from Walker Flat of the Murray Mallee Auto Club Australia Day Show'n'Shine Picnic Day
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| Darrell, Brenton, Len and Wayne relaxing by the river |
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| Rob and his winnings in the raffle |
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| Marlene & Monica loved this green vehicle |
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| Deb, Monica and Marlene liked this colour |
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| Brian Redden from Cudlee Creek with his Bedford truck |
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| Wayne and Brenton admiring the engine |
Australia Day Car Run to Murray Mallee Auto Clubs AustralianDay Show'n'Shine Picnic Day WALKER FLAT SA 2016
THE MURRAY MALLEE AUTO CLUBS AUSTRALIA DAY 2016 SHOW’n‘SHINE PICNIC DAY
TO WALKER FLAT
Vehicles in attendance
Brenton, Deb & Ethan Zilm with friend Rob Galbraith 1966 American Ford Coupe red PNY289
Graham & Ronda Doshe 1980 Regal Red Valiant
Darrell & Monica Jenkin 1972 XYFord Brown Ute
David & Deb Sharpe 1968 White Pontiac Sedan
Wayne & Marlene Webb 1967 XR Ford Cream Ute (nearly got there!)
Len Jenkin 1968 white Mercedes Benz
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| Deb Sharpe's dream car |
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| Deb Zilm and son Ethan |
Leaving Bordertown around 8am we headed up the highway to meet the Padthaway cars at Keith, albeit a few minutes behind schedule so we were informed, we were all travelling well at a fair pace when Webb’s ute decided to have a hissy fit and started blowing out steam from underneath.
Luckily the Doshe’s and Lenny (tail end Charlie at the back) were behind them as they pulled up behind the ute near a farm house this side of Tintinara. After contemplating the situation, we decided the ute needed to have a rest and hopped into Lenny’s Mercedes to continue the journey to Walker Flat. Marlene was disappointed as after spending most of the day previously washing and polishing the old girl, that no one could see her at her best! Coffee time at Jaggers at Tailem Bend with especially made aussie lamingtons (from the Webb's ute) were a hit and we continued the trip. Our leaders, David and Darrell missed the turn off to the flat and had to make a u turn which the Pontiac did in one go but the ute had to do a 3 point turn. On arrival to Walker Flat, even though David had sent through how many of us were coming there was just enough room for us to make a row right in the middle of the ground amid all the 100 or so cars that were displayed there by the calm waters of the great Murray River. Darrell's ute pulled up with steam coming out the bonnet but it was only a minor hitch and the problem was duly fixed in no time. The weather was very pleasant and it was a great atmosphere catching up on friends and admiring the assorted array of cars, trucks and bikes that were displayed in their finest.
The only thing our group won was Rob, who was lucky scoring one of the raffles.
On our return, Webb’s tried to drive the broken down ute home but it kept boiling, so ever ready prepared Darrell with a handy tow rope in the ute came to the rescue so ended up a great relaxing day out on Australia Day
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