The rumble of old machinery could be heard throughout Croppa Creek late last week and into the weekend, as vintage harvesters kicked up some dust for the annual Croppa Creek Classic Harvest.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Up to 800 people from all over the region and further afield made the trek out to Croppa Creek for the village's vintage harvesting demonstration which took place over four days, from Thursday, November 7 to Sunday, November 10.
Among the crowd were school children from North Star and Croppa Creek, as well as residents of Fairview Retirement Village Moree and Kaloma Home for the Aged Goondiwindi.
David and Rosie Pick travelled from as far as England to watch the spectacle with their one-year-old grandson Frederick, while others came from Brisbane and the Gold Coast to witness the old machinery, mostly dating back to the 1950s and '60s, strip about a 10 hectare section of the Forsyth's wheat crop in the block in front of the Croppa Creek school.
Among the harvesters, all restored by Lawrie Timmins, was a 1940s ground drive Sunshine number 6, towed by a 930 Fordson steel wheel tractor; a Sunshine number 4, towed by a late 1950s 830 John Deere tractor; a Sunshine 585, towed by an early 1960s Chamberlain Countryman; an Allis Chalmers All-Crop, towed by a 1960s Fiat 513R; a John Deer 25 Beetle Back, towed by a little grey Fergie; a 1960s Cockshutt 428 auto header; and a 1960s Allis Chalmers auto header.
Although the old machines had a few leaks and breakdowns, they managed to get the job done as Lawrie and Cheryl Timmins, along with a rag-tag bunch of farmers, and self-appointed old header experts managed to keep the operation on track.
"All the machines seemed to behave themselves," Mr Timmins said.
"They all broke down but there was plenty of people there to give advice and get them back together again quickly."
A number of people took the opportunity to have ride in the old machinery, while others enjoyed simply reminiscing days gone by.
There was also a 1920s Sunshine stripper and a 1940s Sunshine corn sheller husker on static display, as well as a brand new John Deere header for comparison.
"There were plenty of newcomers and some of the older ones had never seen or heard of some of the machines we had," Mr Timmins said.
"A fair few people had a go at operating them.
"They all seemed to enjoy it."
The demonstration wasn't just for show, with the crop yielding about a tonne, which Mr Timmins said went straight into the Forsyths' silos for cattle feed.
This was the fourth year the Croppa Creek Classic Harvest has been held and it's now become a permanent fixture on the village's social calendar.
Mr Timmins said next year they hope to have a few extra additions from that era to keep it interesting.
He would like to thank Todd and Carolyn Belman from the Croppa Creek store, John Flood, Jim and Wendy Klowss, Bob Bartel, Gus and Will O'Sullivan, Clyde Gardener, Cheryl Timmins, Andrew Canhan, Grant Turnbull, Jeff and Robert Nixon and John and Angus Forsyth for making it possible.
More photos and videos can be found on the Croppa Creek Classic - A walk back in time Facebook page.
