The New England Heritage Traction Club supports the preservation, restoration and enjoyment of heritage machinery, including tractors, trucks, motorcycles and the like. It holds monthly meetings at the meeting room of the Land of the Beardies Museum and also organises regular outings of interest for members.
On Sunday, on one such outing, the group visited what could only be called a “tractor museum” out on the Inverell Road. It was an amazing experience.
Chris and Betty Walker and Jamie Wiggins are all enthusiasts and hold a large collection of vintage tractors on their property. There must be close to fifty tractors of various sorts housed in a variety of sheds. Chris, who’s been collecting for between forty and fifty years started his collection with a Minneapolis Moline (from the 1930’s), and now has a selection ranging from Massey Ferguson, McCormick, to Chamberlain, Holder, and more.
A highlight of the day was when the Kelly Lewis Bulldog started up. This tractor, built around 1948, runs on anything combustible and is one of only nine hundred made in Australia.
Chris also has an extensive range of model tractors in a room dedicated to their display. Between Chris, Betty and Jamie, all the club members were made to feel very welcome, and their questions were met with enthusiastic responses.
President of the New England Heritage Traction Club, Steve King, encourages any potential new members to contact him on 0427 321 168. Steve says, “The club always welcomes new enthusiasts.”
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