Crank up for club

By Kath Gannaway
IF, IN the past decade or two, anyone who has been to a festival, fete, field days or agricultural show in the Yarra Valley, has almost certainly stood and marvelled at the work of members of the Yarra Valley Machinery Preservation Society.
The society celebrated its 21st birthday recently at the Coldstream Airfield with current and past members cranking up the objects of their passion, sharing stories of great finds, and some that got away, recalling the many events they have been part of, and tracking their history through the extensive display of newspaper cuttings and photographs.
Members stood shoulder to shoulder to watch a film of the first club rally at Coldstream in 1988.
Filmed by member Guy Walker and recently re-discovered and restored to CD, it was the surprise highlight of the day.
Another highlight was the presentation of certificates of appreciation and recognition to the four men credited with founding the club – David Aitken, Max Holt, Len Prowse and Don Walker. Current committee member Lewis Carlton said there was a great debt of gratitude due to the men whose vision and endeavours had established the club on a firm foundation and had been instrumental in its growth and success over the years.
Mr Prowse recalled the public meeting at the Seville Hall. “I thought we might get a few people along but we walked out with something like 38 people ready to join up right from the kick off,” he said.
He said the strength of the club in its initial stages had been having the right ‘blokes’ come together at the right time.
“Each one of us were business people who could all bring some sort of expertise to the club,” he said.
Mr Carlton listed more than 40 events around the Yarra Valley, some still going, such as the Yarra Junction Crank Up and the Lilydale Show, others such as the Hoddles Creek Draught Horse Festival, a happy memory for club members.