By Kath Gannaway
It was the end of an era for the Mountain District Car and Bike Show on Sunday, 19 March, with founders Jackie and Greg Sheppard bowing out after 11 years at the wheel.
Pegasus Rod and Custom Club has taken on organisation and ownership of the event ensuring its future after health challenges forced Jackie to step back.
The show started in Monbulk and moved to Healesville in 200x becoming a popular event with the local community and bringing car and bike enthusiasts from around Victoria to Healesville.
A major driver behind the event was the opportunity to raise funds for local charities and in the decade leading up to this year’s show, around $98,000 had been poured back into various causes throughout Yarra Ranges, the majority of it in Healesville.
The aim this year was to reach the $100,000, as a significant signoff milestone, and in officially thanking Jackie for the vision, commitment and hard work that has made the show such a success, Pegasus president Dietmar Munnecke, announced that a donation from this year’s show would achieve that goal … and a little more.
In a tearful farewell, Jackie thanked all the sponsors, volunteers and entrants involved in the show saying she would treasure the relationships built up over the past 10 years.
She also thanked Pegasus for taking over the show and wished them success in the future.
Healesville Bendigo Community Bank manager, Mark Trafford, presented a certificate in recognition of the contribution the car show has made to the Healesville community.
The bank has been one of many sponsors of the event since it moved to Healesville over six years ago.
Mr Trafford said the bank had enjoyed a great partnership with the car show, and in particular with Jackie, and had great admiration for the personal resilience and determination she had showed, most notably in view of recent health challenges.
Mr Munnecke said their first show had also been challenging with the extreme heat impacting on numbers, but that they were looking forward to a great future for the event.
“Effectively, we had eight weeks to put it together.
“We have been helping Jackie out with volunteers for the show for eight of her 10 years, and in that time had rain, heat and all sorts of weather to deal with, so we will be working on this now throughout the year to make it a bigger and better event next year.
Mr Munnecke thanked all the 2017 sponsors and volunteers and the car and bike enthusiasts who made the show such a spectacle.
Meanwhile, the name of the show will change next year to reflect Pegasus Rod and Custom Club’s new venture.
