Auto Collectors Club members pay a visit to the Fleurieu

This story was contributed by Graham Edwards.

Sunday morning, April 19 featured an interesting start to the Auto Collectors Club of Murray Bridge’s annual 2026 patron’s run, organised by club patron Graham and Maureen Edwards.

With the weather forecast for a 50 per cent chance of showers and 25 degrees, those members who didn’t like their classic vehicles to get wet were horribly disappointed.

As members began arriving at the departure point, the Murray Bridge Railway Station car park area, and with the patron’s secretary, Mrs Edwards, sitting under the shelter provided, filling out the day’s paperwork and collecting the day’s outing money, guess what – it began to drizzle.

Life members John and Vicki Courtney rolled up in their newly acquired 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria coupe, all gleaming for the occasion of its first club outing.

Mr Courtney was heard debating if he would continue in the rain, or go home and get his classic 1976 Fairmont, however members convinced him that it was only a passing shower, and they were correct.

The day turned out to be just perfect after the Fairlane was christened.

How good was that?

Another new ACCMB member, Graham Buttle, and guest, Paul Crook, proudly arrived in Mr Buttle’s new toy, a 1986 Ford Capri, also on its first club outing.

Mr Edwards then called the troops to order, giving all a very warm welcome and also issuing each car their own run sheet and the daily patron’s run quiz sheet.

Departure took place at 8.35am with 12 classic and six modern vehicles taking part on the day.

The convoy travelled to Milang via Brinkley, Mulgundawa, Lake Plains Road and along the edge of Lake Alexandrina before arriving at Milang’s waterfront reserve for morning tea and a comfort stop in the shelter provided.

Following the usual “putting the world right again” talk, vehicles fired up their engines and set off for the Southern Fleurieu Historical Museum at Port Elliot, travelling via the scenic route through the picturesque Currency Creek wine region and Middleton, before arriving and parking for display at the museum.

ACCMB members and quests were welcomed by the museum’s secretary, Lorraine Werner, before moving throughout its many areas/sheds, where the next hour was spent viewing the magnificent displays of unique and unusual items, including a fashion exhibit from 1788-1956, a lifestyle area, an award-winning dairy display, ploughs, tractors, tools of trade, an old Electrolux gas producer – maybe the current fuel shortage may bring some of these units out of the sheds, though then there would be a shortage of charcoal – and even an original David Shearer reaper from the Coote family.

Following the museum viewing, members and quests were treated to a ride around the oval to the clubroom facility on the historic Granite Island train for midday lunch.

Members alighted and moved into the clubhouse before being served with a scrumptious barbecue, followed by desert with tea and coffee if desired, cooked and served by the wonderful group of volunteers.

With lunch served, SFHM president Dene Watson welcomed all, thanking the ACCMB and Mr Edwards for choosing the museum.

“Your visit is much appreciated by our wonderful small group of dedicated museum volunteers,” he said.

Mr Watson also mentioned that he and Mr Edwards had reunited again, after both attending the Pinnaroo Area School together in the 1950s.

My, doesn’t time fly when you are having fun?

In conclusion, Mr Edwards thanked Mr Watson, along with all museum volunteers, for a most memorable visit, before presenting the with a certificate of appreciation from the club.

“This museum is not a museum to be missed,” he said.

“It contains something for everyone, male or female, young or old.

“Put it into your diary for a visit next time you are in the Fleurieu area.”

He also thanked all those ACCMB members and quests for attending the 2026 patron’s run with a difference, particularly in view of the current petrol shortage that Australia is experiencing, and asked that members hand their quiz sheets in before they depart.

Quiz winners will be announced at the ACCMB presentation lunch on June 21.

Members then re-boarded the tram for the return trip back to the museum, where they alighted, had a group photo taken and went back into the museum’s tractor shed for a final group photo.

With all the viewing of the museum concluded, ACCMB members said their thank yous to museum volunteers and Mr and Mrs Edwards before returning home whichever way to Murray Bridge.

It was another successful ACCMB outing.