Car collectors endure unseasonal weather but enjoy 2022 Callington Show

This post was contributed by Graham Edwards.

On the last Sunday in October, Auto Collectors Club of Murray Bridge members look forward to their usual classic vehicle display at the annual Callington Show.

With the weather looking very uncertain for the day, 15 members decided to brave the weather with their nine spotless, well presented, valuable vehicles, throwing caution to the wind and hoping and praying for no rain, as most members don’t drive and display their pride and joys in wet weather.

As members met at their clubrooms, awaiting last-minute instructions from run organiser Brenda Cowie, a few spots of rain started to fall, and one member contemplated returning his classic to the shed and bringing out the modern.

Still, he and the other eight classics rolled out onto Adelaide Road, the Old Princes Highway, through Monarto, down Callington Hill with its picturesque rolling paddocks, and into the historic country mining township of Callington, with streets bursting at the seams with enthusiastic show-goers eager to attend the town’s most popular event.

Members were guided to a display area around the bottom oval, among the many sideshows and food vans.

With cars set up for public display, members set themselves up in a shed known as “the bar area”, with an assortment of donated gifts to be used on the day at a Yellow Brick Road table for all those who cared to tread and collect articles along the customary route around the showgrounds.

The first few hours of the show gave everyone a chance to wander around, viewing the many exhibits, marquees, food stalls, bric-a-brac, plant stalls and many more business displays before the weather turned to rain, with everyone looking for shelter.

As the rain continued to fall, making the conditions underfoot somewhat unpleasant, the viewing of displays came to a sudden holt, unfortunately, with many patrons leaving because of the cold.

At about 1.30pm, members decided it was time to pack up and return home.

However, not long after their departure, with vehicles moving along the Old Princes Highway, the sun decided to come out, taking the temperature from 15 degrees to 28 within about a half an hour.

As vehicles moved along the highway, steam was seen coming up off the road.

What a day of changing weather it was.

Congratulations must go to the Callington Show committee, stall holders, public displays, food vans, promotional marquees and sideshows, along with all show-goers, for participating and making the show such a success despite the very unseasonal October weather.

Members and prospective members are reminded that the club’s next outings will be the Murray Bridge Christmas parade on November 19, returning to the normal street format; the last club meeting for 2022, on December 6 at 7.30pm at the Johnstone Park community centre; and the end-of-year club Christmas party on December 11.

Put these dates in your calendar – we hope to see you there.

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