Hotted-up gopher raises eyebrows at car club meeting

This story was contributed by Liz Minge and Graham Edwards.

The Auto Collectors Club of Murray Bridge has held its first social evening of the new year at the home of past president Claude and Liz Minge.

More than 40 members, partners and friends joined together on a balmy night around the comfort of the indoor swimming pool and its spacious surroundings to enjoy the club’s annual pizza evening.

Club member Gary Haebich left his prized Falcon at home in the shed and instead, because of the summery evening, decided to travel on his Merits Explorer mobility scooter, complete with its Ford flag flying in the wind, replica two-inch chrome twin exhausts, a Holden “fan muncher” on the roof, sports air cleaner and even a parachute on the rear, just in case he was to exceed the gopher’s 12-kilometre-per-hour speed limit.

Among those present were first-time pizza night attendees Steven and Ruth Bubb, along with Brian and Rosaria Rainey’s grandson Archie, who enjoyed the evening, chatting away to all and sundry on his table and enjoying the many varieties of pizza on offer.

Not only was the sharing of fun, fellowship and delicious food enjoyed, but an introduction to Mr Minge’s man cave was also quite an eye-opener to many of those in attendance.

Whilst most man caves might be decorated with all things related to a particular sport, hobby or collection, Mr Minge has spent most of his life gathering memorabilia, articles, books, vehicles and anything else related to the funeral industry in the Murraylands region.

Having been involved in the industry since 1933, the Minge name has been synonymous with this service throughout the Murray Bridge, metropolitan and regional areas.

But time, as we know, stands still for no man and change is inevitable.

It was just three months ago and with some gentle “persuasion and encouragement” from his wife that Mr Minge decided to amalgamate his vast collection into what can only be described as a very informative and interesting historical exhibit.

So began the mammoth task of sorting, repairing, cleaning, polishing, cataloguing, labelling and displaying this part of Murray Bridge history.

With assistance from the Murray Bridge Historical Society, Mr Minge had been able to identify and collate information about all of the local undertakers in Murray Bridge, dating back as far as 1880, right up to the present day: nine different proprietors in total, including one of the Murray Cods Olympic rowers of 1924, Wally Pfeiffer.

A footnote: if anyone is able to supply any photos of a horse-drawn hearse used in Murray Bridge, it would be greatly appreciated by Mr Minge.

In the absence of president Harry Howitt and on behalf of all members, past president John Courtney thanked Mr and Mrs Minge for an enjoyable and educational evening.

“We thought you might be the last to let us all down, Claude,” he quipped.

The first Auto Collectors Club meeting for 2024 will be held on February 6 in the Johnstone Park clubrooms at 7.30pm.

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