Tailem Bend Auto Club celebrates 10 years
A planned rendezvous with travelling jackaroo Sam Hughes fell by the wayside, but club members have still enjoyed a birthday gathering at Old Tailem Town.
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A mechanical failure has prevented Australia’s travelling jackaroo, Sam Hughes of Queensland, from reaching the Tailem Bend Auto Club’s 10th birthday celebrations at Old Tailem Town.
Mr Hughes, a 21-year-old jackaroo, is slowly travelling around Australia – at an average speed of 40 kilometres per hour – on his 1956 Chamberlain Champion 9D tractor to raise awareness and funds for Drought Angels, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Dolly’s Dream and the Lights on the Hill Trucking Memorial.
With thousands of kilometres under his belt, he found himself marooned in Strathalbyn, looking for spare parts for “Slim”, the bright orange tractor he named after country singer Slim Dusty.
Having raised so much awareness and funds for those in the bush, Mr Hughes was saddened that he was unable to catch up with Lynton Piggott of the Tailem Bend Auto Club at its 10th birthday celebrations on Sunday.
“It’s a shame Sam wasn’t able to get here today, but the club is still going to pass the hat around to help him out – hopefully he can catch up with us next week,” Mr Piggott said.
Having a blast at the birthday celebration are founding members Julie and Greg Black, of Strathalbyn; Tailem Bend Primary School's Jamie-Lee Williams, Sharon Mansbridge, Dan Organ and Shantelle Brumfield; Chloe and Natasha Brumfield; Peter Squires and Jan White; and Lynton Piggott and Neville White with Mr Piggott's 1970 Holden HG Premier. Photos: Glenn Power.
“We had over 100 cars in today’s cruise and now we’re looking forward to a good wholesome lunch made by the catering team from the Tailem Bend Primary School.
“We’ve had a ball today and the committee couldn’t be happier with the turn out.
“It’s very difficult to get everyone together these days – the club has just on 530 active members from a member base of 610 members, so today’s turn out is impressive.”
Club members parade into Old Tailem Town on Sunday. Photos: Glenn Power.
The Tailem Bend Auto Club continues to grow.
“We started this club thinking we would be happy with 30 members – who’d have thought we’d have this many?” Mr Piggott wondered.
- More information about Tailem Bend Auto Club: Phone Lynton Piggott on 0418 839 034.
- More information about Sam Hughes: Search for “the Travelling Jackaroo” on Facebook.
