Ploughmen mark milestone

THE West Gippsland Ploughing Association celebrated its 50th anniversary with a Silver Share ploughing contest and a celebration dinner recently.
The Silver Share Contest was held on the property of Greig and Joan Barry at Loch with ploughmen travelling from as far as Cape Otway, Colac and Ballarat.
The winner of the conventional section was Shayne Neal of Cape Otway and runner-up was Adrian Tilling of Poowong. Prizes were donated by Gendore and Chapman’s Machinery.
The winner of the vintage section was Bob Clayton of Geelong and runner-up was Peter Gardiner of Colac. Both vintage prizes were donated by Chapman’s Machinery. An encouragement award, donated by Neville Smith, was awarded to Peter Gardiner.
The evening dinner included the cutting of a 50th anniversary celebration cake by three of the 10 inaugural members: Len Clark of Monomeith, John Wyke of Lancefield and Ron Richards of Ranceby.
Jack McDonald of Caldermeade was unable to make it on the night but went to the paddock to check on the ploughing earlier in the day.
Mr Clark was presented with a painting of the tractor and plough he used to compete with, as a special thank you for his dedication to serving on the committee for 50 years.
There was an unveiling of a plough and plaques that are to be erected as a monument to West Gippsland ploughmen in Poowong soon.
The plough was donated by Ron and Marie Richards. The association thanked the Lions Club of Strzelecki and Burra Sheetmetal for their generous donations to assist the project.
The plough monument is to commemorate the 50th anniversary and in recognition of the six members from the West Gippsland area who have represented Australia at world ploughing contests. The six members have together represented Australia 28 times in the past 56 years that Australia has been involved at world level.
A memories of West Gippsland Ploughing Association book has been compiled by Marie Richards and Jodi Loughridge, and is nearing completion. It is based on the minutes of the past 50 years of the West Gippsland Ploughing Association together with photos, newspaper clippings and personal memories.

Ground breakers: from left, the four inaugural members of the West Gippsland Ploughing Association, Jack McDonald, John Wyke, Len Clark and Ron Richards, with Mr Clark’s competition tractor. Mr Clark is holding the current Silver Share trophy.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on Apr 28 2015. Filed under Rural News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry