Susanna Freymark
Two blokes sit in the showground office talking tractors and engines – it’s clear this could be a long conversation.
John Broadrick collects vintage tractors and Louie Pagura is into engines.
The conversation of course isn’t only about the engine specifications or how rare an old tractor is – it’s about the people you meet along the way, the road trips, the nostalgia and the shared interest.
John is president of the Casino Show Society and the society is hosting the Heritage Weekend in Casino on July 20–21.
Louie will be helping and taking care of the stationary engines section. He insists that they are called stationary rather than small engines as sometimes they can be quite large.
He chuckles about this. He’ll be having engine conversations all weekend.
There will be 60–70 exhibitors at the event coming from Kempsey, Goulburn and North Star (eight hours drive from Casino) and locally.
For vintage tractors and engines, distance is never an issue.
John has travelled far and wide to chase a tractor he’s after. When he asks his wife if she’d like to take a long drive out west, she asks – What have you got your eye on? She knows exactly what John is up to.
John said a lot of people on the North Coast are into old tractors and engines and he’s expecting a large crowd at the Heritage Weekend. The event links up with the Rusty Iron Rally Club, which John is a member of, and members are going to bring their vast collections to Casino.
What is it about old tractors and engines that people love?
John reckons nearly everyone would have seen one or their grandfather would have had an old tractor.
“It brings back memories,” John said,
That’s where the stories come in. It’s never just about the tractor – it’s about who owns it, how long it’s been in the family – there are many tales to tell from each vintage piece of machinery.
John’s first tractor was a 1949 Alice.
“We bought it at an auction at Nimbin for $4000,” John said.
“We took it to the Lismore Show.”
John grew up on a dairy farm at Rosebank.
“I have several Barlows too.”
Barlows were once made at Bangalow, he said.
John and Louie themselves are enough to bring a crowd in – both have interesting stories and are full of knowledge.
Make sure you meet them. Here’s what else is on at the Heritage Weekend at the Casino Showground on the weekend of July 20–21.
There will be draft horses, NSW Dog Trials, post-cutting, chainsaw demonstrations, goats, undercover market stalls, food, kids’ activities, and a Show n Shine car show (on Sunday only) – and there are plenty of tractors and machines.
There will also be a corn thrasher machine and a Hargan saw from Ellangowan that was used to cut timber sleepers.
Entry is $10 and $5 for pensioners/youth. Children under 12 have free entry.
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