Alexandra truck, ute and rod show 2016 (low res)

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Official program SPECIAL FEATURES:

Queen’s Birthday Weekend

Sunday, June 12 10 am to 4 pm — held on the bitumen in Alexandra’s main street

• Music by multiple Golden Guitar winner Adam Harvey plus other acts • Over 150 trucks on display • Miniature Trucks Display

• Woodchopping • Market with 50 stalls • Chainsaw carvers • Rides and amusements

Picture: Caprice Photography Geelong

For more information, phone Gordon Simpson on 0409 577 212 or Andrew Embling on 0418 266 038 www.alexandratruckshow.com.au

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PAGE 2—‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016

Sunday, June 12

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President’s welcome.

Whether you are interested in trucks, utes and rods, woodchopping, or just having a great day out, the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show is a celebration — and we invite you to share it with us this year.

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As we look back over the past two decades we can see the show has grown from its humble beginnings into one of Australia’s premier regional trucking events.

Through this time, the show has maintained a strong commitment to supporting the Alexandra community and being a celebration of the truck and transport industry.

On behalf of the committee I would like to recognise the passion and support of

the Alexandra community, our sponsors and industry partners.

Their contributions allow us to maintain the show as a free event and to invest further into the local community each year.

I invite you to join with me in thanking them by visiting their stands throughout the day.

Most importantly, let us celebrate the drivers who bring their vehicles on the day — they really are the heart of the show.

Whether it’s a show truck or a daily driver, their work ute, or a restoration project, all these vehicles are a celebration of the pride and joy that the owners put into each vehicle.

Whether you are a first-time visitor or a

long-time supporter, it is my pleasure on behalf of the committee to welcome you to the 20th annual Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show.

Caolan O’Connor president, Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show

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The success of the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show benefits the wider community. Picture: Caprice Photography, Geelong

Donations support community projects Over the past 20 years of the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’s history, it has contributed significantly to community causes.

Some businesses and community groups have been fortunate to receive large fundraising donations, courtesy of the show foundation.

More than $20 000 was invested into the Alexandra ‘ageing-in-place’ residence Kellock Lodge, and about $40 000 into the Alexandra District Hospital for men’s health care.

The show foundation has also funded the Victorian Truck Drivers’ Memorial, where an annual memorial service is held during the show long weekend to commemorate drivers who have lost their lives in truck or

ountry News Co Reaching Australia ’s richest agricultural region

transport-related accidents.

Various other donations have been made over the years with recipients including the Alexandra brass band, Alexandra schools and Alexandra woodchopping champion Jason Kirley.

Mr Kirley was originally sponsored 10 years ago by the show and over the years has experienced huge success.

Recently Mr Kirley was sponsored to compete in woodchopping at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Committee member Gordon Simpson said the show was about injecting money back into the Alexandra community.

“It’s a community event, it is run in the town for the town and that is the idea of the show — it is for Alexandra,” Mr Simpson said.

It’s not just the show foundation raising

money for the local community; the show’s sponsors also make contributions.

Sponsors donated $100 000 to the Marysville community following the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

“We went down there and we met with the people from Marysville and we asked them what they wanted,” Mr Simpson said.

“They just wanted a meeting area, a barbecue area, where people could come together next to the oval. So that is what we did.”

The barbecue pavilion was the first structure built in Marysville following the fires, and the $100 000 donation contributed significantly to its cost. Show sponsors also picked up their tools and lent a hand to the construction project itself.

Editor: Damita Lamont 5820 3183 Advertising: James MacGibbon 5820 3153 Stories: Sharon Wright, Taylah Burrows and Emma Carinci Graphic Design: Brendan Cain

‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016—PAGE 3

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This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show. Picture: Caprice Photography, Geelong

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A celebration with many facets Grant St, Alexandra will come alive from June 10–12 as the town gears up for its biggest Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod show, celebrating the show’s 20-year anniversary.

Show president Caolan O’Connor said event organisers were hoping for crowds of about 15 000 spectators to visit the timber town during the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

“That is based on us having 12 000 last year,” he said.

“We definitely think being the 20th year this year, it is special to us and hopefully it will be the same for visitors.”

Mr O’Connor said he was also expecting higher truck entrant numbers to crowd Grant St this year, off the back of last year’s impressive 150 truck entrants.

The jam-packed weekend will kick off with a massive night of entertainment on Friday, June 10, featuring a variety of musical talents including multiple Golden Guitar winner Adam Harvey.

The show’s usual events will continue throughout the weekend including the Victorian Truck Drivers’ Memorial Service, a full day of activity on Saturday including a market and musical entertainment, and an enhanced version of the show’s annual sponsors’ dinner on Saturday night.

The show’s main event on Sunday will then transform Alexandra into a truck show extravaganza.

Since its inception 20 years ago the show has evolved quite significantly, from a show designated to just trucks, to trialling boats and adding in some crowd pleasers — hot rods and utes.

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Mr O’Connor said event organisers were looking forward to the 20-year event, and were especially excited to celebrate the Alexandra community.

“We are incredibly pumped about this year’s event; we are incredibly excited to be hosting it again,” he said.

“A few of our founding members like Andrew Embling and Gordon Simpson will be helping run their 20th show, so that’s a milestone we’re excited for as well.”

“The last 20 years the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show has been supporting local trucking, local forestry and the local community,” Mr O’Connor said.

“This year is a major celebration for us, of all the contributions we have helped make to the local community.”

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Murrindindi Shire Council welcomes all competitors and visitors to the 2016 Alexandra Truck, Ute & Rod Show Celebrating 20 years, the committee are to be commended on the success of this outstanding and long-standing event.

Holden SS ute is major prize A gleaming Holden SS ute is first prize in the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’s major raffle.

Committee secretary/treasurer Ayden Embling said the raffle was an annual event but this year’s major prize, valued about $48 000, was the largest ever offered.

“We’ve always held a raffle, but in the last few years it’s become a major raffle

with some great prizes. Two years ago we had a four-wheel Honda motorbike and last year a trailer filled with goodies, valued at $11 000,” Mr Embling said.

Second and third prizes in this year’s raffle are a $4000 Caltex fuel card and $2000 worth of Reddrop’s FoodWorks vouchers.

Mr Embling said the committee was able to secure the prizes with support from car dealership Neil Beer Seymour, General

Motors Holden, Caltex and Reddrop’s FoodWorks, Alexandra.

The Holden SS ute is on display in Alexandra, and 10 000 tickets at $10 each are already on sale.

Mr Embling said profits from the raffle were channelled into community projects in Alexandra.

The major raffle will be drawn at 3 pm on Sunday, June 12 on the main stage in Grant St, Alexandra.

As the heart of Victoria, our region has a great deal to offer and we encourage visitors to explore our Shire and surrounding districts over the Queen’s Birthday weekend. www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au

PAGE 4—‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016

Sunday, June 12

Show had humble beginnings On the Queen’s Birthday long weekend of a particularly sleepy 1996 winter, a group of Alexandra men came up with an idea to host a simple truck show with the timber town’s logging trucks.

One of the now iconic show’s original founding fathers, Andrew Embling, said the first show was a small affair in the town’s main street.

“We might have had 500 or 600 people at it and we had a few local trucks and a few trucks come out of Shepparton,” Mr Embling said.

“Reg Poole came and sat in the back of a truck and sang for two or three hours, it was fairly small in those days.”

The event’s organisers were overwhelmed at the success of and response to the initial show, so they decided to plan a second event, thus beginning the annual Alexandra Truck Show, as it was known then.

“We went two years with trucks then one year we decided to add buses to it,” Mr Embling said.

That only lasted 12 months, then one “That year we added boats to it and that only lasted 12 months.

“Then we added utes five or six years down the road and that stuck.

“Two or three years later we added rods and that stuck.”

The show’s famous woodchopping competition was also added to the event line-up during this time. This is one of the state’s largest woodchopping events, currently holding two Victorian title categories.

Other smaller additions to the event lineup include creative quilters exhibiting their craft in the town hall, model trucks and a market.

Over time numerous transport companies have entered the show’s competition categories, but Mr Embling said two particular companies had supported the event for many years.

Frank Gattuso Transport and Packaging, and JW and AT Moloney Transport have been long-time competition entrants.

Between them they have shared in the majority of the “Best Fleet” awards.

The event’s massive success continues to be a great economic boost for the town of Alexandra, with accommodation booking out 12 months in advance — boosting cash flow for the town’s forthcoming winter.

Now in its 20th year, the Alexandra Truck, Rod and Ute Show continues to go from strength to strength with spectacular crowds of more than 10 000 visitors during the long weekend.

Now in its 20th year, the Alexandra Truck, Rod and Ute Show continues to go from strength to strength.

Pictures: Caprice Photography, Geelong

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‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016—PAGE 5

Sunday, June 12

Major musical event Golden Guitar award-winning artist Adam Harvey will headline the Stars of Country Concert at this year’s Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show.

This concert on Friday, June 10 will signal the beginning of the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’s 20th anniversary celebrations.

Music has long been a part of the annual event, but the program has been expanded to mark the milestone year.

“We are hopeful the concert will help attract people to the region for the entire weekend instead of just the Sunday,” committee secretary/treasurer Ayden Embling said.

Harvey has performed at Alexandra before and is looking forward to returning in 2016.

“It’s a beautiful part of the world and I had a ball last time I played there,” he said.

“I worked in the trucking/earthmoving industry, back when I had a ‘real’ job, so it will be great to check out all the rigs, and catch up with some old friends.

“I believe trucking and country music go hand in hand so it will be great to sing a few songs and entertain the crowd at the truck show.”

The concert, which starts at 7 pm at Briggs Oval, Alexandra, will also feature soloist Jayne Denham and groups Simply Bushed and Iain Archibald Band.

Music will take centre stage in other ways during the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show.

On Saturday, June 11 the service at the Victorian Truck Drivers’ Memorial Wall will feature music from Jayne Denham and Alexandra talent Jimmy Harrison.

Ticket holders to the gala sponsors’ dinner on Saturday, June 11 will be entertained by musicians from the Stars of Country Concert.

On Sunday, June 12, the day the big rigs roll into town, music will ring out on the main stage from 10 am.

Mr Embling said seating would be available in front of the stage so families could enjoy the music in between visiting the many attractions.

For concert tickets visit www.alexandratruckshow.com.au

Simply Bushed

Above: Iain Archibald Band Right: Jayne Denham

Adam Harvey

PAGE 6—‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016

Sunday, June 12

A feast for supporters This year’s sponsors’ dinner is throwing its doors open to the public as a major celebration of the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod show’s 20-year history.

Dowling, from the comedic group The Funny Guys.

Throwing a large dinner for 300 people is no easy task, but Mr Simpson said show organisers were no strangers to hosting such a large event.

The normally intimate dinner usually In the past, the show used to throw a hosts about 100 guests, but this year large dinner every year during the long 300 people will be treated to a night of weekend event, but scaled it back to speeches, music and good food. a smaller dinner in Show committee recent years to focus member Gordon on celebrating the Simpson said show “There are a lot of people who have contributed a lot of time show’s sponsors. organisers decided This year, however, to make this year’s and effort to the Alexandra the show is inviting dinner the biggest Truck, Ute and Rod Show, so back many old yet, to celebrate the we wanted to thank them.” sponsors and contribution by past supporters from years and current sponsors Gordon Simpson gone by to thank them and supporters. and celebrate any contribution made to “There are a lot of people who have the success of the Alexandra Truck, Ute contributed a lot of time and effort and Rod Show. to the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show, so we wanted to thank them,” Mr Simpson said.

“Some of our sponsors have been with us for 16 to 17 years.”

Guests will hear from show president Caolan O’Connor, as well as guest speakers who will talk about the show’s strong 20-year history and thank guests for their commitment during the years.

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‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016—PAGE 7

Sunday, June 12

Mini trucks make big impression Among the big, burly trucks, a bunch of miniature trucks will be on display at the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show.

A diverse array of miniature model trucks will be on display at the Landmark Embling building.

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The display is organised by the owners of Auslowe Model Accessories at Goulburn Weir, husband and wife team Nigel and Renee Lowe.

This is the third year Auslowe Model Accessories has run the miniature trucks display at the show and Mrs Lowe said there had been a lot of entries in the past two years.

“We had 130 entries last year. We would like to get as many as possible this year, but that’s a matter of what comes on the day,” Mrs Lowe said.

Visitors will have the chance to vote on their favourite miniature truck model.

Mrs Lowe said entries came from a wide area, and one came all the way from South Australia last year.

“It’s one of the good drawcards for the show.”

Auslowe Model Accessories has been in

business for 25 years and started when Mr Lowe was a young adult.

“He wanted different parts for his model trucks and couldn’t find them, so he started making his own and it’s just developed from there,” Mrs Lowe said.

She said entries had been impressive so far.

“All the models are hand built.

“They’re a mix of a plastic kit you can buy from a hobby shop and extra resin parts like wheels and mudguards.”

The display will be held in the Landmark Embling building on the Sunday — one side of the building will be the mini trucks display, while the other side will be an Auslowe Model Accessories display with parts for sale.

There are four categories for entry at this year’s display: best bob tail, best open goods, best closed goods and best logger.

Winners will receive a trophy and will be announced when the major truck show winners are presented.

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PAGE 8—‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016

Sunday, Sund Su nday y, June 12

Community groups benefit Community organisations have a prime fundraising opportunity with the annual Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show.

Volunteers from sporting, school and service groups host food and drink stalls at the show, to cater for the influx of visitors to the weekend event.

Leisa Dent, president of the St Mary’s Catholic Primary School parents’ auxiliary, said the event was one of the school’s biggest fundraisers for the year and supported programs to benefit students.

Ms Dent said in the past the school had baked and sold cupcakes, assembled roast beef and gravy rolls, and in 2015 cooked thousands of miniature Dutch pancakes.

“We’re set up near the utes and hot rods and we get a lot of passing foot traffic,” she said.

“People are very supportive, when they realise we are fundraising for a primary school they are very generous. They tell us to keep the change or say, ‘I’d better buy two then’.”

“People are very supportive, when they realise we are fundraising for a primary school they are very generous. They tell us to keep the change or say, ‘I’d better buy two then’.”

Cupcakes, baked and decorated by parents and children and sold at past shows, were popular.

Leisa Dent Preparations start well before the show, with sourcing trestle tables and food supplies.

The hard work continues throughout the event, from the early morning start to the clean-up afterwards.

“It takes an army; parents are rostered on for two-hour shifts during the day. It’s a very social day though, and a lot of fun,” Ms Dent said.

Funds raised by the parents’ auxiliary benefit the students greatly, as they are used to purchase sports equipment and technologies such as mini laptops, or to pay for subsidies for camps and excursions.

Karl Snow gets an early start making Dutch pancakes at last year’s show.

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PAGE 10—‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016

Sunday, June 12

Truckies remembered on memorial wall A further nine names will be added to the Victorian Truck Drivers’ Memorial Wall in Alexandra during a dedication service on Saturday, June 11.

Held as part of the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show, the annual service is considered an important way of recognising transport industry workers who have died, and supporting their families.

Bette Phillips-Campbell, manager of GriefWork — a service of UnitingCare agency Creative Ministries Network — co-ordinates the event, which includes speakers, a solemn blessing and musical interludes.

Ms Phillips-Campbell said the memorial wall, constructed several years ago, had become a place of comfort for many families.

“Our wall is different to others, it’s about recognising all trucking work-related deaths, be it from an accident or an illness or condition caused by work,” Ms Phillips-Campbell said.

“For many families the memorial wall means as much to them as the cemetery.”

More than 100 plaques are on the memorial wall including individuals’ names, nicknames and their dates of birth and death.

This year’s service will be led by master of ceremonies Andrew Embling with contributions from Toll Transport chaplain Ruth Oakden, who will bless the memorial

wall, and two families, whose loved ones’ names have been added to the wall.

Ms Phillips-Campbell will speak about the support her organisation offers to bereaved families, and Alice Springs’ National Transport Museum chief executive officer Liz Martin will address the crowd.

Country singer Jayne Denham and Alexandra talent Jimmy Davidson will sing before, during and after the service.

An honour roll will be read, listing all names on the wall, along with a short biography of each of the nine people added in 2016.

Last year’s service attracted about 600 people but Ms Phillips-Campbell said thousands more visited the site during the year.

“The memorial wall is in a beautiful park with an undercover barbecue area nearby. Families can meet there and have a barbecue to celebrate a loved one’s birthday and reflect,” Ms Phillips-Campbelll said.

“There is strong mateship within the trucking fraternity; it’s surprising the number of people who stop at the wall throughout the year.”

The service will be held at Rotary Park, Alexandra at 2 pm on Saturday, June 11.

Bette PhillipsB Campbell speaks at C last year’s service l at a the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod T Show.

S

The unveiling of the truck drivers’ memorial in 2014 attracted a large crowd.

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‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016—PAGE 11

Sunday, June 12

Still warming visitors To combat the cool winter air, visitors to this year’s Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show will be served some warming soups.

The Redgate Country Women’s Association in Alexandra is one of the food service providers for the show and will be serving up four traditional favourites — vegetable, chicken and vegetable, pumpkin, and pea and ham soup.

Redgate CWA branch president Jane Laws said the popularity of the show had increased significantly in recent years, and so had the soup sales.

“The show was very small to start with — I think there were only about half a dozen trucks when it started — and each year it’s just got bigger and bigger,” she said.

In its first few years, the Redgate CWA branch raised about $800 at each show.

“Now, we’re tipping the $2000 mark,” Mrs Laws said.

The branch has been involved in the show for the past 16 years.

All 14 branch members will be on deck throughout the weekend, serving up food from 8 am at the CWA rooms on Perkins St — which is “the heart” of the truck show area.

The soups have been prepared at home by branch members during the past few months.

“Members supply all ingredients … if

someone has an abundance of something in their garden, they’ll share it with us,” Mrs Laws said.

While branch members are well prepared and ready for the big weekend, other assistance is welcome.

“We rope in some of our relatives and anybody who says they can come help for an hour here or there,” Mrs Laws said.

This year there will also be a delicious selection of slices available, all homemade by CWA members and from the CWA cookbook.

The valuable resource was jam-packed with “well-proven recipes” Mrs Laws said.

All proceeds from the sales will go to the National Stroke Foundation, for its stroke health professional online portal.

This fundraising is in line with the branch’s 2016 theme of “caring, sharing and believing”.

Mrs Laws, who has been the Redgate CWA branch president for 10 years, said members had always loved helping out at the show.

“I think as a CWA member you do give your time and your energy the best you’re able to,” she said.

The experience is rewarding for all members. “(At the end of it) we put our feet up and say, ‘excellent’,” Mrs Laws said with a laugh.

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The Redgate Country Women’s Association in Alexandra will again be providing delicious food.

Picture: Caprice Photography, Geelong

PAGE 12—‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016

Sunday, June 12

Committee member has seen it all Many changes have happened to the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod show since its inception 20 years ago, and long-time committee member Gordon Simpson has been there to see it all.

Mr Simpson is one of the 12 founding committee members of the show and he recalls that the first official event was much smaller.

“It was just a few blokes who got around and had small jobs to do,” he said.

“We just got it done, it was an easy job.”

The growth of the show during the past 20 years is something Mr Simpson could never have imagined, and he is thrilled with its success today.

Mr Simpson’s position as a show committee member and organiser has had many different tasks over time, from small management tasks to taking on the safety and operations of the show.

“I now look after all the trade sites and the traffic management plans,” Mr Simpson said.

He said it involved making event management plans with the shire, VicRoads and the police, and liaising with the CFA and SES.

“Twenty years as a truck show is a big success.”

Gordon Simpson

During the past two decades Mr Simpson has witnessed many changes in operations, and one of the biggest is the increased emphasis on safety.

“The safety side has changed a lot because our show has grown quite a lot, everything we do has to be 100 per cent safe,” he said.

There have been many great shows, but the 2009 show stands out in Mr Simpson’s mind as the biggest and most significant.

It was the year of the 2009 Black Saturday fires and Mr Simpson said he received tremendous support from the community and spectators.

Mr Simpson, who is the managing director of Simpsons Fuel Distributors, has a strong tie to the trucking industry and the Alexandra community.

He said he was excited for this year’s milestone event, which gives Alexandra a great opportunity to shine.

“Twenty years as a truck show is a big success,” he said.

“The community makes a lot of money, and a lot of the community organisations do well out of it. That’s what I like to see: to see the money stay in Alexandra.”

Gordon Simpson is one of the 12 founding committee members of the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show.

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‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016—PAGE 13

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WE CAN GO

EVERYWHERE Families will be able to browse among many stalls at the market, during the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show.

Jam-packed weekend A display of beautiful quilting is just one of the many attractions that are part of this year’s Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’s long-weekend line-up.

Apart from the show’s main truck display on Sunday, there will be plenty of other things to see and do in Alexandra this Queen’s Birthday long weekend, including a market, show rides and amusements, wood carvers, helicopter rides and a petting zoo.

Show president Caolan O’Connor said with 50 stalls, this year’s market was set to be bigger and better than last year.

It will be located in Perkins St on Saturday, June 11 and in Paynes Ave, opposite Rotary Park, on Sunday, June 12.

Take some time to enjoy the excitement of the rides and amusements set to line Bayley St, adjacent to Rotary Park, all weekend.

Take in the beautiful scenery of Alexandra during a helicopter ride, lifting off from the helipad in Leckie Park on Sunday, June 12 at different times throughout the day, depending on weather conditions.

The annual quilt show will be on display in the shire hall on the corner of Grant and Perkins Sts on Sunday, June 12.

Beautiful quilted creations, contributed by Alexandra Quilting Inc, will be exhibited for all to admire.

The chainsaw carvers will be working away all day at Rotary Park on Sunday, June 12, alongside the annual woodchopping competition. The chainsaw carvers’ artworks will be available to purchase after the show.

Get up close and personal with some furry friends at the petting zoo, which will be located at Rotary Park on Sunday.

Plenty of food will also be available to keep you energised to visit all there is to see and do at the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show.

Street traders including coffee shops and bakeries will be open for business all weekend, while Alexandra community groups, including Scouts, footy clubs and the Country Women’s Association will host food stalls along Grant St on Sunday, June 12.

“We encourage all visitors to support our local traders and community groups,” Mr O’Connor said.

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PAGE 14—‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016

Sunday, June 12

Wood chopping always popular Timber will splinter as woodchopping competitors vie for two championship titles at the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show woodchop event.

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Large crowds are expected to gather at Rotary Park on Sunday, June 12 from 10 am to watch competitors vie for the 300 mm underhand and the 275 mm tree-felling Victorian titles.

Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod show committee member Gordon Simpson said woodchopping was initially introduced to the show’s long weekend line-up in 2001 as a way to celebrate Alexandra’s timber-town heritage.

“It is showcasing the area, the timber industry and what we have got to offer around Alexandra,” he said.

“The heritage of Alexandra is based on timber, that’s how the truck show started.”

In its opening year the woodchopping was promoted by world champion axeman David Foster, and since then has seen many elite and upcoming woodchoppers compete.

“Everybody loves woodchops, we’ve had some huge crowds over the year just to watch,” Mr Simpson said.

Mr Simpson said he expected more than 50 woodchoppers to compete during this year’s milestone truck show event.

“It will be a great day, we have got woodchoppers (from) all over Victoria to compete,” he said.

Mr Simpson said there were a few competitors that spectators should keep their eyes on during the event, including third generation axeman Laurence O’Toole, who has won more than 350 Victorian and Australian championships over 15 years, and the Meyer family, which has carved its way as a woodchopping dynasty.

Mr Simpson said Jason Kirley, whom the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show foundation sponsored 10 years ago and again earlier this year, would be returning to compete this year.

“He chopped at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and the truck show helped to pay his fuel up and back,” Mr Simpson said.

“That’s what we try to do, we look after the kids.”

The Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show woodchopping is sponsored by VicForests and is held in association with the Central Victorian Axemen’s Association.

The woodchopping will kick off at 10 am at Rotary Park on the corner of Grant and Vickery Sts and is expected to continue until about 4 pm.

Schedule ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

Novice standing block 250mm Novice underhand 300mm Open standing block 275mm Open underhand 300mm Two-man combination 300mm underhand and 250mm standing block 300mm underhand Championship 275mm tree-felling Championship Veterans’ underhand 275mm Two-man crosscut sawing Junior chop Hot chainsaw race (starting at noon sharp)

โ Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Showโ , 2016โ PAGE 15

Major sponsors

Sunday, June 12 2

Picture: Caprice Photography, Geelong.

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PAGE 16—‘Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’, 2016

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