Yass is a town which has valued its heritage, a feature which gives residents pleasure and which attracts others to visit. There are also many organisations in town run by volunteers who want to preserve our past, whether it be our buildings or our historical artefacts and records. Or, as we've seen recently, evidence of the way we were, such as the tram lines.
The Yass Valley Heritage Celebration will be held next weekend, November 8 and 9. The Celebration is the result of hard work by the Yass Antique Motor Club, and was previously named the Yass Celebration of Heritage Motoring. The name has been broadened to include other relics of time past which people will be interested in. This year, the third Celebration, will see stationary engines, a display of old model trains, and fashion. Visitors to the Celebration at Banjo Paterson Park will be encouraged to dress up in period costume.
This year Greg Snape believes will outdo last year's Celebration, with many more entries received now than at the same time last year. Vehicles are being brought to Yass from a wide area of south eastern New South Wales. The oldest entry, which is a 1901 Stanley Steamer, called a "steamer' because it's steam driven. This is a very early car, and is being entered by a member of the Veteran Car Club in Canberra. It has not been displayed here before.
Holden and Ford
This is a big year for Holden, and the Celebration will feature Holden. Holden is celebrating its 60th year since the first Australian produced car came off the production line. There will be a display of around 20 Holden vehicles from their first thirty years, ranging from 1948. The display includes:
* an ex-Jack Brabham Bathurst A9X Torana and other concourse winning cars
* a Brock Commodore. Greg Snape says that since Peter Brock was tragically killed the Brock Commodores have become very collectible.
But Ford aficionados won't be neglected. On display:
* two old Ford powered racing cars; one from Gundagai competed in the Australian Grand Prix in 1955 and again in 1961.
* a 1928 A model Ford racer
* a Ford V8 special which was used as a land speed racer in Tasmania. In the 1930s this car was the first car officially clocked in Tasmania to do the magic 100 miles/hour.
Other heritage cars
As well as Holden, Land Rover has also clocked up 60 Years in the Australian market, and they will be represented. The Military members of the Yass Antique Motor Club will display a few of the early Land Rovers to remind us of their early significance in our motoring history. There will also be many other cars from a range of stables. Last year's Celebration was a success, and Greg Snape believes this one will see more cars, probably over 100, assembled.
It's not too late to display your Heritage vehicle, if you or your club would like to be involved in the event. Please contact Greg or Glenda on 6227 1111 if you'd like to join in.
A family heirloom
This 1929 Chevrolet Tourer has been part of Gordon Henshaw's family since it was bought in Harden in September that year. Gordon still has the receipt for the purchase. The owner of the Chevrolet during World War II died in Changi, and the car moved with the widow to Young, where it was involved in an accident. With major damage sustained by the rear of the body and the rear wheels, the Chev remained unregistered for some years, until inherited by Gordon. Gordon was still working, and on the move. So while some work was done on the vehicle, minor work (!)such as stripping it down to the chassis and beginning to rebuild from scratch, it wasn't until he and his wife Sandra moved to Yass in 2005 that the Chev found a permanent home. Now that Gordon has retired he's hoping to finish the restoration job.
The Yass Valley Heritage Celebration will be held on Saturday/Sunday November 8 and 9.
SATURDAY
Free event Banjo Paterson Park from 10 am to 5 pm. See Heritage Cars, Military Vehicles, Fire Engines, Bands, Box Car Races, Wine Tasting plus:
Food and displays!
* YECCA Open Day and Devonshire Teas
* 100 years of Scouting Display, with Cubs working on alternative fuel vehicles for the annual Box Car Races after lunch on the Saturday.
* Wonderful old Fire Engines escorted into Yass by Police Patrol Car with sirens.
and Music!
Original Ol' 55 members, Rockpile Jones and Paul McCann. 'The Hips' are an eight-person rock 'n' roll cover band with three vocals, two guitars, keyboards, bass and drums from 2 pm. Rockpile Jones being the original voice behind Ol' 55 and Paul McCann, the original bass player for Ol'55 and Founder and Bass Guitarist for 'The Hips'.
'The Hips' will be playing with 'The Croker's' from 10 to around 2. The Croker's will provide easy listening music background to the vast display of heritage vehicles.
(SUNDAY)
Sunday November 9 will continue the Yass Valley Heritage Celebration, with an Observation Run to Yass Railway Museum and a Heritage Cricket Match at River Bank Park.
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