![LABOUR OF LOVE: Col Cunningham, 77, from Walla, and Kerry Pietsch, 75, from Pleasant Hill thatching the roof of the old hay shed at the Jindera Pioneer Museum. Picture: TARA TREWHELLA LABOUR OF LOVE: Col Cunningham, 77, from Walla, and Kerry Pietsch, 75, from Pleasant Hill thatching the roof of the old hay shed at the Jindera Pioneer Museum. Picture: TARA TREWHELLA](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/PDupDCSG52UXrq68xwPPyU/62dea458-8b7e-4056-a329-5495f0735379.jpg/r0_0_5184_3456_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"When this generation is gone, I don't reckon you'll see this again," said Kerry Pietsch, pointing to bundles of thatch stacked high on the old truck.
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The 74-year-old from Pleasant HIlls and his mate Col Cunningham, 77, of Walla, have spent the past few days thatching the roof of the hay shed at the Jindera Pioneer Museum ahead of Sunday's open day.
It's a labour of love for the pair, who have picked up their skills in the traditional craft here and there; with Kerry previously thatching his own shed at home.
On Thursday they arrived at the museum with the bundles of the rare Turvey wheat Kerry has grown specifically for this thatching job.
And while they used a very modern cherry picker to assist them with the roof work, all the harvesting was done with traditional machinery.
Kerry has his own rather impressive collection and used a 1950s Bagshaw header - "it's very old just like me", he says - to strip the wheat and a 1905 McCormick Deering binder to create the sheaths of wheat.
Meanwhile Col, who runs a sheep, cropping and cattle enterprise on 419 hectares near Morgans Lookout, also dabbles with heritage projects.
He recently grew rye corn for traditional saddler Mark Porter to use used for packing in heavy horse harness and collars.
Both men say these are dying arts but agree it's so important the younger generations understand their historical importance.
"There was no corrugated iron back in the day," Col explained.
"When you look under this roof, you can see after the thatching there's no holes there and it will stop the rain.
"It was also cool for the horses in summer and warm in winter."
The pair's handiwork will be on display tomorrow when the Jindera Pioneer Museum officially opens its Working Machines Shed along with a lost trades fair.
The public will be able to come along and see a range of traditional craftspeople in action - from whip-making, wood turning, wool felting and weavers to cross-sawing, lace, quilt and basket making, mosaics and jewellery.
The machinery shed will be dedicated to the late Tim Fischer, a longstanding patron of the museum; his wife Judy Brewer will officially open the shed.
Housed within its walls are a variety of styles, vintages and brands with the 1916 Moline tractor a particularly rare part of the collection.
- The museum will open the new shed at 11am; lost trades will be a feature at the open day (gold coin entry).