Maurice, 87, climbed aboard the first tractor the family purchased, a Field Master, in the late 1940s and towed a scarifier that came with them when they made the trip from the Wimmera to Brocklesby nearly three decades earlier.

Older brother, Bill, 91, jumped on another a tractor, a Case, and pulled along a plow as the memories came flooding back for the assembled family members on one of five properties they presently own in the district, Delaware.

"It's a terrific gathering of family of friends and seeing some of this old gear back in action," Bill said.

"This plow here I drove with 10 horses when I left school.

"Things have changed a lot."

Maurice said he could also remember when the family invested in the original tractor.

"I left school in 1947 and in 1948 we bought a tractor so my time with horses was very short," he said.

"I don't think we ever had a complete drought, but there were certainly plenty of years that weren't very good.

"Also back in the 1940s there were no bores or hay sheds like they have today."

IN OTHER NEWS

The first Koschitzke to arrive on Australian soil from Poland in the 1800s was Johan-Wilhelm, aged in his 20s.

After landing in South Australia the family had stop offs in Mount Gambier and Bangerang, north-east of Warracknabeal in the Wimmera, before coming to Brocklesby in 1921.

Brothers William and Ted and families made the move after originally being headed for Temora.

Allawah was the first property they purchased before expanding with the addition of Delaware, Belvoir, Alvista and Selby Grange.

Lorna Mills, 101, was the oldest family member to attend the weekend gathering after making the trip across from Warracknabeal.

The original scarifier was returned to the family by a neighbour about a decade ago.

"I think they were pretty glad to see the back of horses and something with tyres," Greg Koschitzke said.

Farming and football are synonymous with the Koschitzke family with Greg's son Justin playing at AFL level with St Kilda and his cousin Jacob making his debut for Hawthorn in round one of this season.

Maurice is the oldest living Hume league premiership player after being a member of the successful 1950 Brocklesby team.

Steve Koschitzke is president of Brock-Burrum Football-Netball Club and brother David is an AFL North-East Border commissioner.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: