Australian Kenworth T900 – Kenworth Tough

With thanks to our great mates at Hallam Truck Centre and Bayswater Truck Centre, the 2017 Alexandra Truck, Ute & Rod Show is proud to host the limited release Kenworth T900.

Modelled on the legendary American Kenworth W900 model and introduced in 1991, the Australian Kenworth T900 with its classic look and style was designed with the versatility to operate in almost any application and tough enough to stand up to the harsh Australian conditions. Although it has been many years since production the T900 has never faded and is reborn with the limited release of the Legend 900 for one day only on 26TH June.

Come and see the legend in Alexandra, this Sunday, 11 June.

Woodchop Now, and Into the Future

We love our woodchop! So much so that we recently started installing six permanent pole climb footings for this year’s Show.  This is a great addition that will make it easier to set up and even safer to run.

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Popular Winner, 2015

Congratulations Scott Nind of Shepparton on winning Truck of the Show in 2015. Your 1988 Peterbilt 379 was something to behold.

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Founding committee member, Gordon Simpson (left), Committee President, Caoloan O’Connor (right) watch on as Graeme Sharp from Royans presents the Truck of the Show trophy to Scott Nind.

TruckOfTheShowTrophy2015Can’t wait to see you back in Alex in 2016.

Motorcycle Apprentice of the Year Award for Alexandra’s Karl Davenport

Vintage motorbikes built up until about 1960 will be a feature display at the 19th annual Alexandra Truck Ute & Rod Show on the Sunday 7 June 2015 of the Queen’s Birthday weekend.

A preview of some 40 antique and unusual bikes was presented in Alexandra last Saturday under the banner of the local Redgate Classic Motorcycle Club which has about 80 members.

The gathering also saw the presentation of the Victorian Apprenticeship Award for the Motorcycle sector to Karl Davenport who works with his father in the family business in Aitken Street.

In receiving the award Karl said that it reflected four years of trade study and would complement the qualification he has already earned as a qualified automotive electrician.

Apart from a certificate reflecting his success Karl has also received a $1,000 tools award that will also contribute to his work on motorcycle maintenance and repairs.

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Karl Davenport Victorian Apprentice of the Year in the motorcycle sector with his historic BSA motorbike acquired from the estate of the late Ray Kelly of Alexandra.

The racing achievements of Ray Kelly and other local riders including John Woodley are graphically presented on the mural adjoining Davenport Automotive Electrics at 36 Aitken Street.

Vintage and antique motorbikes made before 1960 will be a feature display at the Alexandra Truck Ute & Rod Show on Sunday 7 June arranged by the Redgate Classic Motorcycle Club which has about 80 members.

Australia’s Largest Travelling Ferris Wheel

It’s the biggest in the country at around 25m high – and it will be in Alexandra for Truck Show weekend, 2015!

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New – Alexandra Truck Show Market

Did you know we’re adding a Market to this year’s Show?

Located opposite the Woodchop, you’ll find ugg boots through to soy candles, leather belts to local jams… in fact with over 30 stalls you can be sure to find something there for everyone.

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The Market is an initiative of the Alexandra Traders and Tourism Association and another opportunity to give local businesses an opportunity to bring their flavour the Truck Show. This is just another great way to support the local tourism association to fuel even more initiatives in and around Alexandra.

Alexandra Gears Up for the 19th Annual Truck, Ute & Rod Show – Sunday 7 June of Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend

The 19th annual Alexandra Truck Ute & Rod Show will be held again over the Queen’s Birthday Weekend featuring Sunday 7 June as the major day for the free public event.

Held on the bitumen of the Upper Goulburn township of Alexandra’s main Grant Street, a crowd of often 12 or 15,000 people attend for a great family day out.

Featuring several hundred vehicles on show from prize winning giant highway trucks, to restored and vintage vehicles of all types, the Alexandra Truck Ute & Rod Show is complemented by a full day program.

The Show display always takes up two or more kilometres in length along Grant and adjoining streets with numerous food offers provided by local community, sporting and support organisations as their fund raiser for the year.

Show spokesman Andrew Embling says each year his Committee adds to the program with new events and features that make an annual family visit to the event a memorable experience.

“Our new features this year will include a Mini Moke display where we already have twenty five entries booked of this enduringly popular vehicle of which 60,000 units were produced as a ‘fun machine’ by the British Motor Corporation in the UK, Australia (where 26,000 were built) and in Portugal.

“We have a couple of Moke enthusiasts in the local area who will be bringing their units along plus we are attracting others from throughout Victoria and even interstate, to make it a very comprehensive line up of what is still a popular vehicle.

“Another new display will be of vintage motor bikes from the earliest versions up to say the 1960 models and again we have strong enquiry from restorers and enthusiasts wanting to add their bikes to the display”.

Proving that there will be attractions for all members of the family there will be a special Market Stall area to display high quality crafts, home wares and food products.

Located at the western end of the Show this display will adjoin the historic Dove Cottage building and looks likely to have about 40 stall holders.

The major Quilt Display staged by the Alexandra Quilters in the Alexandra Shire Hall on Grant Street is always popular and will have another record number of handmade quilts on show.

Always a popular crowd pleaser is the annual Victorian Woodchop Championship with this year two major titles to be decided that will attract Victorian and interstate axemen.

The championships are the impressive Tree Climb event and the Standing Block competition.

Another regular Show feature is the public Auction on Sunday afternoon in the main stage area with an expected 60 to 80 lots of goods often with a transport, trucking or home use theme will be open to bids and there are always bargains to be had.

The Show Committee is also offering a major Raffle with household goods valued at $10,500 as the impressive first prize.

Filling an 8 by 5 trailer the goods to be won will include a large sized colour television, a 245 litre capacity Belu refrigerator, Blu-ray player, sound system for a home theatre, a Simpson washing machine, Stihl Yard Boss chain saw and brush trimmer and a Masport motor mower.

Available for purchase on the Sunday Raffle tickets are only $5 each and the draw will take place at 4.15 pm on the Sunday afternoon.

Second prize is a $2,000 Caltex fuel voucher with the owner of the third ticket drawn to receive a $1,000 Foodworks supermarket voucher.

Live music from the stage in Grant Street is always a Show feature and the keynote acts this year will include the Screaming Eagles with TV personality Jeff Cox ‘Coxy’ featuring on the drums.

They will be joined by the Ruckus country rock band and other emerging local musical talent.

Another key display site will feature the most modern support and service vehicles introduced to the fleets of groups like the CFA, SES and State Government departments.

Some of these were used in the recent prolonged and successful search for young Luke Shambrook lost in the nearby Fraser National Park.

Preceding the Sunday Show on the Saturday afternoon at 2 pm in Rotary Park on Grant Street the commemoration service will be held at the Victorian Truck Drivers Memorial.

Established last year to record, honour and remember those drivers who lost their lives in trucking or transport related accidents the Memorial has become a popular gathering place for reflection by their families and friends.

The names of another 40 drivers who have passed away in recent years will be added to the memorial this year.

The service to remember them will be led by the Rev Graham Brown of the Alexandra Anglican Church.

Liz Martin the executive director of the national transport hall of fame in Alice Springs who keenly supported the Alexandra Memorial is also expected to attend along with other transport industry support personnel.

Andrew Embling says “over the last eighteen years the Alexandra Truck Ute & Rod Show has grown to become a major transport industry and community event.

“With no attendance charge, plenty of parking around the Alexandra township we simply invite everyone interested in a great days outing to come long and walk amongst our exhibits, features and demonstrations.

“Quite simply there is something for everyone from the vehicle enthusiast, admirer or restorer, to mums and dads and of course there is everything for the young from music to sideshows to the popular animal farm for the littlies’ Andrew Embling says.

For more information see www.alexandratruckshow.com.au or for interview or enquiries about participating call Andrew Embling on 0418 266 038 or Gordon Simpson on 0409 577 212.

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The 19th annual Alexandra Truck Ute & Rod Show held annually on the Labour Day weekend has grown into one of Victoria’s free, major public events.

Sunday 7 June will see hundreds of vehicles of all types and ages from giant highway trucks to vintage mobile equipment on show with a huge supporting program over several kilometres of length in Alexandra’s main bitumen Grant Street.

It’s an event that is designed to appeal to all ages and the Alexandra community invites everyone to come to their town for a great days outing.

2015 Mega Raffle

Make sure you get your ticket for the major raffle.  Tickets available at selected traders in Alexandra and surrounds, and you can get your tickets on the day of the show.

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Truck of the Show, 2014

Well done Anthony Latorre, owner driver of this stunning 2013 Kenworth K200.  Anthony is a popular and worthy winner.  Congratulations!

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The Lady Is A Truckie

At the third service of the Victorian Truck Drivers Memorial, in Alexandra. With some 50 plaques to be added. Two of them will be women well known in the transport industry. The Victorian Truck Drivers Memorial Service will be held on Saturday June 6th at 2pm.

Geraldine Hoare, who died in June 2007, considered a legend among the many women who are drivers.

Gerri

Geraldine began her career as a ballroom dancer and a figure skater. At the age of 17 Gerri began to drive for Melbourne-Brighton bus lines. When her husband bought a truck, Gerri said, “why not” and began to “give it a go”.

Gerri and her husband began to be involved with furniture removals, when her husband hurt his back, Gerri kept the business going.

While driving for Downard Pickfords, she became the first woman to drive a road train in the Northern Territory.

Gerri purchased an 18 month old Kenworth K model Kenworth, that was to become her pride and joy. In fact the Kenworth turned over 4.3 million kilometres. She entered the Kenworth in truck shows  all over Australia.

Gerri carted grain out of Kilsyth for some time and then began to cart Tupperware from Melbourne to Adelaide. She did this until an accident (A box of Tupperware fell on her and badly damaged her back). In great pain she drove the truck back to Melbourne.

Always known for her dogged determination, sense of humour and sociability, one of Gerri’s last trips was to carry solar cars for the movie “Race the Sun”, starring James Belushi and Halle Berry.

Gerri eventually retired to retired to Rye where she supported disadvantaged children.

The UHF radios are much the poorer for losing the call sign “Copy Grandma”.