Sixteen years ago a group of Alexandra traders decided to hold a “Truck Show” principally to recognise that the timber industry heritage in the town was still strong and there was an impressive collection of log trucks locally.

Their objective was to give the town some vitality and a bit of a presence.

Next weekend on Sunday 9 June of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend the seventeenth annual Alexandra Truck Ute & Rod Show will be held in the main Grant Street and adjacent areas.

There will be all types of vehicles on show, several hundred in fact, that always enthral the huge crowd that comes along to take a look, to admire and even possibly plan a career as a vehicle restorer, interstate truck driver or just because they simply have a mechanical interest.

Over the years the event has created a very strong reputation.

As Committeeman Andrew Embling notes there are visitors who come from throughout Victoria and interstate just to spend the day amongst the line-up of rolling stock in the town.

The Show has also become an important fund raiser for local community projects and this year the seventeenth annual staging will be no different with Kellock Lodge’s local building appeal the beneficiary.

The program simply provides something for every family member, from model trucks to the biggest and latest prime movers, for hot rods that are the dream creation of their owners to beautifully restored historic vehicles of all types.

And there’s a public auction mid afternoon of a large collection of transport related gear and collectable items, many donated by valued supporters and sponsors.

The same main stage in Grant Street is also the centre piece of the free musical entertainment headed by three of Australia’s top country music performers.

But if you are not interested in vehicles there is plenty more for your free family day out in Alexandra as there is no entry charge.

Just come along and have a look; you can buy a hamburger, an egg and bacon sandwich, a cup of soup, coffee or tea and a wide choice of eat on the move refreshments from the fifteen or so stalls that are manned by local sporting and community groups as their major annual fund raising event.

Or you can watch the annual Vic Forests Woodchop Championship in Rotary Park where the best axeman in southern Australia compete for title awards with their razor sharp axes and racing chain saws.

Or take in the Alexandra Quilters exhibition who this year are moving their colourful hand crafted works into the Shire Hall on the corner of Perkins and Grant Streets, where a gold coin donation applies.

For those seriously involved in the transport industry there is also a special Roadsafe Goulburn Valley Heavy Vehicle Forum to be held in the CEACA building at 38a Downey Street.

Key presenters will be Ralph Willingham the chair of Roadsafe Goulburn Valley and Senior Sergeant Des Wright from the Shepparton Highway Patrol who will speak on “Heavy Vehicle Presentation”.

The program which begins at 11am will be opened by local member Cindy McLeish and there will be a free cuppa to conclude.

So come along to Alex on Sunday 9 June as it’s an all day program that has been officially recognised as one of the best home grown country town community events in Victoria.

For more information see www.alexandratruckshow.com.au or contact Andrew Embling on 0418 266 038.

Over the last fifteen years the Alexandra Truck Ute & Rod Show has grown to be a display that is almost three kilometres long on the bitumen in Grant Street, is based on many hundreds of wheels and boasts many thousands of horsepower.

And it invariably delights everyone who comes along especially since there is no admission charge so it is simply a great free family day out!

Sunday of Queen’s Birthday Weekend

This year’s Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show, the sixteenth in the series, and held again on the Sunday June 10 of the Queen’s Birthday weekend, should post some new records.

The weekend opens on Saturday afternoon when most of the mobile gear rolls into town and those entering their vehicles gain their preferred parking spots.

Every Type of Mobile Gear

On the Sunday all the mobile gear – giant interstate haulage rigs many polished to the highest degree by their drivers and owners, who all chase the Truck of the Show Award and other recognitions, plus timber, logging and contractor equipment, together with an incredible array of hot rods, utes and motorbikes line up in Grant Street – Alexandra’s main street – for the judging.

In fact marshalling all the equipment and vehicles begins before daybreak on Sunday morning.

Of course all this gear is specially prepared for show and shine being in most cases lovingly and creatively restored in the case of the rods, utes and bikes and everything is displayed with pride by their owners!

Music a Feature

Each year the Committee engages keynote bands and performers to provide the entertainment.

There is always a focus on country and western or popular cover bands.

This year some of the groups appearing include 400 Watts, Harry Hookey and noted television personality Geoff ‘Coxy’ Cox and his group The Fitzgerald Brothers will lead the music bill for the Show.

Major Public Auction

There’s also a major public auction including a large range of transport related items held from the main stage in Grant Street which gets underway at 2.30 pm.

Trophy presentations follow from the same location at around 3.30pm.

But the Sunday is not just about mobile gear.

Quilting Work on Show

There is a popular quilting exhibition held in the Masonic Hall at the top end of the main Grant Street by the Alexandra Quilters group.

Their colourful display is always popular and with a gold coin on entry it’s a contribution that goes to a worthy local charity.

Woodchop a Feature

This year there is again one of Victoria’s biggest Woodchop Competitions where the fittest and fastest local and interstate axemen compete in a series of competitions for excellent cash prize money sponsored by the Victorian Axemen’s Association.

As the last event of the local wood chopping season, the competitors are at peak fitness and the standing block and 2.8 metre tree climb and cut competition are two of the crowd pleasers.

Plus there are divisions for senior and junior axemen with a couple of female competitors also expected to compete again to show that the woodchop – a feature of rural Australia since about 1870 – is not just a bloke’s event!

And with the traditional time handicapping exciting finishes are certain.

The Woodchop Competition is sponsored by VicForests the agency responsible for the sustainable harvest and sale of timber from Victoria’s State Forests.

A Real Community Benefit

Chairman of the Alexandra Truck, Ute & Rod Show Committee Matt Ellis says while the attendance figure is impossible to calculate informed estimates are that between twelve and fifteen thousand visitors attend on the Sunday alone and the event is strongly supported by the local community and businesses.

Most local traders also open their doors on the day with all accommodation in the local Murrindindi region is invariably booked out.

Dollars Ploughed Back into the Community

“Thanks to our sponsors in particular we usually finish with a profit and we distribute funds to a number of local community and worthy causes so it is truly something by the community for the community.

“In fact after last year’s Show the Committee handed a donation of $35,000 to the Alexandra Hospital which was applied to some finishing works and advanced equipment for the just opened new Hospital.

“In addition over a dozen local community groups earn a significant ‘profit’ on the day from the many food and drink stands they operate.

“We estimate that the contribution to school, kindergarten, community, charitable and sporting auxiliaries would have exceeded $100,000 that has gone back into the local community over the last decade alone” Mr Ellis says.

Make it a Weekend

Everyone is invited to come along and enjoy their day with the great diversity of attractions in the Alexandra regional area.

The Truck Ute & Rod Show website at www.alexandratruckshow.com.au is regularly updated with information on events, times and other information.

 

Contacts for further information:

Committee Personnel
Andrew Embling – 0418 266 038
Gordon Simpson 0409 577 212

Planning is well advanced for the 16th Annual Alexandra Truck Ute & Rod Show arguably the biggest annual community event in Murrindindi Shire.

This year’s edition will be held on the Sunday, 10 June of the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend when Grant Street and surrounding areas of the town will fill with one of the biggest and most comprehensive truck, equipment and public interest events that brings somewhere between twelve and fifteen thousand people to the town.

Truck Show Committee member Andrew Embling says that a number of new features are to be launched or existing features expanded for this year’s Show, for which there is no admission charge.

For instance “Alexandra has been selected by Scania the major international truck company to show their new 730 horsepower R730 truck which is the most powerful truck available anywhere in the world for use on public roads.

“Powered by a 730hp V-8 engine of 16 litres capacity it has awesome pulling power, yet is surprisingly economic on fuel consumption.

“I am sure visitors to this year’s Show will give it a good look over.

“In addition this year’s Woodchop Competition sponsored again by VicForests will have two Victorian Championship events.

“These are the 2.75 metre Tree Climb and Chop event and a 300 mm Standing Block competition where’s the finest, fittest and fastest axemen from locally and interstate will fight out the finals” Andrew says.

All the usual Truck Ute and Rod Show events will be staged from the major displays of all types of vehicles to the traditional auction on Sunday afternoon, to the continuous live music and the traditional Quilters display.

This year strong local sponsorship has made a raffle available with $1,500 in prizes to be shared between the first, second and third tickets drawn.

Raffle tickets are $5 and are available now from local traders or can be purchased on the day.

“The Alexandra Truck Ute and Rod Show is supported by businesses throughout the local area and brings a major economic boost to the district through accommodation, meals and retail purchases both on the day and over the weekend.

“We will also have more than a dozen local auxiliaries from football, netball, kindergarten and primary school support groups who will be selling their traditional hamburgers, sausages and egg and bacon sandwiches on the day.

“Every one of these groups earns a significant boost to their finances through their involvement” Andrew Embling says, so this is another way that benefits flow through to the local community.

The web site at www.alexandratruckshow.com.au is regularly updated with new information or enquiries can be made to Gordon Simpson on 0409 577 212 or Andrew Embling on 0418 266 038.

The most powerful road truck available in the world today will appear at the Alexandra truck Show in June. The Scania R 730 boasts 2583 lb/ft (3500 Nm) of torque from its 730 hp V8 engine, and is the most powerful truck available for sale anywhere in the world for use on public roads. It has been available in Australia since 2011, when it was introduced at the Brisbane Truck Show and won the coveted ‘Truck of the Show’ award.

Since then, the original show truck has covered around 15,000 km driving around Australia visiting other truck shows, as well as providing customers with a thrilling opportunity to enjoy the unbridled pulling power the 16-litre new generation engine provides. The truck hits its peak 2583 lb/ft torque output between 1,000 and 1350 rpm, helping it to sip fuel even when fully loaded. The highlight of its around Australia trip was pulling into Alice Springs for the Hall of Fame weekend last year, and then heading on to Longreach pulling three trailers, weighing in at almost 78 tons GCM. The drivers, including member of the truck media, were impressed by the R 730’s awesome pulling power, noting that they were barely even aware of the weight of the third trailer. Fuel economy remained impressive, as well. “The Scania R 730 has been a huge hit all across Australia, with show visitors as well as potential customers,” says Gerard Martin, Scania State Manager for Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. “We have seen huge crowds of people come to see the R 730 in the metal. The truck was on display in Perth last year as well as Brisbane, and recently we had a new example arrive, which was displayed at the Melbourne International Truck, Trailer and Equipment Show. “The Scania R 730 uses a new generation Compacted Graphite Iron cylinder block, as well as a variable geometry turbocharger and uses Selective Catalytic Reduction control for exhaust emissions to be able to meet the most stringent Euro 5 Plus EEV (Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle) standards. “So not only is it very powerful, but it is very efficient and very clean,” Gerard says. “We have had very serous enquiry on these R 730 V8s as well as on the R 620 and R 560 V8 variants we have been offering in Australia for some time. That first R 730 was sold to SRH Milk Haulage in Newcastle; the business owner practically bought it on the show stand in Brisbane. “The R 730 is the Scania flagship and we are delighted we are able to bring it to the Alexandra Truck Show this June to show it off to even more people,” Gerard says.

Whether you are on the road, working on your Rod or stacking the ute, there is no doubt big boys (and girls) love their toys and the 14th Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod show will have plenty on offer this Queen’s Birthday long weekend.  And while the weekend will be about family fun and events, there is a more serious side this year – promoting men’s health.

Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show President Matt Ellis said money raised from the weekend would be re-directed into men’s health.  “We know a lot of blokes don’t like talking health issues, but we are hoping that this year’s event will give men the catalyst to see their GP,” Matt said.  “While this is a family event, many would consider it a show for the boys, so why not talk about the issues that directly impact on them.

“We will be directing funds raised this year to the Alexandra Health Service and the work they have earmarked for men’s health. It is a great cause, a subject that we should be more open about and something we hope people give generously.”

The 2011 Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show will be the fourteenth annual staging of the popular event and this year is destined to be one of the biggest, if not the largest held to date.

Held on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June, there is a mountain of free family entertainment planned.  The weekend opens on Saturday afternoon when most of the mobile gear rolls into town.

On Saturday evening there is a free street party in the main street featuring an Eagles Tribute Show.  Plus there will be plenty of food and refreshments on sale.

Then on Sunday June 12, all the mobile gear – giant interstate rigs, timber trucks and contractor equipment – all the pride and joy of many truckies, together with an incredible array of hot rods, utes and motorbikes line up in Grant Street – Alexandra’s main street – for the judging.

They are often the unsung heroes of the working man or woman but many a business would not survive without their ute.

And just to highlight the care and attention that goes into many working vehicles, this year’s Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod show, staged on Queens Birthday weekend in June – has just introduced a new category for all those in the business world – the Best Corporate Ute.

Show President Matthew Ellis said the category was developed to highlight the diversified role utes play in the corporate and commercial world.

“From the humble tradies’ ute to the sleek machines of paint and panel specialists to home office businesses – they all tell a story and they all have a place in this year’s show.

“There will be a number of categories so we encourage those with a love of utes who reside in the corporate world to come Alexandra and enjoy a great family friendly weekend.”

Matt said the Goulburn Valley region was a huge supporter of the weekend.

“The Greater Shepparton Region always produces a number of outstanding displays across the show weekend.

“We expect with our new category, the latest in Caterpillar trucks, and adding the best European Trucks to the trucking category, we expect the show to continue to draw and excite crowds.”

The Alexandra Truck Ute and Rod Show is held in Alexandra and Sunday 12 June from 10am to 4pm. As a free public event held on the bitumen in Grant Street Alexandra and surrounds, the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show is a great family day out and regularly attracts an attendance of more than 12,000 people.