One Perfect Day - Images from the Muster

The following Photos were taken by Bugsy Plowman

Post 2012 GFTM News

The winner of the Grey Fergie Tractor  Raffle was Bob Ninness from Borah Creek via Manilla NSW.
Congratulations Bob - we hope to get a photo of Bob on his new Fergie soon.

The winners of the Makita Raffle were:
1st- Bruce Nicholson
2nd- Peter Wilks
3rd-Tom Smith

Pioneer General Store Raffle donated by Bevan Callighan
1st- Pauline West, Bendemeer ( BMX bike and helmet)
2nd- J. Coleman (scooter)
Various prizes won by Harry Osborne, Pat Clemson, Robert Wright

We will provide an update on the amount of money raised for the Westpac Helicopter soon.

We had 160 Fergie Tractors in total.
The most from one location was from Gunnedah Rural Museum
Furthest travelled Fergie was Leo Versteegen from Warrandyte Victoria
Youngest owner was Toby Ison from Tamworth,
There were 14 tractors from Queensland,
The winner of the slow race Brian Pade

We'd like to give a special mention to Jeff Eggins, Donna Crampton & Robert Gill  who drove their Fergie tractors from Bonville NSW (south of Coffs Harbour) to Bendemeer - a journey of 246km.

They left Bonville on Thursday morning, stayed at Ebor overnight, then continued their journey down the New England to Bendemeer and were greeted by a number of owners and their Fergies out on the New England Highway on Friday afternoon.

On Sunday they made the return journey and were farewelled and led out of Bendemeer by a contingent of Fergie owners. Jeff rang Anne Doak the next day when they arrived home and said that "he had a tear in his eye when we were there waving them goodbye". What a tremendous effort they made to make it to the Muster. Well done!

Some photos will be posted very soon in the meantime just a small clip of the Grand Parade

Troy Casser Daly is a Grey Fergie Fan

Update of photos from the 2012 Tamworth Country Music Festival Cavalcade

Troy Casser Daly and Anne Doak

Winston Doak, Donnie Keaton and Troy Casser Daly

Winston Doak Donnie Keaton Troy Casser Daly

Fergie Flats underwater - man the pumps....

Fergie Flats on the banks of the McDonald River, Bendemeer has been flooded after a week of heavy rain in the New England - we've put in a call to the SCG for a loan of their Super Sopper to prepare for the Muster on March 24th - 25th.

Fergie Flats in flood - 2nd February 2012

Fergie Flats during the 2009 Muster

Grey Fergies @ Tamworth Country Music Cavalcade

On Saturday we participated in the Tamworth Country Music Cavalcade  and had an amazing time.

 

Started with meeting up with Troy Cassar-Daley and having a photo opportunity with him (what a great bloke and he owns a fergie!), then having Danielle Hogan ( up and coming singer) on our float, then Winston's fergie breaking down in Peel St and having to push it onto the median strip (how embarrassing!) then having lots of onlookers cheering the fergies as we drove by, then having Troy leave a message on my phone asking me for tickets in our fergie raffle and thanking  me for taking him to see our fergies ( not deleting that message!).

What a day!!
 

Anne Doak (Troy Cassar-Daley Fan)

The Restored Fergie - well done Donnie and Winston

Makita Sponsors the 2012 Fergie Muster

 Makita will be having a display at this years Fergie Muster in Bendemeer.

Makita have agreed to sponsor 8 Prizes for the Grey Fergie Tractor Muster Awards at this years Muster in March.

As well Makita have generously donated a First, Second and Third Prize for a Raffle.

Bendemeer Bush Poetry Night 2011

The Bendemeer Bush Poetry Night was held on Saturday 13th August in the Bendemeer Town Hall. It was a full house and a really funny night - funny enough to laugh the cold away. Thank you Anne and Winston Doak for having the energy to put it on again this year. We all hope you might do it agian in 2012.

The night showcased the talents of Paddy Ryan from Duri , Bill Kearns from Grafton way and Winston Doak from Bendemeer. Scruby Gully an acoustic band from Inverell and Port Macquarie entertained us all between the laughs with some great folk and bush music.

Enjoy some of the Poets works below.

Bill Kearns performs "Entrapment"

Bill Kearns performs "Ballad of Stanley & Lousia"

Winston Doak performs "The day 200 Grey Fergies near demolished Bendemeer"

Paddy Ryan performs "Don't say how ya going just say g'day"

Paddy Ryan performs "Mums dog caught the mange"

Paddy Ryan performs "Rubic's Cube"

Winston Doak performs "The Naked Cocky"

Scruby Gully perform "The Natural"

Foggy Fergie

I have had more fog than frost in my part of Planet Bendemeer this year - which is a change - although some cold frosts down to -8 degrees - the fog would stay until around 9.00am when the suns rays started to rise over the eastern mountains.

Fergie in the Fog

Fergie in the Fog

MacDonald River from Muluerindie Crossing

The old Road Bridge

The Night Fergie

Inspired by a walk through my small valley on a cold, black, moonless, heart of darkness type of night - just wearing miners type lamp torch - A visualisation in a thought bubble - why not put lights on the Fergie and trek across the flats, paddocks and the pine forrest on my Fergie. I like the the integrated sound of the engine and background music. Mmmm another thought bubble - a TEA 20 Fergie as a pop music video prop ??

It is Winter, a moonless night on the small block, starless and bible black, the tracks silent and the hunched,  rabbits' scrub limping invisible down to the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack , misty backed flowing river.   

   

You can hear the dew falling, and the hushed acres  breathing.  

Time passes.     Listen.      Time passes.

                           

Fergie Firefighter - TEA 20 as a Firefighter

My TEA 20 such a versatile machine. It is very good for carting my 500 litre firefighter when used in controlled fuel reduction burns in the right conditions, cold fire and a  little wind - its not so good in a real emergency - too slow for that and no protection for the driver. However you can weave in and around the many rock formations of the Planet (Bendemeer) the Carry All can hold chain saws, water, Mcleod tools and extra hoses.

Grey Fergie Tractor Raffle - More Photos

Members of the Grey Fergie Tractor Committee gathered at Donnie Keaton's shed to work on the restoration of the TEA 20 .... here are some photos by Anne Doak as a record for the eventual lucky winner that the restoration will be a first class job.

L-R: Don Keaton, Bruce Worgan (Bareco), Winston Doak

This Fergie has had front end refurbishment

Verity Treeve, keen Fergie enthusiast wire brushing and scrapping ready for primer undercoat

Winston Doak and Don Keaton

One Chief many indians

Raffle Tickets Available Now

Raffle tickets for a prize of a restored Grey Fergie TE 20 Tractor are available now from Grey Fergie Tractor Muster Secretary Anne Doak. Please email Anne at fergietractormuster@yahoo.com.au to request your tickets.

Grey Fergie Tractor Raffle Update

A working bee to refurbish the Grey Fergie "Raffle" tractor was held recently at Donnie Keton's shed in Bendemeer. It will be a high quality restoration with many new parts donated by Bareco. A list of repaired and restored components will be added to later posts.