Club News

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We headed off to the Macclesfield with the sun shining and clear skies. We met our Southern members at the Strawberry Fair; and soon after the Northern members arrived from Hahndorf, where they met for morning tea.

The weather was perfect but we were grateful to the members who shared their shade tents providing respite from the sun. It appeared that there were more stalls than in previous years. We noticed some cars taking home more than they arrived with. There were a total of eighteen cars from the Chev Club, this provided an interesting display for the many people wandering around.

Club members were issued with a $3 voucher from the organisers. This was used to offset the cost of food purchased at the fair. Strawberries and ice-cream were seen to be the most popular choice.

The day ended with the Country Fire Service siren sounding. It was a bit of excitement for Laurie, Malcolm & me, but we managed to restrain ourselves from turning out. We had to remember that we are now retired or in Malcolm�s case, nearly.

The Club held their Christmas dinner at the Barossa Train Junction hotel/motel at Tanunda in the Barossa Valley. The Barossa Valley this time of the year was purely beautiful and made a very pleasant run from where the members met at Munno Para McDonalds to the Train Junction motel. The Barossa Train Junction, aptly named because not only does the restaurant boast diner cars to accommodate the diners but it also has several train carriages that are done out as sleeper units so that guests can stay overnight. On arrival people moved into the lovely dining area and once everyone had arrived, the meals were served. Members had a choice of roast beef or roast turkey for main course and then either plum pudding and brandy sauce or fruit salad and ice cream. Coffee and tea were available for members after their meals.

A raffle was held and door prizes were drawn out. Cathy won the first prize in the raffle which was donated by Banner Hardware and was an electric drill and an outdoor blower vac which was most opportune as our son is setting up his own gardening and maintenance business and this gave him some handy tools. Second prize was an apparatus for making the removal and replacement of wheels on our vehicles easier, donated by Clive and Jean Luedeke and was won by Barbara Lewis. The third prize was two big teddy bears donated by Mike O�Brien and Jackie and was won by Desi Pavlou. Most members ended up with a door prize thanks to the outstanding efforts of Mike Pavlou and Mike O�Brien who spent many hours sourcing out prizes to be included in the raffle and door prizes. Well done to the two Mikes.

Once the meal was finished the owner of the Barossa Train Junction took members on a tour through the museum attached to the restaurant. We were able to slowly peruse many beautiful Chevrolets from 1916 through to 1940 in one shed along with several Arial motorcycles. Members were then taken to another huge shed where they were able to watch a fantastic working model train set which incorporated several tracks, stations, hills, valleys and tunnels as well as several different model trains travelling around the track. Having enjoyed the tour so far members were surprised to be taken to another huge shed where there was even more late Chevrolets dating from the 1940 era to the mid 1970s. The owner of this magnificent collection stayed with members to answer any questions they may have had. A good time was had by all and members slowly moved off back to their Chevrolets and meandered through the beautiful Barossa Valley to return to their homes.

Member Profile

Robert SHEPHERD

Robert was born in the lovely little town of Birchip which is situated in north western Victoria. He was one of four boys in the family. His dad was a grader operator for the Shire and mother was a nurse. The family moved to St Arnaud about six weeks after Robert was born. He spent most of his younger life in the nearby town of St Arnaud. As a youth in St Arnaud he was involved in sport, rabbiting, fishing and as Robert so eloquently puts it, being villains.

After he left school he did an apprenticeship as a panel beater. He also dabbled in football and still to this day plays golf. After about four years as an apprentice panel beater, he joined the Australian Army. He served with the Australian Army in various camps and barracks throughout Australia, including Tasmania as well as spending some time with the Engineers in Vietnam. His army career lasted from about 1963 until 1969. When he left the army, he went to cooking school and graduated as a chef, a career that he worked in for a while before realising that he wanted a job outside and did not want to be working inside all the time.

He then started driving trucks and tourist coaches before moving to Adelaide from Melbourne about twenty years ago after he and Sandy met. Eventually he bought himself his own truck and became a self contractor. He then retired, and has enjoyed his retirement for the last seven years. Robert and Sandy enjoy travelling in their van and over the past 4 years have made several trips and travelled around Australia.

About thirty years ago while living in Victoria, Robert bought an old 1928 Chevrolet National tourer from a local chap in St Arnaud. He first knew of this vehicle when he was knee high to a grasshopper and has always had a love of old vehicles. This gentleman used the Chevrolet to tow a big old rotary hoe and also to fill the rear of the Chevrolet with wood and drive it to Swan Hill from St Arnaud to sell. Robert bought the 1928 Chevrolet which was registered and driveable and when he got it he stripped it back and restored it to its present condition. They became members of the Vintage and Veteran Chevrolet Club several years ago.

Robert has four children and there are four grandchildren who all live in Melbourne � a good excuse to travel to Victoria with the van! They are great members and always willing to lend a hand. Sandy has already audited the club�s books over the last couple of years.