A VINTAGE machinery display at Bendigo this month raised nearly $3000 for Camp Quality.
The event was organised by the Veteran, Vintage and Classic Club of Bendigo and the Central Victorian Restoration Group.
Organiser Neil Athorn said the weekend "went really well - coldish, but dry".
The event featured historic tractors, cars, trucks, motorbikes and vintage farm machinery.
"Exhibits came from Deniliquin and Melbourne and all places in between," Neil said.
"Our engine numbers got to 35, there were 100 cars, six trucks and three caravans, but tractor numbers grew to 23."
Tractor makes represented included Ferguson, Bulldog, Twin City, David Brown, Fordson and Allis-Chalmers.
Neil said one notable attraction was a two-cylinder, 60 series John Deere tractor which had its first public outing after 12 months of restoration work.
"This tractor started its life in the Serpentine and Powlett Plains area in 1952," Neil said.
"After Powlett Plains, it went to a farm in Mandurang, just out of Bendigo.
"These tractors have a unique note to them, which you hear very clearly when they are under working load.
"On the Saturday morning, we ran 10 tractors up to the gold mine poppet heads and gave the group a quick talk.
"Then it was into the Hargreaves Mall in the middle of Bendigo for a display, a chat and some coffee."
Neil, who is president of the Federation of Veteran, Vintage and Classic Vehicle Clubs in Victoria, said the next event locally for vintage tractor enthusiasts would be a tractor trek this Sunday.
Organised by the Federation, the trek will start from Bendigo Showgrounds at 9.30am and head for Axedale on back roads, covering about 50km.
For more details, phone Neil on 0408 033 839.
One of Camp Quality's most successful fundraisers, esCarpade, is now just four months away.
This year's event will start at Tamworth, in NSW, on October 16 and end at Warialda, east of Moree, one week later.
