Fri, 27th Mar, 2015 Malcolm & Kerry’s farm, Westbury

7 degrees at 8am. A man in Ulverstone, Tas won the $30,000 on Sunrise Cash Cow!! Raining again so weather forecast got that wrong. Won’t bother going to V8s today as it is only practice and we don’t need to sit in the rain and cold!! Cold is bad enough.

Road Runner Transport rang to say our radiator has arrived – and some coffee too from Brian. Drove to near the airport in the rain to pick it up. The rain is lessening so that is good. After a cuppa Steve swapped them over and then after lunch we drove into Launceston to drop the radiator off to the PWR rep. He put it in the tank and there were more leaks on the top as well. Steve rang the chap in Cairns we bought it off so hopefully it will all get sorted out.

Rang Brian to say thanks for sending down the radiator and that it had arrived intact. Business is going well which is great.

Dropped in at Bridgestone where we bought our new rims from as they have developed a wobble at 90kms. The chap was very helpful and was happy to balance them again. We wandered down the road to Macca’s for a cuppa while he sorted them. When we went back he said he wasn’t happy with them so wanted to investigate some more and to bring the truck back on Monday.

The sun is peeking through the clouds and it hasn’t rained since lunch so hopefully we will get a dry day tomorrow for the race. It will be cold but that is better than cold & rain!!

Drinks with the others then into the van for an easy tea. Malcolm & Kerry are off to Melbourne tomorrow for the One Day International Cricket grandfinal – Aust vs NZ.

Erica rang – she met Alan Moffat today and had a photo with him. They have finished their trip following the Murray River though they still have to go down to the mouth. Then they are going to Kangaroo Island. Glad they have finally got this trip done as they have been trying to do it for a few years but rain and fires have stopped them before.

NO PHOTOS TODAY

Thurs, 26th Mar, 2015 Malcolm & Kerry’s farm, Westbury

Pouring rain through the night – amazing since it was clear as when we went to bed. Then the thunder started and then more rain, started to think it was hail as some drops were quite heavy on the van.

11.5 degrees at 8.30am and the rain has stopped. One side the clouds have parted and there is blue sky so hopefully it will turn into a nice day. Texted Rebecca for her birthday.

Steve finishing off the HWS installation.

I updated the Camps 7 book off the internet.

3pm and the wind is strong and cold, 14 degrees in the van, should be the heater on!! After they got the water connected and hot water flowing he went and serviced the truck.

Home grown pork and vegies roasted tonight with Malcolm & Kerry’s 3 daughters and son-in-law and of course, cute Eden.

The rain has stopped, 8 degrees outside as we head back to the van. The moon trying to peek through the clouds.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Wed, 25th Mar, 2015 Malcolm & Kerry’s farm, Westbury

Thermometer said 10 degrees but it felt a lot colder this morning. Steve is doing the gas work and I am going to clean the van and do all the washing as there is rain forecast for this afternoon.

Clear morning but the clouds are starting for build up. Lou rang to say that Beryl Richardson’s funeral notice was in the paper – she was my first boss, so sad for the family.

Very overcast dark day but amazing the washing dried – air must be so dry. If it was that overcast at home the humidity would be high and the washing would never have dried. At lunchtime it was only 15.8 degrees in the van. The wind has picked up.

Malcolm was going to pick up the rectangular hay bales with his machine so Steve drove me and Gus the dog out on the 4 wheeler to watch. Drove along beside him videoing it – most ingenious invention from the US. Not a common machine down here but it should be as it is brilliant. Picks up the bale then turns it onto the truck and when he has three in a row it pushes it back onto the tray. Once there are 5 rows the tray lifts up and stands the bales on end with big hooks keeping them in place. Then when it is full he drives into the shed and it just pushes the whole lot off in a big stack all ready to use.

There are a lot of other great inventions for making farming more efficient in use here. One old one though was made in 1902 in New Zealand, mainly out of timber. A large round bale of hay is fed into it and it shreds the hay It even sorts it if there are some pieces too long which are put through again. Then it is piped into bags. Will have to get a video next time they are doing some.

From there they make different mixes, combining grains etc and molasses to the mix to make a premium food source – Malcolm’s is called ‘Top Gear’. It is all very interesting.

Text from Tracy saying Grant is improving, wonderful news. 

Steve had a busy day doing the hot water installation so we decided to all go out to the Westbury Pub for dinner. Delicious meal.

Getting colder again as we head back to the van with a clear sky. Mum had rung so rang her back. Letting me know about Beryl. All well at home though Dad’s knees are playing up – I suggested rubbing them with WD40 – can’t hurt and it is one of its uses!!

Rang Wendy and Dave for a catchup.

Tues, 24th Mar, 2015 Malcolm & Kerry’s farm, Westbury

9.9 degrees at 8.30am, 6 degrees outside. Enjoyed having the electric heater to put on. Clearer sky this morning. Went into Deloraine with Steve and Malcolm to pick up some copper pipe etc so Steve can install the gas HWS for Malcolm & Kerry.

Malcolm told us about Mr Freeman who did the chainsaw carving. He only used chainsaws and he a lot of different size ones. He has some photos so will have to check them out. He did a tractor with caterpillar tread for a historical machinery day – took 4 months and the tread even rotated – amazing. It was auctioned for charity at the end of the show.

Pete and Penny texted that they had arrived in Deloraine so after lunch we drove back in to catch up with them. The trees are all starting to change colour which is pretty.

We went around the back way through more farming district. Lovely area. Great afternoon chatting – will keep in touch as they want to go back to Vic to look for more gold and do the deserts too.

In a vegie garden near the house there were more grapes that are a wine grape but very nice to eat. Picked the carrots and the last of the zucchini from here. There was also cabbage and cauliflower.

More huge sunflowers that he grows to feed to his birds.

The sun is out and nice and warming as we went for a walk down to the “vegie paddock” where they have corn, pumpkin and potatoes.  Malcolm & Gus took the 4wheeler.

Dug out some potatoes (like Dutch Creams) that are beautiful mashed as they are already creamy. Learnt all about planting and harvesting potatoes. He also explained how they harvest carrots – amazing engineering on the machinery. Sophie and I had already picked the corn for dinner.

Gus had been digging behind us and something dashed out of the plant – probably a rat – glad I didn’t see it as it went right behind me. Gus dug up some red potatoes.

Lots of room for the pumpkin vine to spread out. Could go some yummy pumpkin soup.

The mare is was a race horse and Malcolm saved her from the butcher so now she lives in peace here.

Malcolm explained the difference with the sheep and lambs he has on the property. The old ‘weathered’ sheep have been knackered and he used them to keep the grass down around the sheds and machinery. The lambs he gets in then fattens up and sells off – they are also good for keep the grass around the fence lines down. He also has a few steers which he sells off. He had a pig that was well fattened and his worker can slaughter them so we are having pork chops for dinner, with fresh carrots, corn and mashed potato – all from the farm.

Delicious dinner with a very yummy dessert Sophie made. Lovely night discussing all kinds of things – they are a lovely family and we are very thankful to have met them.

Lovely clear sky as we head back to the van.

Mon, 23rd Mar, 2015 Malcolm & Kerry’s farm, Westbury (Longford Pub & Westbury Silhouettes)

Woke to rain on the roof of the van – heavy dreary sky. It was clear sky when we went to bed last night!!! Heavy rain for the morning which the farmers are loving. We drove into Launceston to check out the little clothes lines at Ray’s Outdoors – not very strong compared to the ones I have seen so gave them a miss. Got some oil and filters so Steve can service the car. Picked up some steel for Malcolm. Even when it is pouring with rain there is something to be done on the farm.

We then headed south through Perth to find Symmons Plains Raceway. Symmons Plains is a big farm on a very big plain. Would look lovely with Ben Lomond NP mountains in the background if it hadn’t been so miserable. The rain stopped so we drove into the racetrack and had a quick look around. They are setting marquees etc up.

Headed back up the highway again and turned off towards Longford. Passed the historical site of Heritage Listed convict-built Woolmers Estate then along the hedge narrow road to the next historical estate of Brickendon. Longford was established around 1814 and sits at the junction of the Macquarie and South Esk Rivers. The first white settlers were the last wave of Norfolk Islanders expelled from the island in 1813. Followed by more free settlers from Britain, enticed to the area by the land grants being offered by the Crown.

Into Longford and we did a lap around the Village Green where they were dismantling the fencing etc. Here’s the damage the ute did into the lady’s fence and shed. She was more worried about her rose bushes that he ended up next to when he finally stopped. Apparently there won’t be any utes allowed next year.

Went into the old flour mill, now J J’s Bakery for lunch – yummy pies & sausage roll and a beautiful hot Mocopan coffee.

Drove down the road to the Country Club Hotel which is the “Pub Corner” of the race circuit back in the day. It is full of old photos and information.

Old car in the window was fixed up and then used in Targa Tasmania.

The bar was named after Lex Davison after he crashed into the edge of it in the 1963 Grand Prix (trying to avoid spectators) and then came in for a beer – without any money!! The publican said he deserved one after an entrance like that!! Lex is Alex & Will Davison’s (V8 drivers now) grandfather.

Lucky he didn’t crash when they used to allow the spectators to line the street outside the pub (1959), as I don’t think the chicken wire would have saved anyone!!

Another shot as they come around the corner – huge crowd.

Lots of info to read.

Steve pointed out on one of the big posters – the bottom car is what Malcolm’s car is based on and the top one was the MG that was competing on the weekend.

A lap around Longford with old and new photos. It was a 4 ½ mile circuit.

Motorbikes and cars.

So many famous drivers have been here – Jackie Stewart.

Alan Jones’ father Stan won the race, 18 years before Alan won his first Formula One race. This is the “hump” where the railway lines crosses the road up the street. Stan and Len Lukey were both doing 120 miles per hour!!

View up to the railway line – the drivers were driving away from us.

Jack Brabham.

Interesting reading about Kerry Cox and his car, the “Purple Petrol Eater”. This car did 132 miles per hour through the Flying Mile.

The 1968 race meeting was wet, wet, wet and it was the last one held at Longford.

1959 meeting had 30,000 spectators – hard to imagine this quiet little town coping with that many people.

In the pool room the walls were lined with big frames for each of the years. 1954 was cancelled has they had transport problems.

Check out how they loaded them onto the plane back then.

A 3D model of the track complete with viaduct and little cars.

This is the section of the Flying Mile they used on Saturday.

This is the section of Tannery Road they used for the Quarter Mile Sprints. They are hoping to get a bridge or something to link the two bits up again for next year.

Back outside – A sign showing where Lex Davison hit the side of the pub.

Longford Revival Festival poster.

As we headed back out of town along the road where the cars used to race, over the railway line and looking down towards Tannery Road, now cut off by the main highway.

You can still see the rubber left behind by the cars.

Back into Westbury and the sun is out for a moment so we decided to check out the Silhouette Trail as there is one of Malcolm’s great grandfather. Westbury was founded as a village garrison in 1828 by Governor Arthur. Set amongst fertile plains and bordered by the magnificent Great Western Tiers, Westbury grew to become a thriving agricultural centre with a rich farming heritage. Today it is renowned for its English country character and Celtic charm.

First one we found is of the Fitzpatrick Sisters who ran the Fitzpatrick’s Inn with originality and style for more than 50 years.

On the sign into Westbury it says “You’ll be bowled over”. Now we know why. ‘Jack’ Badcock, born in Tassie, was a talented cricketer who toured England with Sir Donald Bradman in the 1938 Ashes Series.

Lovely old church.

Found Sir Walter Lee’s silhouette next to the Methodist Church.

Beautiful coloured leaves on the tree as the rain came down again.

Cute cottage with its shaped hedge.

This one is about John Jones who deployed the chain of dogs on Eaglehawk Neck to deter convicts escaping from Port Arthur. He went on to become Magistrate and first Mayor of Westbury.

Another one in the Village Green about the Irish Exiles.

Heading back through Malcolm’s property – lovely green shoots are appearing.

These are the round bails Malcolm (and Steve watching in the tractor) did last night – then he went out again and did some smaller rectangular ones.

Quiet afternoon doing my blog while Steve helps Malcolm with a few things. He is wanting to put in a gas HWS so we are happy to be able to help him out.

Rain has stopped and the sun is peeking through the dark clouds for a moment.

Rang Kaylene to see how they all are.