The 34th HHA & Larsen’s Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show returned to a full program over the weekend with one the biggest turn-out of entrants and spectators in a decade. Volunteers were kept busy serving food and registering the trucks for the judging. A quality line up of country music and free children’s entertainment created an enjoyable atmosphere for over 3,000 people at the event over the weekend.
Rotary Club president Grant Thomas was delighted with the results and thanked the sponsors and community groups who assisted. “We simply can’t run an event of this magnitude on our own. Incredibly generous sponsors underwrite the core expenses to make it happen,” he said. “And for every volunteer hour contributed we make a direct donation back to the volunteer’s school, kinder or sporting club. It’s a wonderful example of how a community can come together to do good,” Grant said.
While the profits are still being tallied, Mr Thomas confirmed that this is Rotary’s major fundraiser.
“Along with the Art Show, this event enables us to support many community projects and youth scholarships each year.”
On Sunday morning the public was treated to another great spectacle with 187 trucks participating in the convoy. A big thank you to Castlemaine Police for manning the intersections.
Of all the Truck Show volunteer roles perhaps the most unenviable task was that of the six judges who had to assess 222 trucks over the two days. In a tightly contested show, there were some hair-split scores to determine who took home the 12 trophies.
Rig of the Show and a $1,000 cash prize went to an impressive Kenworth owned by JBE Transport.
The previous day Bransgove Truckin’s 2017 Kenworth T900 Legend took out Best on Show.
Ten category winners were delighted to collect their trophies with additional prizes being awarded to the People’s and Trucker’s Choice and five entrants selected by HHA and Larsen’s. There were grins all round as the happy truckers farewelled Castlemaine.
Co-sponsor Jon Kelly from HHA expressed his pleasure at returning to the Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show and announced that HHA and Larsen’s Truck Sales would continue to sponsor the next two shows. “This show was so refreshing, and it was an awesome job by the volunteers. “Everyone in the community made us feel so welcome,” Jon said.