Ploughing hits gold

THE West Gippsland Ploughing Association celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this month with a Silver Share ploughing contest and celebration dinner.
The Silver Share contest was held on the property of Greig and Joan Barry at Loch, with ploughmen travelling from as far as Cape Otway, Colac and Ballarat.
Shayne Neal (Cape Otway) won the Conventional section, while Poowong’s Adrian Tilling finished runner-up.
Prizes were donated by Gendore and Chapman’s Machinery respectively.
The winner of the Vintage section was Bob Clayton from Geelong, while Colac’s Peter Gardiner was the runner-up.
Both vintage prizes were donated by Chapman’s Machinery.
An encouragement award, donated by Neville Smith, was also awarded to Peter Gardiner.
The celebration dinner included the cutting of a 50th anniversary celebration cake, which was cut by three of the 10 inaugural members, Monomeith’s Len Clark, John Wyke, now of Lancefield, and Ranceby’s Ron Richards.
Caldermeade’s Jack McDonald was unable to make it on the night but went to the paddock to check on the ploughing earlier in the day.
Len Clark was presented with a painting of the tractor and plough he used to compete with, as a special thank-you for his dedication to serving on the committee for 50 years.
There was also the unveiling of a plough and plaques to be erected as a monument to West Gippsland Ploughmen in Poowong in the very near future.
The plough was kindly donated by Ron and Marie Richards.
The plough monument is to commemorate the 50th anniversary and is in recognition of the six members from the West Gippsland area who have represented Australia at World Ploughing contests. The six members have, together, represented Australia 28 times over the past 56 years that Australia has been involved at world level.
A Memories of West Gippsland Ploughing Association book has been compiled by Marie Richards and Jodi Loughridge, and is nearing completion.
It is based on the minutes over the past 50 years of the West Gippsland Ploughing Association, together with photos, newspaper clippings and personal memories.