Four vintage tractors rumbled around the Canowindra Showground last Saturday and Sunday as part of the inaugural 24hr Tractorthon put on by the Central West Tractor Trek Group raising money for Little Wings.
Kicking off at 2pm on Saturday and started by Federal Member for Calare Mr Andrew Gee the 4 vintage tractors, three Ford and one Massey rumbled around the Showground clocking around 340km on each tractor. There were around 50 drivers doing shifts of between 30 mins and 1 hour
during the 24 hour period with not one tractor breaking down along the way.
On Sunday at 11am the four local schools from Canowindra got involved with Principals Mr Ken McNamara from St Edwards Primary School and Mrs Sharon Hawker from Canowindra Public School joining Mr Darryl Ball Deputy Principal of Canowindra High School and Ms Liz Francis Director from Canowindra Pre-School. Each school representative jumped in a tractor for an hour and did as many laps of the showground as they could.
At the time of going to print the weekend raised a massive $12,500 for chosen charity Little Wings. Little Wings is a not – for- profit organisation, whose aim is to support families to reduce the financial burden, emotional strain and travel fatigue experienced when a child is unwell.
Dylan Sharp, 16, from Cargo used the Little Wings service last year when he was unwell. After having a chest operation in Sydney, it was too uncomfortable for him to travel home to the Central West by car so Little Wings stepped in and flew him back to Orange..
A big thank you must go to the Canowindra Showground Trust for allowing the tractors to use the Showground, Alison and Tom Stephens from Canowindra Tyre Service, the Canowindra Public School P&C and the children who helped in the canteen and on the BBQ.