DRIVING a tractor through Outback Australia may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but for couples from Piallamore and Walcha, it’s their idea of an adventure.
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Piallamore’s Allan and Nicolette Moss and Walcha’s Tony and Maree Barnett head off today on an adventure that will take them to the Simpson Desert and beyond with the Chamberlain 9G Tractor Club, which does a major trek every two years.
Mr Moss has been a member of the club since 1999 and has done treks across Australia twice – up to Cape York and to Tasmania – and one in New Zealand.
This trek will involve more than 30 tractors, plus support vehicles, and travel through Broken Hill to Oodnadatta, up to Uluru and Kings Canyon, then back through South Australia to Cameron Corner before the locals make their way home.
Mr Barnett said it was all about the eccentricity.
“The worst of them, like me, just love the smell of diesel,” he said.
“It’s an adventure. We also like sitting around having a yarn.”
Mr Moss said it was all part of being around a great bunch of people.
Not being the fastest road machines around, the trekkers will take about a month to make the trip.
They travel in style, though, all towing caravans or camper trailers.
Mr Barnett said his tractor could do about 50km/h, while Mr Moss’s can get up to 80km/h, but he said he liked to sit on about 65km/h to 70km/h.
Mrs Barnett said the tractor was “quite comfortable”, with the rides pimped for extra comfort that your average Chamberlain doesn’t see.
Both the local tractors have been modified with UHF and headset systems so the passengers can talk to each other on the long drives.
Mr Moss’s tractor also has a full cabin, stereo and air-conditioning.
“The Chamberlains have a bench seat,” Mr Moss said.
“Dad could be out ploughing all day then pick up mum and go into town in it.”
The trek isn’t just an adventure – the participants also raise money for the Royal Flying
Doctor Service and children’s wards and at hospitals across Australia.
Chamberlain tractors were made in Australia from 1947 to 1977 before they were bought out by John Deere.