THE Highlands Steam and Vintage Fair launched the Oberon and Villages Summer Festival with pizazz, plenty of noise and lots of steam last Friday.
The Fair, in conjunction with the 109th Oberon Show, was an outstanding success and has firmly established itself as an annual event.
Fair and show attendances showed a large increase on recent years and the response by patrons to both events was extremely positive.
Congratulations to both the committee of the Oberon Heritage and Collectors Club Inc, who promoted the Steam Fair, and to the Show Society, for their efforts in increasing the size and variety of the show. There were many more sideshow attractions this year as well as delightful displays of arts and crafts, agricultural exhibits, bull riding and fireworks.
The Grand Parade through Oberon’s retail sector on Saturday morning proved to be one of the biggest ever seen in the town. One spectator said that it took more than one hour to pass her viewing point. There were more spectators gathered in the street than has been seen for many years.
In fact the parade was more than two kilometres in length and was a kaleidoscope of colour and noise. The parade was led by Scots College, Bathurst Pipe Band who piped many a favourite tune, lending a true highland and heritage feel to the event.
Oberon’s emergency services brought up the rear with loud and imaginative sounding of sirens and horns. In between were more than 100 cars, trucks, steam traction engines, military vehicles and even two spectacular tanks.
Saturday also saw the biggest display of moving and static vehicles ever gathered in Oberon with more than 200 entries.
“It was truly a rare sight to see so many steam traction engines in the one place”, said Jim Hawkes, president of the OH and CC and the Highlands Steam and Vintage Fair. “At any show you may be lucky see two or three of these machines, but six at one show with many other portable steam engines is rare indeed. You wouldn’t even see a military presence such as the fair had with the variety of exhibits in any other place except perhaps a military tattoo. We had a Centurion tank, and a Matilda tank from WW2 as well as a fully equipped 25 pound field gun.”
And that is not forgetting stationery engines, tractors, cars, trucks and many small displays.
Beryl Gibbons, the president of the Show Society, said: “We were overwhelmed with the size of both the fair and the show, and the residents and visitors responded magnificently”
So many visitors came from as far as Sydney, Maitland, Warren, Wagga Wagga and even Tasmania. One resident had special guests all the way from Ireland. A Russian family touring the district extended their stay especially to see the fair and show.
The fair welcome dinner and awards night was also a winner with the crowd which was entertained by folk and country singer all rounder Pat Drummond at Oberon RSL Club. He also introduced the mayor Keith Sullivan and show president Beryl Gibbons who presented ribbons to the winners and runners-up in the categories judged during Saturday.
Kevin McGrath presented a special award over and above all the others. It was based on what caught his eye and represented our heritage and a bygone era.
The Big Trout Motor Inn’s Display of the Day award went to Jim Hawkes for his display of an original and working 1948 Sunshine Corn Sheller. The award was a highlight of the evening.
Events such as these showcase the lifestyle and simple pleasures that visitors to Oberon find so enchanting.
Events such as the fair could not be staged if it wasn’t for the generosity of sponsors. The Committee of Oberon Heritage and Collectors Club acknowledges Oberon Council, Country Energy and Big Trout Motor Inn, the major sponsors as well as the many businesses and individuals who gave their cash and help to ensure the fair was successful. The Highlands Steam and Vintage Fair is now firmly established as the key event to the Oberon and Villages Summer Festival calendar. It will be back again next year, brighter and bolder and covering three days of activities including the 110th Oberon Show.
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