Don Edis with his tractor nicknamed ‘The Old Fella’.
The convoy of old tractors that chugged their way through Goorambat, Murchison, Whroo, Rushworth, Moora, Colbinabbin, Elmore, Rochester, Echuca and Wunghnu in mid-March did more than catch the eye of locals and visitors.
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The whole excursion, which began and finished at Yarrawonga, raised almost $150,000 to go towards the search for a cause and cure for motor neurone disease.
The vintage tractor enthusiasts, known as Riverina Trekkers Inc, held their annual ‘Two Rivers Run’ through sections of the Murray and Goulburn valleys over seven days, hauling driver accommodation behind them.
Lined up at the Wakiti Creek Resort and some of the tractors and the owner accommodation that was towed behind.
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“We are proud to advise that we will be donating $30,000 to Neale Daniher’s Fight MND; $78,000 to the MND Research Institute of Australia and $2000 to the Mathew West Endeavour Scholarship, at St John’s Lutheran School, Jindera, in southern NSW,” organiser Robyn Cole said.
“Ten-year-old Mathew was the son of one of our sponsors, who was accidentally killed just after our 2019 trek.
“Mathew participated in that year's run with his father and endeared himself to everyone, so it was a terrible shock when he died tragically.”
An auction of goods and services at Colbinabbin generated about $30,000 to go to the Fight MND organisation.
Some of the tractors on the road to raise vital funds for MND.
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Receipts of sponsorships, purchases and donations are still being tallied.
The evening auction event was co-ordinated by former Colbinabbin resident Jim Morgan, an old schoolmate of former Australian of the Year Neale Daniher.
“The public support, including the additional old trucks and tractors displayed from our district, was greatly appreciated,” Jim said.
A total of 38 tractors took part in the rally, with 53 people participating in the convoy.
Two tractors failed on the first morning, so the drivers made the trip in their regular vehicles instead.
