Farm Faithful Ute Comes Home to Hall

22 May 2010

The 2010 Hall Ute Competition and Family Day held on May 8 raised more than double the funds of the 2009 event, adding more than $5,450 to the coffers of Camp Quality in the ACT.

This year the event had 125 entries from 88 utes compared to last year's 135 entries from 85 utes. More than 500 people turned out to enjoy the barbecue and family activities, generating a profit of $5,469 compared to $2,003 last year.

One of the organisers of the event, Mary Vagg said the winner of the Best Overall ute for the show was Jason Barnett of Richardson in the ACT with his Toyota Hilux 4 x 4.

"The utes on the day were a great selection and the winners of the categories thoroughly deserved their prizes", she said.

"However there was one special ute on the day that carried a great story with it."

"The winner of the 'Restored category' was a 1947 KB1 International utility and for this old ute it was a case of coming home to Hall:

"The ute first became part of the Hall scenery in the 1950's when Allen Southwell of "Wattle Park" on Spring Range Road bought it second hand to transport livestock and farm supplies.

"It spent 20 hard years carrying supplies and animals as well as Allen's sisters, nieces and nephews across paddocks, up gravel roads, through swamps and boggy creeks. It eventually came to rest at the back of the farm shed with rear spring shackles made out of coiled fencing wire and a worn out motor.

"Fast forward to 1975, when Bob Barnes of Bonython was looking for a 1956 F100 pickup to restore. He was told that Mr Southwell had an old truck. When Bob went to have a look, it was in a shed buried under hay and other farm material. He dragged it out and discovered in was the 1947 International. It didn't run at all, and had chooks roosting in the back.

"Allen apparently was reluctant to part with the ute as he felt it was most dishonourable to sell a worn out vehicle that didn't go, but Bob eventually convinced him to sell the ute.

"Bob spent the next three years restoring the ute to its former glory. (Luckily he had a very understanding wife.) Finally, in 1978 it was registered and on the road.

"The first time Bob took the ute to the Hall Ute Competition and Family Day, Allen's nephews (Phil and Tony Morris) recognised the truck. They used to ride on the back around the farm when they were kids.

"The old ute had a complete rebuild in 2008 and it's now looking forward to many more years in the competition ring and of weekend outings".

Results of the ute competition and the raffle are on the website, www.hallutecomp.com.

The Hall Ute Competition and Family Day is an annual event that is organised to raise funds for charity. All profits from this year's event have been donated to Camp Quality.
Mary Vagg said the organisers would like to thank all the supporters and volunteers who made the event possible.

The fourth annual Hall Ute Competition and Family Day will be held on 7th May 2011.

Contact: Mary Vagg (mob) 0427 368 266
P.O. Box 8047 GUNDAROO NSW 2620