April Adventures as Autumn continues……..🍂

April in Avenel ~ Brewery Lane at Rusty Springs

Our first weekend away for awhile kicked off on 10th April at the quirky Rusty Springs. Despite grey skies, 24 members gathered for a massive potluck smorgasbord in our central "town" hub. Our accommodation was a total standout, featuring themed rooms like the "Bank" and "Lockup" all centered around a community lounge and a roaring wood fire.

Saturday was all about the road. Some members caught the "Crawlin' the Hume" convoy of classic trucks before heading to the MOVE Museum in Kialla to explore vintage vehicles and 200 years of Australian fashion. The evening's "Cowboy Cookout" was a highlight, with everyone in Western gear for a night of BBQ, billiards, and singalongs.

We wrapped up Sunday at the Avenel Market, soaking up the "make it, bake it, grow it" atmosphere, followed by a final stop at the historic Tahbilk Winery. It was a fabulous weekend, and many of us are already vowing to make this an annual adventure.

Rails & Roadsters: The April Midweek Run

The April MidWeek Run was a journey back to the age of steam as 29 members gathered at the Newport Railway Museum. Under a perfect autumn sky, the group explored 17 beautifully preserved engines that trace the evolution of Australian rail engineering from its humble, gritty beginnings to its final, massive steel monsters.

The tour showcased the incredible toughness of early crews, who operated 1870s commuter locos in tiny cabs with almost no protection from Melbourne's biting winters or scorching summers. We marvelled at "Heavy Harry," a 260-ton locally-built giant from 1941, and learned the drama behind the R-class "speedsters." Though designed in Newport with innovative, lightweight U-shaped spokes, these engines were built in Scotland and arrived "bodgey" after a salt-sprayed journey on open decks, requiring local experts to fix them before they could hit the tracks. Beyond the heavy engineering, we admired the opulent Art Nouveau decor of a 1903 carriage and shared stories in a vintage buffet car.

The day wrapped up with a delicious lunch and great service at the Spotswood Hotel, where club cars lined the street as we enjoyed lunch - a "bright green signal" for another successful run by Pam and the team.

Members can check out the full story by Greg Brown in the June edition of MotorMouth