The FODEN Steam Engine

When gold ran out in Trentham, the locals turned to logging. The Wombat forest during European settlement was logged out although now it has regenerated. Tramways were built to bring the fallen trees from the forest sawmills then directly to the Trentham station to be transported to Melbourne. 

Not that long ago I posted the black and white photo below. It shows a steam engine transporting the wood to the station. After last weekend, it now has much more significance to me. We went to Bullarto, only about 10 kms from Trentham where they had their annual Tractor-Pull, Wood-Chop and car show.

There in all its glory was a beautifully restored Foden steam traction engine. 

It was quite an amazing vehicle of several tons in weight and sounded glorious when in motion.

I'll post some photos of the Tractor Pull competition in a few days.

More on the Foden here;

"The People are so Friendly"

Last Tuesday the Cool Country Classic Car Club took their cars to our aged care facility for the residents to enjoy our cars as much as we do. Earlier I went for a coffee in town and while Celeste (my demure Citroen) was parked in the street, I was questioned by a couple about her. They are currently visiting with the prospect of buying some land to build in Trentham. Today I met them again (twice actually). 
They have spent the last four days enjoying our town. 
We chatted for awhile and I then asked them the all important question - "What has intrigued you most about Trentham". The answer was as I expected - "The people are so friendly". 
I hope they find what they are looking for.

We have a great car club here in Trentham - the population of the town is about 1400 but our car club has 110 members and we get approx 30 members to our general meetings. We are meeting many like-minded locals through the car, foodie, garden, petanque groups in this intimate village.

So many stories to tell.

Its a warm day, Sue says to me, "Would you like me to shout you a cold beer." "Yes that would be very nice dear, especially in the beer garden of the Royal George", I said.

Well as I said previously that it was a nice warm day and we had been out shopping for such garden stuff as veggie garden soil and horse poo, I thought a beer would go down very well.

So we get to the Pub, in this case the Royal George and we have a short beer tasting when she samples a few before deciding on what suits her palate - me, just give me a bloody beer, I'm parched after that horse poo thing.

So after Sue discovers that her purse is still in the car, I then have to shout the beers. Not only that but I carry them out to the beer garden - not much of a garden but a parched dusty soil area with rotted garden furniture.

BUT, there's this wonderful old timber building with a picket fence in the corner of the beer garden.

If only buildings could talk and tell us their history. Who lived here? For how long?, did children grow up here?

So many stories to tell.