Tooradin Tractor Pull organiser Trevor Vandahaden jumps for joy at Rutter Reserve after the event was saved by generous sponsors. 21727 Pictures: Stewart Chambers.
By Glen Atwell
THE Tooradin Tractor Pull and Truck Show will roar into action in January next year, thanks to the generosity of sponsors.
Organisers have been flooded with offers of financial support and handyman help from local businesses since $30,000 of copper cable at Rutter Reserve was wrecked in July.
Vandals cut cabling from each of the reserve’s eight light towers, and damaged cable laid underground.
But, with help from ice-cream giant Streets, the City of Casey and a number of tradesmen, the future of the not-for-profit annual event has been assured.
Event organiser Peter McGrath said the support from the community was overwhelming.
“So many people and companies are willing to help out to ensure the future of the tractor pull. The response has been amazing,” he said.
Streets special events manager and Lyndhurst resident Brent Fennell said when he read about the plight of the tractor pull, he knew his company was able to help.
“Streets will help finance some of the repair work and return a percentage of the ice-cream sales back to the organising committee,” he said.
“We didn’t want to see such a great event shut up shop because of vandalism.”
A local concreter has offered his services free of charge, and a cabling company will donate copper cable.
Mr McGrath said the list of people and businesses offering support was endless.
“We’ve got concreters, electricians and cable suppliers. And the City of Casey is sponsoring the event for the first time as well,” he said.
“Plus the regular sponsors, who have been the backbone of the event for the past 11 years.”
“The Tooradin Tractor Pull will be bigger and better than ever next year, and we’re expecting a crowd in excess of 5000,” Mr McGrath said.
Casey manager of arts and leisure, Robyn Bowen said the Tooradin Tractor Pull had a successful history and organisers had worked closely with council this year to ensure the event ran smoothly.
The event is a major fund-raiser and distributes more than $50,000 a year to local schools and community groups.
Next year’s event is scheduled for January 17.
For more information, visit the event website at www.tooradintractorpullers.com.au.
