Event pulls on power

By Bridget Cook
TOORADIN played host to 36 super-modified tractors and 127 trucks for its annual tractor pull and truck show on Saturday.
More than 6000 people made their way down to Rutter Park Reserve to be entertained by the event that just keeps getting bigger and better each year.
The main attraction for the day is the tractor pull itself. Competitors come from around Australia in hope that their super-modified tractors will be able to pull the sled the furthest.
The truck show has become a major attraction over the past years. This year there were 127 gleaming trucks on site, all of different makes and models.
The entertainment was not only confined to the trucks and tractors. With amusement rides, a chainsaw demonstration that ran for most of the day, food and drink stalls and 40-foot big screen to keep up with all the action, there was something for everyone.
A new attraction to this year’s event that was addressed with great enthusiasm, was the tug-of-war. This was not your regular tug-of-war however, it involved eight teams of six men pulling huge trucks. The winners of this competition were the men from Rand Crane Trucks.
All the proceeds made from the day go back into the Tooradin community, to help support schools, kindergartens and other community groups.
“The event brings people from everywhere to the town.” said event organiser Peter McGrath. “The locals really benefit from it because it’s a charity event.”