Katmach 2020

September 19th 2020

Katanning is located in the Great Southern region of WA,  about 290 Km SE of Perth. The Katmach Vintage Fair is an annual event organised by Katanning Vintage Machinery Association, this was the first time that we had attended.

Bob, Brenda, Geoff and Elaine headed down from Perth on the Friday while Nigel, Di, Rob and Maggie, already touring in their caravans, approached from the West. Free camping was made available to us, at the Kupara Park venue, with hot showers and toilets available. 

After getting our caravans set up, we erected our four shade gazebos, on the show ground. Rob and Nigel found some long lengths of pipe and timber to help anchor them down in case of the forecast breeze getting up overnight. Tractors and stationary engines were arriving all afternoon. 

Saturday morning, in cold, blustery conditions, we started setting out our displays assisted by Peter Jennings, Nigel and Rob were in charge of the sales tables while Bob had an interesting display of agricultural spanners and model ploughs. Geoff had W.R. Smith's post boring machine replica at its first public outing.

                               The calm before the storm.                                                                          Stationary engines on display

What would have been a very good day was made uncomfortable by showers, and gusts of cold wind throughout the day, which threatened to destroy our gazebos and did succeed in wrecking that of another exhibitor. Regardless of the weather, the grand parade of tractors, the tractor pull competition, ploughing demonstration and putt-putting of stationary engines continued throughout the day, and we seemed to have a fairly steady stream of interested visitors. Up on the verandah of the pavilion, a man was demonstrating his rope making machine, making skipping ropes for any one that wanted one . Also on display were a number of old cars and motorbikes.

                               Part of the line up of tractors                                                            Iconic WA built Chamberlain competing in the tractor pull. 

                                     Old grey Ferguson tractor with a two furrow mould-board plough. 

Steve Wareing travelled down for the day for a look and Sam Hunn and family arrived with their caravan and camped overnight.

By about 2.30 the weather had defeated us and we, along with most other exhibitors, started packing up.

In the evening the organisers put on a barbecue at the pavillion and the firepit was blazing to thaw out our frozen fingers and noses. 

This is Katmach's main event of the year and we thank them for the effort they put into organising it and for inviting us to attend. 

They have assured us that the weather will be better next year.