At the official registration for the muster, we received coffee or tea, biscuits and a goody bag. This included the details of the individual events of the program. Many interesting visits to local businesses were planned. While all the talk was going on, quietly a food truck arrived, and soon, food fragrances were wafting through the air. People realised that they were hungry and a queue built for the collection of delicious pizzas.
Saturday morning dawned to a brilliant blue sky. We all lined up for the drive to Riverina Grove to taste their goodies of olives, chillies, balsamic vinegar and other local produce. They also served nice coffee and hot chocolates. Next stop was the Sculptures Park along the river for pictures. It was just a beautiful picture, all the 4 CVs lined up. This display also attracted public attention and many a conversation was held over the different cars. Continuing our exploration of Griffith, we descended on Codemon Small Goods. This family owned company produces small goods from locally sourced produce. We tasted salamis, olives, pickled mushrooms and other good stuff. The little store did a good trade with many of us wanting to buy salami, jam etc.
Then it was off to lunch at the Pioneer Park museum. The museum shows the history of the region, the migrants, the industries, family feuds, but also buildings like the old school, post office, railway station and other out building like a dunny. We were allowed into the compound with our cars parked on the main lawn area for a nice exhibition. Some of us also took the opportunity to take the guided railway tour through the museum. The history of Griffith mainly the history of Italian migrants from all regions of Italy and their development of the area with regards to wine, rice and other agriculture.
At the Pioneer Village
Saturday night was also the night of the dinner and AGM at the Exies club, all walking distance from the Motel. We had a nice dinner and as usual, the formalities were over efficiently, leaving time for socialising.
Sunday brought a different experience, a bit out of town. It was a considerable drive through the country to the Southern Cotton Gin. Over the last 10 years or so, cotton has become an important crop to the Riverina. So, a cotton gin was built to process the crop locally. It was interesting to drive into the facility, it looked like a green field site. Only after we learned that harvesting only just started, did we understand that the empty area around the gin. It is used to store the cotton modules before processing. The gin (short for engine) is cleaning the harvested cotton to a state that it can be sent to spinning mills. It was very interesting to learn about the process and the fact that only a small number of permanent personnel was operating the gin. When in full operation, they are employing back packers and grey nomads.
After this educational visit, it was off to McWilliams Handwood Estate for lunch. It was a bit of wait, we all got fed and watered (wined) in the end.
Engine talk
There were (from memory) 23 4CVs, one Dauphine, three R8s (including a Gordini), two R10s, one Floride, two Caravelles and two Alpine A110s.