Grey area: Syd Ryan and Graeme Wilson with a restored Ferguson tractor.
By John Van Klaveren
IT WAS the little tractor that could and it has inspired love and devotion for more than 60 years.
Harry Ferguson’s pre-World War II hydraulic system is still the model used in modern machinery.
The Western District-based Ferguson Tractor Club has 750 members around Australia, including founding member Graeme Wilson of Drysdale.
Graham is also part of a dedicated band of “Little Grey Fergy” fanatics who seek out the machines and restore them so they can live useful lives.
The group, calling itself the Ferguson Heritage Club, restores and repairs the tractors and associated implements so Rotary can send them to countries like Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
The group operates from Rotary Donations in Kind depot at North Geelong’s Osborne House.
“It was very popular machinery and being part of the larger club helps us when we’re restoring them,” Graham said.
“In fact, they’re still so popular that their value is increasing, which makes it harder when we’re trying to donate tractors where they’re needed overseas.
“We often have to buy them – Rotary paid $4000 for the one we just sent to PNG.”
Graham puts their popularity down to the pivotal role of the Ferguson tractor in revolutionising the agricultural industry.
“The Fergy helped agriculture move from horse power to tractor power and they were so versatile. Even councils bought them for everything they previously used horses for.”
Graham has been part of several Ferguson “travelling circuses” with a convoy of the little grey machines chugging at their stately 13km/h around Victoria.
“We’d go to field days and vintage machinery rallies, demonstrating the Ferguson.
“The first one was a trip from Point Lonsdale to the Echuca steam rally in 2003. It was so successful we said we should keep it going.”
Examples of the little tractor with a big reputation will be on display at a National Trust Heritage Festival at Osborne House this Sunday.
The Victorian-wide festival, with the theme of innovation and invention, features a variety of events.
“There are still plenty of them around. They’re everywhere, in sheds and in use,” Graham said.
Graham asked anyone with a Fergy or parts lying around to contact him through rotarydonations.org.au so he can give them the love and attention they deserve.
