By PAUL MILLAR
FOOTY players know it’s almost game time when they enter the sheds and smell the liniment, but for Chris Quirke the smell of oil lubricating aged, grinding cogs is a clear indicator that it’s almost show-time.
While sport might be the drug of the masses, the train ticket inspector gets his fix preparing vintage machinery for the Royal Geelong Show.
“When I was younger I used to lean over the fence and look at the machines for ages and then I was asked to help out and I’ve been here for 11 years,” he said.
“Once you get bitten by the bug it pretty much stays with you. It’s been great, the old guys have passed their knowledge on to me.”
The vintage machinery section of the show is a relative newcomer to the annual show – it’s only been here for 45 years. The show has been running since 1855 and runs from 16 to 19 October.
The vintage machinery shed is close to the main entrance of the showgrounds.
“If you don’t hear us you will be able to smell us,” quipped Chris as he oiled up some cogs.
