Family pulls together for tractor tradition

IT’S not often three generations of a family share a passion for the same thing, but a Moorabool event has proven an exception.

Rocky Grima is the youngest of three generations with a love of vintage machines, with dad Sam and granddad Paul all joining him at the recent Ballan Great Vintage Rally.

The Grimas, originally from the Ballan area but now living in Myrniong, all took part in the rally’s headline event, the tractor pull, on Sunday 18 February.

Rocky said it was a fantastic community event that the family had attended on every occasion for more than two decades.

“We attend every year,” he said. “It’s great seeing all the old gear out, and everyone experiencing how farming used to be with the old tractors and everything.

“We’ve been taking part in the Ballan tractor pull for more than 25 years.

“It’s a good event for the community, and it’s great to see some younger people taking up an interest in vintage machinery too.”

If the Grimas’ passion for historical tractors wasn’t obvious in Rocky’s words, then it surely is in their collection.

“We’ve got a variety of tractors: mainly Fordsons, but also Internationals, Case tractors, some Chamberlains, a fair variety,” he said.

“My grandfather had a farm in Ballan, and dad grew up on a hobby farm out in Ballan. I’ve been brought up around them.”