By TANIA PHILLIPS
THERE is nothing nicer than when a community pulls together to get something done and that’s just what the people of Yangan did at the weekend.
More than $1400 was raised for local charities including the money for much needed resurfacing of the town’s tennis courts thanks to the towns annual Truck Pull Competition, organised by the local progress association.
“We’ve definitely raised more than $1400 we just don’t know how much more than $1400 at this stage,” Yangan Progress Association President Colin Pope said.
“We had four teams competing in the event and over 200 people to witness the event – not bad for a town of 155 so there must have been a few ring-ins.”
Mr Pope said the truck pulling event had traditionally been held at Christmas time but had moved to third Sunday in March a couple of years ago. A clash of dates saw it move to it’s current time – the second weekend in April.
He said over the years the event had raised a lot of money for local charities and this year BUSHkids and the tennis courts would be the major beneficiaries.
“Both the courts need it (resurfacing) but one of them is just unplayable,” Mr Pope said.
The money raised won’t be enough to complete the task but Mr Pope said it was a very good start.
“If anyone else wants to put their hand in their pocket and help us out they can contact the Progress Association.”
Four teams competed in this year’s event, with all the competitors coming from the town.
The Voyager Fitness teams scooped the field winning both the male and female competitions.
The men’s team broke the record by several seconds completing the truck pull in 24.31 seconds beating the Buff Butchers time of 26.19 seconds while Voyager women completed the pull in 32.75, bettering Get Caned’s time of 36.43.
Mr Pope said it was a great community event for the town.
“Not that we need an excuse to get together,” he laughed.
The truck pull – using a truck loaned to the Progress Association by CM Fraser and Son – began in 2010 with teams pulling the truck (placed in neutral with the driver still inside) a distance of 35m in front of the town’s pub.
And with the Truck Pull out of the way the Progress Association has turned their thoughts to their next event – a rally to be held in July of this year.
For more pictures of all the action at the Truck Pull, see page 8,
