Charity tractor trekkers pass through South West to raise money for RFDS

Two men have finished trekking through the South West as a part of a mission to travel in orange Chamberlain 9G tractors to help raise money for flying doctors and children’s hospitals. Albany farmer Cedar Armstrong and Porongurup local Allan Faulkner are two of many members of the Chamberlain 9G Tractor Club of WA, which was established as a not-for-profit organisation in 1999 and strives to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and other charities by going around the country in their tractors “We have raised close to $300,000, in 20-odd years, for the flying doctors and children’s hospitals,” Mr Armstrong said. Mr Faulkner has been a travelling member since 2004 while, Mr Armstrong has been with the club since 2000. On their recent trip, Mr Faulkner and Mr Armstrong travelled through several South West towns including Albany, Pemberton, Augusta and Walpole. “There were three tractors on this trip, with all of them coming from different areas to join up and we joined up and started driving from Albany three weeks ago,” Mr Faulkner said. Other trips they had done included other parts of the South West, north of WA, and interstate. “We’ve been to the top of Cape York, and Steep Point to Byron Bay and been right up north to the Kimberley and Darwin,” Mr Faulkner said. “Cape York trip was eight weeks one way and two weeks to drive home.” The choice to use the orange Chamberlain 9G as the vehicle of choice, came from their uniqueness as a WA tractor, as well as their endurance, comfort and reliability for long distances and different terrains. “Chamberlain were made in Welshpool, which made them unique to WA, and started making them from 1949 to about 1986, and this model, the 9G, was made between 1955 and 1956, and made eight-and-a-half thousand of this model,” Mr Faulkner said. “A few weeks ago, we actually met a bloke who had worked in the Chamberlain factory back in the 60s, and had a chat.” Both Mr Faulkner and Mr Armstrong encouraged anyone who saw any of the orange tractors on their trips to come to have a chat with them and donate a coin into one of their portable tins to help raise money for the cause. “Well they can look at our website, www.chamberlain9g.org.au, which will tell them how to donate, or when we’re on the road, we have tins where people can donate as well,” Mr Faulkner said. “If you see us on the road, you can stop us and have a chat, drop a few coins in the tin if you like,” Mr Armstrong said.