The Western Sydney Historical Truck Club once again held the ‘Haulin’ the Hume’ Historic truck run this year which helps raise much-needed funds for Aspect-Autism Spectrum Australia.
The Haulin’ the Hume truck run took place on the Old Hume Highway on Saturday and Sunday, the 25th and 26th of March, which ran from Sydney to Yass.
Departing from the Clarendon Showgrounds in Richmond at 6am, the Haulin’ the Hume truck run headed down Northern Road to Narellan, through Picton, Mittagong, Berrima and into Goulburn for lunch.
The truck run then continued through the spectacular Cullerin Range into Gunning and then finally into Yass for dinner where the group had the opportunity to have something to eat and chat about the day.
The Yass Show Society provided dinner for over 200 Haulin’ the Hume participants in the Bruce Merriman Pavillion on Saturday night, with a team of volunteers working to cook, prepare, carve, and serve beef and lamb to the guests.
Organiser of the event Bruce Gunter spoke to The Times about Haulin’ the Hume 2023 and their stop in Yass.
“It was a good event, we had a little bit of wet weather but it was nothing upsetting. We didn’t have any incidents and it was really well received by the hundreds and hundreds of people on the side of the road from when we left to when we got into Yass,” Gunter said.
“We had 273 commercial trucks enter, the trucks are immaculate. We had a lot of older guys too, which was great. Not to count all of the other trucks and cars who tagged along too.
“There’s always a great reception in Yass and Gunning. It was a terrific day, we had a good run.
“I got in contact with Coleen Stirton about the dinner, who I’ve dealt with in the past and asked them about doing it at the Showgrounds, that’s what we did and it went down really well.
“We had 230-odd people there at the dinner and it was a really good night. The food was great. After a trip like that it’s nice to have a feed. All of the drivers enjoyed it and we hope the locals enjoyed it as much as what we did.”
Gunter said the event went without a hitch and one of his highlights was the great reception by onlookers.
“For me organising it, just the fact that it goes unscathed is a good thing because there’s a lot of pressure on. Especially to have it on again after Covid was great, we kept getting knocked on the head again for a little while as all these sorts of events did,” he said.
“The most appealing thing was the reception of the public on the side of the road. There were a few radio interviews, and we know that word got spread through social media avenues, and the people waiting on the side of the road were fantastic.
“There was a little guy in Yass called Milton, he had a big sign made up asking drivers to blow their air horns. It was pouring rain and they were still out there in the rain as everyone was coming through.
“That sort of thing for little kids to get into at their age is a terrific response for all of us. Instead of people getting upset because there were trucks coming into town again, there was nothing but praise from people, and we had a lot of support from the local police and Council as well.”
On Sunday morning, the tour will wrapped up in the popular ‘Gasoline Alley’ for breakfast before heading back to their various homes.
“When we did the first run, we knew that Gasoline Alley was such a prominent part of the Hume Highway and of Yass, and is really well known. We talked about having a gathering down there and had support.
“Ray Hill, a local down there, organised breakfast and he had it all under control. He got the Yass Lions Club to help out.
“We gave out a few trophies as a bit of a joke to a few of the guys there, but it’s all about road transport history and that’s what makes it so positive for all of us.
“It was really nice to have the community accept us the way that they do. This run’s been going now for 12 years. We raise money for Aspect, which is for Autism Spectrum Australia. So, it’s nice that we’re able to do that as well.
“We always feel that the community gets behind us in Yass. In all the year’s that I’ve been running it, this was my last year of running it, a younger guy will take over next year, but we’ve just never had a problem.
“Yass is very welcoming for us. No one ever gets upset about anything and that’s why everyone enjoys it so much.
“We have people come from all over Australia for it. The furthest person came from Cairns and he drove a truck the whole way down to participate in the run, then drove the whole way back home.
“We had a guy from Tasmania and we had a guy from Western Australia. We’ve had people come over from America as well. It gets a lot of publicity and it’s just unreal.
“To walk away from an event that takes six months to organise and say “what a fantastic weekend” is pretty special for us.”
While still calculating final figures, Gunter estimates that this year’s Haulin’ the Hume event raised about $20,000 for charity.
“By the time all our costs come out, we would’ve raised closed to $20,000. It was a bit harder getting sponsorship this year following Covid and it’s just some tough times for a lot of people at the moment.
“We’ll be able to donate a nice sum to Autism Spectrum Australia.”
Tim Warren
