To the Women and Men of the Bombala Historic Engine and Machinery Society

Historic Engines

In Bombala it’s the middle of spring
The chills still here and the wind sings
In the town, a die has been cast
Historic engines speak of times gone past

The Historic Engine and Machinery Society
Has it’s biannual rally, held in propriety
Many enthusiasts display their pride and joy
Engines made and working since before I was a boy

These old machines from centuries gone now
Restored to life with talent and know how
With names like Triumph, Novo and Sundial
The images they convey make me smile

A Giant Tractor Engine from John Fowler of Leeds
Horse power from steam to service many needs
Built near my birthplace in the early twenties
This old Yorkshire leviathan has power a plenty

Their bones are cast iron, copper and brass
They seem alive and emanate class
Fly wheels and belts deliver slow revving power
Turn the pumps for hour on hour

They chug away in patient endeavour
Their sturdy construction may last forever
Gears and sprockets of vintage fame
Spin freely and smoothly once again

These contraptions once did mans hard work
Never got indolent and never did shirk
Petrol, kerosene, diesel and steam
The power produced many a dream

With a proud owner I stop and speak
He gives his fine engine an oil and tweak
Some are polished and how they shine
Others are rusty but work just fine

Energy for threshers, milking and shears
They sustained the Monaro through difficult years
A I watch those pistons and rods so clean
It makes me wonder how things might have been
Smells of the barbie, and two strokes
Sounds of steam hissing, and rotating spokes
What a great thing these folks do give
Showing us all how we used to live

Ingenuity and imagination will always last
Lest we forget our grandparents past.

Rick Carey
November 2004