Clarence Town hosts ninth Swim In Dungog Shire Dungog Shire News Photo Gallery by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 5, 2024 Bayden Ellison from Dungog (r) with friends Damien, Eleanor and Angela Eyre. CLARENCE Town was treated to the annual spectacle of the ‘Swim In’ from Monday 28 October to Sunday 3 November. Now in its ninth year, the local caravan park was bulging at the seams with owners of military vehicles, and their friends and families, during the week-long gathering of vintage machinery. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Enthusiasts travelled from all over NSW, Victoria and as far afield as Caboolture in Queensland. During the week attendees enjoyed planned activities, such as daytime drives around the area and evenings out at local venues. On Saturday an array of machines, including rare amphibious vehicles, paraded and played in and around the Williams River. According to amphibious vehicle enthusiast Tony Playle, in total 80 to 100 vehicles and their owners attended the Saturday event. So far as he knew, only one vehicle had “failed to proceed” due to a breakdown. That speaks volumes for the care owners lavish on their machines, since the earliest vehicles date from just after 1942. Tony explained how military jeeps came about late in WWII, at first made in the US by Willys, then by Ford. And how “GPAs” or general purpose amphibious vehicles evolved from jeeps. Well-presented trucks, which were used to transport the GPAs and gun carriers, also featured in the show. They joined the parade along Grey Street before parking at the Clarence Town Village Green. After the parade, the general public was invited onto the river in the amphibious vehicles. They launched via the boat ramp below the Brig O’Johnston bridge. Locals and visitors waited at the riverside for their turn well before the vehicles returned from the parade. Meanwhile,18 Bren gun carriers lined up outside the hotel. These tracked vehicles were not allowed on the Green, in case they damaged the grassed surface. Their owners were attempting to set a record for the largest number of such carriers assembled in one place since WWII. With 18 vehicles assembled, the new record was set, by a margin of just one gun carrier. By Lisa WISEMAN Amphibious vehicles were launching and landing from the boat ramp near the bridge while children fished. “Swimming” in the Williams River below the Brig O’Johnston bridge at Clarence Town. The Bren gun carriers parked outside the Erringhi Hotel to attempt a record. Mitchell Groves driving his amphibious vehicle, with Tony Playle directing. Mitchell Groves showing off his “GPA”, or General Purpose Amphibious vehicle. John Wilson packing to leave.
