HUNDREDS of vintage and well-loved automobiles rolled onto Myall Park, Hawks Nest last Saturday, 11 March, to join the long-delayed return of Motorfest 2023.

After two solid years of careful chroming and polishing, a total of 247 vehicles lined the football field, with hundreds more onlookers and visitors attending.

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A wide variety of makes and models from all over the world were on display, while the weather delivered a perfectly sunny late-summer’s day.

“The turnout has exceeded our expectations, especially considering how hard it is to get things started again post-pandemic,” Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest Motor Club President Ross Anderson told NOTA.

“Motorfest was one of the main objectives for the formation of the Club, to support the community and its much-needed services,” Mr Anderson said in his opening address.

Mr Anderson also paid tribute to long-serving former Club President Jurgen Seil, who sadly has recently passed, saying “his influence on the Club was significant”.

State Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington, who helped officially open the show, described filling Myall Park as a “sight for sore eyes” and a “wonderful legacy for Jurgen”.

“Hawks Nest is one of the most beautiful parts of Australia, and who wouldn’t prefer being here than that race in Newcastle!” continued Ms Washington, which was met with a loud cheer from all present.

“This community is marked by how its people look out for one another,” Ms Washington told NOTA, highlighting the important fundraising motive of Motorfest.

“The turnout is fantastic, and the fundraising really helps us to get the life-saving gear that the local service needs,” said Captain David Bright of the Tea Gardens Rural Fire Service, ever-vigilant for new volunteers.

“Fundraising this year has been in line with the order of magnitude of past events,” Mr Anderson said at the time of publication, as a complete figure was still being calculated, including gate entries, raffle ticket sales and major sponsors’ funds, all going towards the community-crucial work of perennial beneficiaries including the Clinic Bus, Life Savers and Tea Gardens Rural Fire Service.

This year’s returning success will hopefully be repeated in 2024, and for many more years to come.

By Thomas O’KEEFE