Preparations have begun for the biennial Fergie Tractor Run to Louth next month with this year’s fundraiser going towards former local, Glenn Spinks’ ongoing medical expenses.
The Fergie Tractor Run to Louth is more of an endurance event rather than a speed time trial with the trip from Cobar (a distance of 132km) taking around eight hours to complete.
Cobar Fergie Club secretary and treasurer Melissa Lawrence, who’s been a Fergies member since the club formed in 2010, explained the group is made up of locals who like to ride their Ferguson ‘Fergie’ tractors at a variety of charity events.
Their biggest adventure out on their tractors is their Tractor Run to Louth, which is held every two years on the June long weekend and coincides with the Louth Field Day.
“The trip to Louth usually takes about eight hours on the tractors with a few stops on the way,” Melissa explained.
“We stop and have lunch and smoko, there’s a few little breaks for nature calls and fuel breaks of course, because we’ve got to fuel up along the way.
“We normally leave here at about 7am, and get over there at about 3pm, but if we needed to, we could do it in five hours,” she said.
The club uses the Tractor Run as a fundraising event and this year the proceeds will go to former local resident, Glenn Spinks.
Glenn suffered a brain aneurysm on Australia Day in 2024 and underwent major surgery.
He was left with a brain injury and has been receiving ongoing rehabilitation.
“He’s a local icon for Cobar, and he’s done so much for our community,” Melissa said.
“We just want to try and give back to him now that he needs some help.
In addition to all that Glenn has done for local sport in Cobar, including fundraising for junior players to travel to play their chosen sports, and helping out older members of the community through the Cobar Roosters Old Boys Club, Melissa said Glenn had also helped out their club members.
“When a lot of us were getting our Fergies going, Glenn was working with KML and he was one of our main sources to get parts.”
Gleen had a Fergie himself and was helpful in sourcing parts that were difficult to get.
To raise money the Fergie’s club have been selling merchandise and approaching local businesses for donations and will also be auctioning off items at the Louth Field Day.
Glenn’s daughter, Lisa Travis, said they were so appreciative of the efforts of the Fergie’s to help out her father and their family.
After 10 months of treatment in hospital and ongoing rehabilitation, Glenn still needs 24 hour care.
Re-locating from Cobar to Albury to continue Glenn’s ongoing care, Glenn and wife Kerry now live in a lifestyle village in Albury, and Kerry is Glenn’s fulltime carer with the support of daughters, Lisa and Nikki, along with their husbands and children.
“We all help out, we’re a team,” Lisa said.
“The funds will go towards neuro rehab speech therapy,” Lisa explained.
“We’re looking at a device or program that can help him.
“Some days he’s so clear and other days are pretty ordinary,” she said.
Lisa said her father had a big connection to Louth and the Louth community.
“He used to spend a lot of time at Maz and Arch Fraser’s place.
“We get lots of visitors from Louth and people ringing and checking on him all the time.
“Dad never forgets a face or a voice, even if he can’t communicate with them.
“And dad loved his Fergie and it’s great to see the club continuing their charity run.”
Lisa said they were overwhelmed by the support and the continued support her family has received over the past two and a half years.
“We would like to see the Fergie Club hold on to some of what they raise, so that down the track if anyone finds themselves in the same sort of situation that we’re in, then they can help them.
“We wouldn’t be are where were are now without the support of the Cobar, Louth and Ivanhoe communities,” Lisa said.
