The Grey Fergie Muster Story
The first Grey Fergie Muster was in 2003 and came about when Bendemeer resident and sometime bush poet Winston Doak wanted to celebrate the 50th birthday of his Grey Fergie. Fellow resident Lee Martin suggested they have a party and invite the rest of Australia – along the way they thought they could create a record for the most number of Fergies in one place.
We started off with a bank account of $40, donated by 4 locals. We then approached Tony Williams Machinery, Armidale, who so generously offered to sponsor the event. Bareco is another valued sponsor. However we must not forget the Bendemeer Hotel for their outstanding financial support and co-operation over the last three musters, by providing the venue for the Poet’s Breakfast and the stalls. It’s not mandatory to own a Fergie if you live around Bendy – but it’s a bonding thing now and a special badge of pride. For the rest of the village, it’s a calling card for a new tourist badge and a tool to bring people and interest, and also a way of putting the place on the map, a place to stop or admire.”
The Grey Fergie was manufactured between 1946 and 1959. It is technically a TE 20 Ferguson. They’re grey because it was the cheapest colour to produce post WWII. They had the first three-point linkage system manufactured by Harry Ferguson, which makes it more mobile in small area farming. The muster seeks to celebrate the important role it has played in our agricultural history.
