Southland Steam Engine Club

[RWHB1]

OLD STEAM HAS NEVER BEEN HOTTER

The Southland Steam Engine Club is steaming to show you what the past
was like for rural communities in New Zealand, this weekend.
The Annual Working Weekend will be held February 8-9, at the old dairy
factory in Brydone.

Southland Steam Engine Club chairman Geoff Henderson said for $10,
people could experience a steam-powered life as it was in the past.

‘‘It’s a chance for people to come out and see what we do.

‘‘It revolves around what rural life would have been like in the
1900s, when steam was the main form of power on farms.

‘‘There’s demonstrations, milking a cow and separating the cream
from the milk and making butter,’’ he said.

Mr Henderson said there was great interest in the past, especially
when it came to cooking back in the day.

‘‘Certainly around what we call Grandma’s kitchen, people are
really interested.

‘‘There’s a coal range, we make scones, cream and butter from
the cows to go on them.

‘‘People, younger families, they’re very interested in these
types of things, it’s quite an eye-opener for them,’’ he said.

Mr Henderson said the club was more than willing to let people have a
go.

‘‘We really like to be hands on. ‘‘If people want to jump up
and have a drive of a steam engine or a steer, we’re more than happy
to accommodate that.

‘‘They need to know what their grandparents, their
greatgrandparents did to make a living.’’

Mr Henderson said it was always a great time with Southland normally
showing up to the open weekend. ‘‘We get great support from the
community.

‘‘We’re a Southland-wide club, so people from all over attend
the open weekend,’’ he said.