Cowra Italian Festival 2024

Earlier this month, we were contacted by a councillor from Cowra, requesting our presence at the International Festival, featuring Italia. With little notice, we put together a "superb" array of cars representing IMSMC and the fine manufacturing history of Italy.

Our trip started nice and early leaving from the Glenbrook information centre. After negotiating the Victoria pass and the rise into Lithgow, the bugs were well and truly cleared from our fine machines. Our first stop was the McDonalds at Lithgow.

Onwards and upwards, progressing through Bathurst, Blayney, Carcoar, Lyndhurst and finally Cowra.

After settling in our accommodation, we found ourselves at the Cowra bowling club where we were treated by the Cowra council for lunch. The steak was so good I believe the cow was walking around the day before!

Later that afternoon, we were escorted to the start point of the parade by a council representative and made our way through town, in cavalcade, to the park adjacent to the Lachlan River.

The crowd was enjoying the cars and other participants, they clapped, cheered and clapped some more, as the MC introduced our club, explaining who we are! A lady explained that the 850 sport was her first car (a while ago)! We asked, “Where is it now?" She replied, "You never know, it could be parked in a shed near the wheat silo?" We wonder which wheat silo?

The usual festivities were in progress. Pizza vans, gelato, dancing, people dressed in period uniform and many other stalls selling Italian goodies together with Italian music, coming from the stage. The afternoon rolled on and was unfortunately slightly disrupted by rain. The bands kept playing the many Italian songs and tunes, modern and classic as the festival rolled on. The rain cleared and the festivities ended with a great fireworks display.

Alessandro Stillone won the prize for the best-looking car “pup” Fiat 500.

The next day we visited the Japanese gardens and had breakfast at the cafe within the grounds.. From the gardens we moved into to the World War 2 internment/prisoner of war camp. Many Italians and soldiers, many captured in North Africa, were guests of this camp during the war years along with Japanese soldiers taken prisoner in many theatres of the battles fought in the Pacific.

We also visited the Commonwealth war graves and the Japanese war graves of soldiers that were killed on Australian soil during the Cowra breakout. An interesting episode in Australia WW2 history

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The drive. the cars, the atmosphere, the company was all conducive towards everyone enjoying another great IMSMC weekend/event… see you at the next one