Expedition to Cooma Men’s Shed and Cooma Car Museum

Tuesday 23rd March 2024

Our first outing for a while and eagerly anticipated by those who chose to take the day off and get out and about.

We hired a great 12 seater bus and with Dennis steering the ship, had a pleasant and relaxing run down to Cooma. “Some” decided a BMW X5 might be more comfortable, better sound system at least…. Either way, great day out.

The Cooma blokes have moved house since we were there last (2017 for those that can’t remember back that far!) These days they are in their own reasonably new premises just out of town on the Numerella Road. They lucked into a large grant from the then Member for Monaro John Barilaro. This has been followed up by generous support from their community and they have an excellent shed and facility, but, they are now making plans to expand. So well done them!

We arrived just about lunch time and were quickly served steak sandwiches, tea and coffee. After a good look round and chats with the many blokes there from Cooma, Bredbo and other sheds, we made our way up to the Cooma Car Club Museum, who had agreed to stay open to accommodate us. Apart from the tea and lamingtons, there were also a bunch of really nicely presented cars of varying vintages.

Shed blokes sharing a yarn, John, Gery and Dennis. Fellow on the right is Chris from the museum, blokes on the left are from Bredbo Men’s Shed
They say that you can take the lad out of England, but you’ll never take England out of the Lad. Johnno getting all excited about the Morrie.

Just wandering around, I kept hearing snippets like, “I had one of these…”, “I learnt to drive in one like that…”. “I rolled one of them at 60mph…” Old cars are one of those things that truly evoke memories of the past, everyone has a connection to some particular make and model. For me, I really don’t have a favourite, I just love any old cars that have been preserved enough to still be around, and for the record my first (car that is!) was a Morris Minor 1000 MK II Four door saloon, circa 1956, just like the one Johnno is next to.

For the record, I really like the look of this snappy number below. My mate in Queensland has one that they bought in America when they did the whole Route 66 thing, and shipped it home, back when you could bring almost anything in….

1960 Chevrolet Corvette. Get your kicks, on Route 66.

All in all a really great day out, seeing the country, meeting some great blokes, sharing a yarn, perving at old cars. Just great!

And of course a special round of thanks to the men of the Cooma Men’s Shed for hosting us, and the men of the Cooma Car Club for keeping the doors open to their wonderful museum. Cheers to all.

Report & images : Brian Black