Arthur reunites with truck after 50 years

ARTHUR’S REUNION AFTER 50 YEARS

This is the story about a reunion and a grand old fire truck with a secret life. It began in the Woodend area when Macedon Ranges identity Arthur Hayes (of Hayes Tuckerbag supermarkets fame) was 19 years old, and he discovered a characterful Hotchkiss truck which began life in Paris in 1913. At the time the truck was being used by a local electrician to power a saw bench, and before that it helped water the magnificent woodland garden of Flint Hill in Woodend. When Arthur bought it in the 1950s it had also worked as a pumper for Melbourne Fire Brigade. It wasn’t originally meant to be a fire truck, but one of a batch of trucks manufactured as gun carriages. Hotchkiss, a well-known French arms and car manufacturer, made the trucks to fulfil an order from a South American country which was undergoing a considerable amount of upheaval. But the conflict subsided before the trucks could be delivered, and the MFB bought and imported a handful of the vehicles. As far as we know the MFB disposed of them around 1945 and Arthur bought one in a very sorry condition in 1957 for £50 and set about restoring it. That was a large sum back then, especially for a lad in his late teens, but the unique appeal of the Hotchkiss was too strong for him to resist. Arthur got it working again, restored the body and, because anything goes when you’re 19, he painted the wooden wheel spokes white. This feature became the key element to their reunion many years later. During this partnership Arthur enjoyed a number of outings with his Hotchkiss, including the 1960 Golden Fleece Rally from Melbourne to Queenscliff. About 80 vehicles took part in the event and Arthur is proud that the Hotchkiss ran perfectly. After about 10 years, Arthur sold the truck “probably for about the cost of a slab,” and he thought that he’d never see it again. Fast forward to the present and Arthur, who still likes buying the odd vintage vehicle, was contacted by a friend. “I think I’ve found your fire truck for sale online,” the friend said. What gave it away were the white wheel spokes.

Arthur Hayes, in the driver’s seat, took his Hotchkiss to Newham Fire Station where it was admired by CFA members and passers-by

PHOTOS: VAL HORNBUCKLE

Buying the Hotchkiss for a second time cost Arthur $26,000, and he was surprised that all its brass fittings were still there. “Just think … we first met when I was 19 and we’re back together again when I’m 80,” Arthur said. So why did he buy it again? “Well, I’ve got three grandchildren.”