There’s sure to be a feast for the eyes on land, water and in the air as the third military swim-in hits Clarence Town from November 1-4.
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A convoy of military vehicles including rare amphibious war machines will be in the town for several days.
There are only 15 amphibious assault machines in Australia and seven of them are expected to roll into Clarence Town on Thursday November 1 for the event.
“The amphibious jeeps were built in 1942 and 1943,” said event organiser Craig Olsen.
“It’s their age, with the technology back then that I find amazing.”
On Friday, November 2 the group which will be based at the Williams River Caravan Park will take a drive to the Barrington Tops.
At around 4pm they will try to re-create a photograph hanging in the Erringhi Hotel.
The photo depicts the late Henry George Landenberger, sitting on an army vehicle outside the pub around 1941 with unknown colleagues.
“We’ll have the vehicles and the facade of the pub is exactly the same, so it will be interesting to try to re-create that picture,” said Mr Olsen.
Mr Olsen said this year’s event was shaping up to be bigger than ever.
“Clarence Town is ideal for this event as it is fresh water, it doesn’t have a strong current, it’s deep and it is quite pretty,” he said.
On Saturday it’s Hawaiian shirt day. In the morning there will be a street parade featuring more than 43 military vehicles with six tiger moths to do a fly past (weather permitting) before the amphibious vehicles hit the water.
“As they charge into the river they create quite a big splash, it’s a great spectacle,” said Mr Olsen.
“The land, sea and air aspect should be pretty good to see.”
Some of the group will head off to Paterson for lunch in convoy style and at about 2pm the five-seater amphibious cars will also hit the water.
On Sunday there will be a civilian and military car show which has proved popular in the past two years.
Mr Olsen said he was grateful for the support of Dungog Shire Council in staging the event.