September
has been just one of those months, you know which, one that just about everything happens and usually at the same time too. It started early with arrival of interstate visitors in the form of Aunty Rosie and Uncle Ross from the mid north NSW Coast, their arrival heralded the dawn of my nephews (Matt) impending wedding to Deanna, down the Gold Coast on 8 September.Next was 2-4 Sep 2017 with our clubs 2nd 'Unofficial' Jeep/Train run for the year over two beautiful days on (disused) train lines throughout the countryside around the Biggenden area. And where would you be if you didn't have the occasional derailment to interrupt the peaceful train ride?
What we were actually doing was keeping our history alive by reliving some of our marvellous military history through re-enacting the use of the mighty 'Jeep' on train tracks as they did during WW2. In the Pacific Islands and in PNG the majority of so called 'passable' roads were often chocked with destroyed vehicles, refugees, troop movement and an assortment of military and civilian vehicles. It was imperative to keep the rail lines open to move supplies forward and return wounded to the rear. Enemy bombing and strafing of the slow moving train locomotives caused a shortage within the resupply system and set into play an ingenious plan to keep supplies moving by the use of the humble Jeep. Wheels were locally manufactured and fitted to the Jeep and the wheels of progress turned, and as they say 'the rest is history' although many today are still unaware this was just one of the many tasks asked of the mighty little Jeep. An interesting point to note here is the life expectancy of a Jeep in an Operational Zone (War Zone) was just 90 days, and it is through groups like ours who lovingly restore and preserve our rich history which enables us to help celebrate the '75 Year' Anniversary of the humble Jeep.
Although much of the action we had on the weekend took place in the remote and often out of sight areas on tracks away from most roads, there was plenty of opportunity for some of the locals and many tourists alike to enjoy the sights of 'Jeeps on train tracks' and many were seen waving like mad or running off to retrieve their cameras and snap away at something they've never seen before and will probably never see again. Looking forward to the next Jeep/Train run.
Luke and Lindsay were overjoyed and what a whirlwind was little Zoe who proudly became a big sister to Tate. The Mortimer household suddenly became so much more busier and louder, and the best part about being a Grandparent is as they say 'you get to hand them back'. Love all my Grandkids to bits.
I then had a multitude of medical appointments to catch up on, which seem to be the norm (apparently) when your nearly 60, these were sometimes more than one appointment per day and covered three of the next four days, it gets tiring attending all these appointments.
The 8th Sep saw us at the anticipated Wedding on the Gold Coast, well up in the hinterland actually. It was a nice wedding that went off without a hitch (as they say) although it did finish early which gave us the opportunity to get down off the mountain through some of the most windiest of roads I've ever encountered. We managed to watch the end of the footy that night too.
Even more medical appointments covered 11-13 Sep and also, like most Wed and Thurs 8:30 - 12:00 I managed to put in an appearance at our local Glasshouse Mountains Country Men's Shed (in Beerwah, don't ask) here I get the opportunity to glean yet more knowledge from like minded folk who also attend, I find this very rewarding as I've also found a number of Vietnam Veterans amongst the group who are more than willing to have a yarn or two with a younger Veteran. I've taken up welding and have learnt that what I thought was welding (proper) was just back yard stuff I learnt as youngster, you know, a grinder will fix that up that bad weld. I can now say I've learnt from the experience of some of the best and can now produce some decent weld jobs. Now I want a Gas Mig Welder and a Plasma Cutter too! Lest I say I'm enjoying the experience and I also get to give back to the community through the many tasks the Men's Shed does.
Sat 16 Sep I had a visit from another member of the Military Jeep Club of Qld (MJCQ) to discuss a number of topics including the up-and-coming Annual Swap Meet in Beaudesert mid Oct this year.
I've been fortunate enough to be able to collect a number of Jeep spare parts on some of my forays in the wilderness of the middle of Western and Southern QLD, enough so that I've got a fairly good collection. Some of which I've cleaned up, sandblasted, prepped and painted ready for sale and some I've left in its 'as found state' as some prefer to either do it themselves or keep in its rustic state. The majority of these many parts I've been entrusted by various farmers throughout the state to sell on their behalf and go 50/50 on the proceeds, so I'm humbled at their trust in me to do this. Some items have sold already from my initial post on our club Facebook page. Maybe we'll see you at Beaudesert Showgrounds over 13-15 Oct 2017.
Tues 19 Aug saw me and Tracey fly to Sydney to attend the funeral of my best friend's Mother, Dorothy Dewar aged 80, I'd known Dot since about fifth grade when I first met my now long term friend, Chris Dewar, when we moved to Campbelltown NSW in 1970. Dot was almost like a second Mum to me as I'd spent so much of my school age years at their place, they had Eight kids and I just blended in with the rest. So yes it was sad to say goodbye to someone I knew and respected so well for near on Fifty years. RIP Dot.
29 Sep is my mothers 78th Birthday so we'll be going out for dinner no doubt. 29 Sep is also Remembrance Day for the Police Force, which is another event for which I hold dear to my heart, many of my ex-service friends are in the Police Force in many Australian States and it is a time to reflect on those that had paid the supreme sacrifice.
Over the next few day I shall be finalising what I'm taking to Beaudesert this year, unfortunately my Jeep will not be finished in time to participate as I don't want to rush the reassembly stage. So I'm concentrating on getting it right on the final research of the restoration of my Jeep 159219 so that it'll not only look it's best when finished, but it will operate to the best it can in the safest way too. It's gunna be so cool!
The last weekend in Sep I'll also be visiting another of my many MJCQ friends to check out and trial the trailer he built to carry his Jeep, I've seen it in the earlier stages and I'm sure it will perform well. That just about wraps up September for this year, until October, Cheers all.
