Ute Beaut
Queensland member Bevan Slater worked for 4 years building his 6 wheel Moke ute, recently chistened Endeavour, from 2 rusty Moke shells. An appropriate name you would have to agree, because this project was certainly one heck of an endeavour.
"I was inspired by Sam Brown in Western Australia who built a six-wheeler as a service vehicle", Bevan said.
Bevan's unnamed Moke was finally registered on November 14th 2019 and in January 2020 he entered it in the Killarney Show Ute display on a whim. The Moke was awarded:
- 2nd: Classic Ute
- 1st: Best of Other Make Ute (other than Holden or Ford)
- and ... Best in Show.
He went home loaded with prizes ... 2 ribbons, a bottle of Wash & Wax, a $100 gift voucher and a set of floor mats.
"Still cannot believe it. I didn't expect to win anything. I just loved chatting with all the people who rocked up. I'm tickled pink."
Bevan has written out a recipe to guide any future Mokee who wants to take on a 6 wheel project - in fact, if the truth's known, any Moke rebuild project. It's been published in a couple of places, but we thought we would make the tongue sticking in the author's cheek a little clearer, so we took a few liberties when creating a video version of the Recipe for Building a 6 Wheel Moke. Click this link or find it on VIC MOKE, the MOAV YouTube channel.
And there is a postscipt. Did you notice the sticker on Endeavour's sidebox?
"I had a sticker made up for what was our BMC/Leyland Dealership in NSW. Dad sold the place in 1992 after 38 years . I thought it would be a nice family touch."
What Can You Do With An Apron?
Abby has had to retire from providing super suppers at monthly meetings. Thanks Abby you did wonderful work. Scott has put up his hand to continue the tradition. Thanks Scott you are heading in the right direction. Give a man a job, give him an apron and watch him get to work.
50th Year Presentation Lunch
The 2019 Presentation Lunch was held in the Cabaret Room of the Doncaster Shopping Town Hotel on July 28th. Rhonda and the committee did a magnificent job with the decorations - and all the other organisation - and the staff of the hotel complemented the effort with a wonderful feast.
eMoke Makes First Appearance
June 30th was Memorabilia Day - an event in our celebration of 50 years of the Moke Owners' Association of Victoria. A perfect day for the first public showing of the restored eMoke, which has been 5+ years in the making. This vehicle is being rebuilt to display standard.
News from the April Meeting
As of the April meeting we had 270 members. The number just keeps on growing. 33 scanned in on the night and we had several family and friends along as well. Thanks to all for coming. Bevan Slater was one of the members present. He came from Queensland to be with us ... and also to pick up a 'truck load' of parts for his Moke project.
Our 50th Birthday Party
Click on any photo to start a slide show.
What a great party! Saturday March 23rd, 2019, over 120 Mokees and friends from our past, present and future gathered at Akoonah Park Centre, Berwick, to kick off a night of tall tales and true from the legendary past of the Moke Owners' Association of Victoria.
That's Ross Brooks in the foreground of the second photo, the original Member 15 (joined May 1969) and from July 1969 the club's first elected secretary. He can also lay fame to christening the club newsletter 'Tracks' from the February 1970 edition.
There's a short video of the party getting started on VIC MOKE, the club's YouTube channel at:
https://youtu.be/Q-ppCvnErBs
There were a couple of speeches and presentations early on (while Rod's Roasts magnificent spread was being laid out). One was Doug Williams who co-founded the club with Peter Gilbert. He was introduced by Rhonda Flynn, lead organiser of the evening. For what was probably the first time in his life, Doug had very little to say, but at least he knew how to dress for the occasion.
Later in the evening President Glenn Golds, invited three Mokees to talk about what the Club meant to them: Ross Brooks, Gordon Paterson and Ron Dickson.
Ross told us about the early months of the club, which sounded just a bit cavalier. Gordon talked about his experiences in the club during the past decade and emphasised how much more he got from the club because he had not only come to events, but had organised some. He encouraged us all to both come and contribute.
Ron told about the 80s and beyond, which sounded pretty crazy with sometimes as many as three events in a week. He claimed he had grown up in the club. That can't be right, can it? Is it possible to drive a Moke and leave childhood behind? Perhaps he meant he had grown older in the club : )
Whichever, he has certainly learnt a lot of skills in his time. He made this Moke letterbox for Paul Eaves (he's 'made' real Mokes too). Trouble is, it's too good to stick outside on a gate post! Paul is chatting with Trevor Ollive, another one who has been around the club for decades.
Of course there had to be a birthday cake. That's Rhonda lighting the candles. The candles were moulded by Andrew Pugsley ... Now if only they could be made of icing sugar.
Seems Rhonda wants to cut the cake too. Who would dare argue with that!
Microphone in hand, knife at the ready, or tea towel in her hair (what!)...
...this party simply would not have been the same without Rhonda. Sure she had an amazing team behind her - all of the Committee plus more - and Axel and Bec were part of it, but ... she just did so much before and during and edited Tracks for the month at the same time. There would have been a party without Rhonda, but not like this. As Glenn said afterwards, "Loved it!"
Now for the next 50 years.