Oka owners group newsletter

Marj Parsons

October Long Weekend: - Narromine

We are planning to go to Narromine on this weekend, as the Airshow will be on, and the replica Wright Flyer is to have its inaugural flight. We are hoping we might camp at the Gin Gin Weir on the beautiful Macquarie River, so bring you fishing lines and your fishing licence. The facilities at Gin Gin aren’t as good, of course, but if you are attending the Airshow you can probably get a hot shower there. We have applied to the Rural Lands Protection Board for permission, but I don’t see that they will refuse us. If they do, we will just have to make do with the Caravan Park at the Airstrip. If you are coming, please get in contact and we’ll let you know our final plans.

Narromine is very aircraft oriented, but they also have an Iris Farm (closed Saturdays), and Swanes Rose Nursery (open Mon. to Friday.) with a National Park near Tomingley.

You will find Gin Gin marked on most maps, but you turn off at Trangie, 35 km from Narromine or turn towards Eumungerie at Narromine, then turn left before you cross the Macquarie River.

: Wright Flyer Launch & Air Pageant

Narromine Wright Flyer Launch & Air Pageant Saturday 1^st October 2005 - Narromine Aerodrome

The Wright Flyer is a full size and fully operational replica of the Wright Brothers model A bi-plane, which has been constructed in Narromine by self-confessed Wright Brothers fanatics, Eric and Keith Hayden.

The dedication of the Wright Flyer will be made by none other than astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who will be visiting Australia specifically to attend this event.

The official launch of this aircraft, and subsequent airshow, are a celebration of aviation and the history of

aircraft.

Spectators are invited to fly in for this action packed weekend and can choose to participate in the air rally. There

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Narromine Wright Flyer Launch & Air Pageant Saturday 1^st October 2005 - Narromine Aerodrome

The Wright Flyer is a full size and fully operational replica of the Wright Brothers model A bi-plane, which has been constructed in Narromine by self-confessed Wright Brothers fanatics, Eric and Keith Hayden.

The dedication of the Wright Flyer will be made by none other than astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who will be visiting Australia specifically to attend this event.

The official launch of this aircraft, and subsequent airshow, are a celebration of aviation and the history of aircraft.

Spectators are invited to fly in for this action packed weekend and can choose to participate in the air rally. There is no charge to fly into Narromine Aerodrome, so come to Narromine for this airshow with a difference.

Draft Program(Subject to change)

6:00am – 9:00am 7:00am – 10:00am 9:30am – 10:00am 10:00am – 10:30am 11:00am – 12:00pm 12:00pm – 2:00pm 2:00pm – 2:30pm

Hot Air Balloon Display

Aircraft Display

Dedication of Wright Flyer – by astronaut Dr Buzz Aldrin Wright Flyer Launch

Wright Flyer on display

Air Rally

Parachute Display

2:30pm – 4:30pm

Helicopters, Constellation and more.)

7:00pm – 1:00am 8:00pm – 9:00pm

Vintage car display

Museum

Entry Prices:

“Barnstorming the Bellman” Black Tie Dinner

Hot Air Balloon Glow

Stalls Static aircraft display Narromine Aviation

Airshow (Tigermoths, Warbirds, Kittyhawk, Mustang, Gliders, Agricultural Aircraft, Naval

Adult $15.00

Children $5.00 (5-15yrs)

Family $35.00

Pensioner $10.00 (aged pension only)

Hi John,

Thank you for your comprehensive explanation, informing us how members can participate in the OKA website.

The OKA Club is very fortunate to enjoy your contribution as Webmaster.

Lyndal and I are reasonably sophisticated computer users, and look forward to sharing some pictures with the club of our rather radical conversion of an OKA to a motor home, soon. OKA 46 is still a work in progress.

Whilst I am acknowledging the contribution of club members, I also wish to express my appreciation for the assistance of Paul Knott and Ian Jones who are the “A Team” in OKAs on the east coast.

I would be pleased if you would accept credit where credit is due, and publish my genuine appreciation of your own, Ian and Paul’s huge contributions to the OKA club on the club website.

Yours sincerely,

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Andrew Crowther Regulatory Consultant

From Geoff & Jenni Synnot

Just a quick rundown on what and where we are. We have built a trailable house boat and trailed it behind our gutsy OKA back in May. At present we are based in Murray Bridge in the Riverglen Boat Marina where we have our Oka in the lockup between river trips. Our houseboat is 30ft long so our Oka comes in very handy for towing. So many people have taken our photo and look in awe of the whole rig.

On retrieving our boat in Mildura we had a chat to Pedro and Kaylene Bridley who spotted our Oka at the local boat ramp. We then had them visit us at the caravan park where we chatted some more. A very nice couple I must say.

We are sorry we could not make the Kalgoorlie weekend and had we been in Esperance at the time we could certainly have been there. We are on the Murray River for another month prior to heading home to the west in October.

Once again, thanks for your dedication and time you put into the newsletters. We enjoy! Regards and a friendly hello to all Oka Owners across our wonderful country.

Geoff & Jenni Synnot

Synnot’s Oka on the right, Bridley’s on left Boat towed by Oka, 30’long, 8’ wide, 3.5 t., 400l. water, 400 l. grey, 200 l. rainwater tank, 30hp autotilt Honda, 1 black boat trained dog, 1 very patient wife.

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From Peter Furlong

Please find the information Below Re: AirBag Fitment to OKA's, These units are a lot bigger than the F250 and have a 10 Ton Rating and more suitable for the OKA

I have attached the data sheet for the air spring discussed, when in use in a vehicle it would normally be installed at a height of 8.5” to 10.0”, the maximum stability is gained at 10.0”.

The R.R.P of part AB0050 is $396.00 incl. GST ea.

I have also included the AC3202 control panel brochure; the kit includes everything shown in the picture for $ 525.00 incl. GST. Alternatively we can supply the components for $450.00, including all parts in the kit; or one parts that are wanted.

For members of the club we would offer a 15% discount if they quote us a chassis number. Trust this will get you started, please let me know when you are ready to proceed.

Best Regards, Brett Curtis

AIRBAG MAN www.airbagman.com.au

Ph (+61) [phone]

Fax (+61) [phone]

P.O. Box 337 ALBANY CREEK QLD 4035 1/126 South Pine Road BRENDALE QLD 4500

Who Packs Your Parachute ?

Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience!

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb.

"I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!"

Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."

Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat; a bib in the back; and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor." Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?"

Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. He also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory -- he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize people who pack your parachutes.

I am sending you this as my way of thanking you for your part in packing my parachute. And I hope you will send it on to those who have helped pack yours!

Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to us without writing a word. Maybe this could explain it: When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do -- you forward jokes. And to let you know that you are still remembered, you are what you get? A forwarded joke.

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So my friend, next time when you get a joke, don't think that you've been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a smile, just helping you pack your parachute........

Subject: Great Tips for Handling Telemarketers

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(1)Three Little Words That Work!!

The three little words are: "Hold On, Please..."

Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make each

telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt.

Then when you eventually hear the phone company's "beep-beep-beep" tone, you know it's time to go back and

hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task.

These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.

(2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end?

This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone.

This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a "real" sales person to call back and get someone at home.

What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialed the call and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer !!!

(3) Junk Mail Help:

When you get "ads" enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these "ads" with your payment. Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away.

When you get those "pre-approved" letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope.

Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? It costs them more than the regular 37 cents postage "IF" and when they receive them back.

It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage was around 50 cents before the last increase and it is according to the weight. In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes.

One of Andy Rooney's (60 minutes) ideas.

Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back!

If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them.

You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them 37 cents.

The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all they're paying for it...Twice!

Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again. You get the idea !

If enough people follow these tips, it will work ---- I have been doing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore.

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Hi Everyone,

OKA OWNERS GROUP (PUTTING PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT FIRST)

NEWSLETTER November 2005

We had a very enjoyable week-end at Narromine for the flight of the Wright Brothers flyer. We gathered at the Gin Gin Weir and Friday . This is about 30 km downstream from Narromine on the Macquarie River. The weather was kind to us and it was very relaxing sitting around the campfire, with the sound of water running over the weir in the background.

It was great to catch up with Michael and Virginia Hession, Ron and Lyn Quigley, Arthur and Janice Hosking and Owen and Sue Jones in their Oka’s together with another 3 or 4various 4 wheel drives that also came along for the weekend as friends of the Oka Owners. It was interesting to see the Hosking’s Oka, with their camping set-up. As Arthur is in the engineering game, he has done an excellent job on his machine – there’s a place for everything and everything is in its place. He has made fairings that fit below and in front of the rear bumper, and these give the Oka a very finished and professional look. It is a real credit to them.

On Saturday we wandered in to Narromine Airport for all the action. There was plenty to look at, and the day had been well organised, with plenty of food stalls and all kinds of other marketing as well including lots of entertainment for the kids. There was a display of old tractors, cars and motorcycles, and then the Airshow in the afternoon with lots of action, aerobatics followed by displays, followed by more aerobatics. Of course the two flight of the Wright Flyer, which were very brief, just the way the original first flight would have been. We did hear that there were 12000 people there to watch and 600 light aircraft flew in. We didn’t line up for the black-tie ball on Saturday night, just returned to our campsite and had another relaxing night with good company. On Sunday some elected to stay awhile, while others wandered off in different directions.

Last weekend we made a quick trip to the Newcastle area to check on the progress of the gyrocopter I’m haveing built. On the way we dropped in to meet new members Eric and Sylvia Yeo at Dunedoo, and had smoko with them; great people! Eric makes great buns – he must spend a lot of time in the kitchen! Sarah Lee taught him everything he knows! Of course we inspected their Oka, which was loaded with crop spraying equipment, and their slide-on camper which is waiting for their next adventure.

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Many of our Okas have some rust damage to the skins, and it may be that as a result buyers will want to price these machine down. While we were visiting Robin Wade earlier this year, he told us that the skins are only made of thin galvanised steel, are very cheap to buy or are easy to fabricate, as they only need to be cut and bent (not moulded). He also told us that they are no longer welded to the frame, just glued with some of the new glues that will never let go, then the edges filled and painted and you will get a good finish.

John Hendriks has sent us information about TruckGas. This is a system that uses a mixture of diesel and gas to power your motor, giving you increased efficiency with more power for less cost. We have included an abridged version for you to see. He has also sent us information on biodiesel and how to make it from your own crops. Technology seems to be coming of age.

This will be the last newsletter for the year. We would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous and adventurous New Year.

Lloyd & Marj Parsons

VICTORIAN OKA RALLY

When: 6TH - 8TH January 2006

Where: Jamieson-Woods Point, Victoria.

Directions: Meet at LR Skipworth camping reserve 7km south of Jamieson Friday 6th.

The following day travel down towards Woods Point. There are many camping areas

between Jamieson and Woods Point. Camping areas have basic facilities ie. pit

toilets and fire places. Dogs OK. Please bring firewood.

Contact Rowena Paterson for further details.

Ph: 03 5823 2732 (ah) 03 5833 5710 (work)

Email: [e-mail]

VICTORIAN OKA RALLY – MURRINDINDI -14^TH -16^TH OCTOBER 2005

Written by Rowena Paterson

7 OKAs plus one member (without their OKA) turned up for a weekend get together at Murrindindi, north of Melbourne. We had beautiful weather the whole weekend, warm during the day and cool at night.

I arrived on Friday afternoon to get a good camping spot, not far from the main creek that runs through the Murrindindi camping area. Wayne Overall arrived on Friday night in his duel cab OKA and was happy to see I had the camp set up and fire going. Shortly after our peace and quiet was short lived when a group of young people turned up. They decided to camp right next to us and party to 2am in the morning with loud voices, music and car horns. You could say we didn’t get much sleep that night, I could actually feel the vibrations from the music in my OKA.

Next day we had the following arrivals: Peter Davis & Serena Fraser and son Cameron

(black bus OKA), Andrew Crowther & Lyndal in their 4WD vehicle & tent (their OKA motorhome is still being completed), Ian & Jackie Jones (duel cab OKA painted mission green with camper), Paul Nott (van body OKA) and Geoff & Sandra Wilkinson in OKA No. 6 (single cab motorhome).

During the afternoon the Kookaburras kept us entertained. They have such good eyesight, swooping down and grabbing worms and bugs from right in front of us. It was amazing as we couldn’t see the bugs and worms on the ground and the Kookas could spot them from way up in the trees. The Kookas were

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very fussy, not wanting to eat part of Lyndals lunch that she placed on the ground for them. Maybe the problem was they were alittle scared of us, so Paul grabbed the food and threw it onto Ian’s roof. Instead he missed, the food leftovers sailed perfectly into the back of the OKA straight onto Ian & Jackie’s bed.

Yes it did look very funny, a perfect launch, like throwing a ball into a hoop.

People spent a lot of time swapping ideas and checking out OKAs during the weekend, which was particularly good for Wayne, as he is a new member and has only had his OKA for a few months. Saturday evening, Peter & Serena headed off and the rest had dinner and sat around the camp fire. Wayne and I brought out a couple of Didgeridoos to entertain everybody along with Sandra’s help on the tapping sticks.

Next day Greg, Maree and all the kids arrived for the day. After a little more OKA talk, Wayne & myself headed off for home in the afternoon, leaving the others to enjoy the sunshine for a few more hours before they also headed for home.

Another fantastic weekend, what can I say, I had a ball. There is nothing quite like hearing an OKA come rolling down the road with that familiar rattle, the chug chug of the engine, then the heavy clunk of the door. You know it’s an OKA, nothing else sounds quite the same does it?

MUNGO & KINCHEGA NATIONAL PARK Written by Rowena Paterson

During my holidays in August I headed up to Mungo National Park NSW (just north east of Mildura in Victoria). I enjoyed my stay in the camping area ($3 per person) with basic facilities like pit toilets, tables and fireplaces.

Lake Mungo is an ancient dry lake bed that lies within the Willandra Lakes region world heritage area. Evidence of around 50 000 years of human occupation is present within the area. When the lakes were full, Aboriginal people lived and fished along the shores. The lake has been dry for 18 000 years. Aboriginal people continued to live in the area (after the Lake dried) near soaks along the old river channel.

I drove my OKA around the lake following a 70km self drive signposted track. The round trip, which firstly heads across the lake floor, takes you to the Walls of China (huge sand dunes) and Vigars Well (a natural soak that was used by Aboriginal people and early European settlers). I really enjoyed Mungo, I found it fascinating. When you first arrive at Mungo you can see the shape of a lake. It has been dry for a very long time but you can still see it was once a lake. There is also an old woolshed that was built around 1869 and a visitors centre.

After leaving Mungo I headed up to Kinchega National Park and Menindee Lakes. I stayed in a Caravan Park overlooking Menindee Lakes (not a drop of water in the lake). I went for a day drive through Kinchega and did a little fishing on the Darling River. Plenty of places to camp along the river, some with basic facilities. Kinchega also has an interesting woolshed (built in the 1870’s) to look at. Evidence of Aboriginal occupation is also present at Kinchega with relics and artefacts being found. Burke & Wills and Charles Stuart’s exploration parties both spent time at Kinchega.

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After my stay at Kinchega, I headed across to Broken Hill then down to Wentworth. I spent the best part of a week at Fort Courage (20 km’s west of Wentworth). Fort Courage is a small Caravan park situated on the Murray River. The River is huge, twice as wide as the Murray at Echuca. The Caravan park is nicely set up with a couple of camp kitchens and a boat ramp. I had an opportunity to go out on a boat and came back with a couple of Perch.

On my way home I called in to visit Pedro & Kaylene Bridley in Mildura. I liked their OKA camper, a great set up.

My OKA preformed beautifully throughout the trip. The dirt roads up to Mungo and Menindee were in very good condition.

Casino Village visit October Long Weekend 2005

Casino was different...had a great run up...left home at 4am in the morning...pouring rain, which was persistant until Taree. We did the trip with 3 stops to give the dogs a break as well as ourselves and did it just under 9 hours.

The OKA performed extremely well and I am very happy with the modification I made...Hi-Clone a definite good investment.

In Casino we met many new friends and the OKA certainly got a good looking over from many interesting people. The 5 wheeler rally was on as well as a HF rally, which I became very involved with and again met some very nice new friends. I have joined the HF club and they wish to place a link into our website for future interested members. They spend quite some time with me updating my GPS on the laptop, as well as giving me additional desert maps...all for free.

Every morning at 9.30am they have a morning tea session and I attended these. During the day they had other interesting talks happening in the old green Hangar which allowed the viewing of some interesting Internet information for the motor home traveller.

Of course they all wanted me to buy a HF radio from them there and then, but I explained I would be able to do better myself, as I wanted to sell my satelite phone first. They showed me all the different models and as Casino is a base station, had a tour of it.... very interesting the way HF works with doing a phone call...it is all automatic.