Tuesday, 22 December 2020

The First Season of a Sweater's Lifetime Journey

Tuesday 22nd December - 2020

Have I got a good story to tell you about the world's most well travelled, beautiful Cable-knit Sweater, that my girlfriend knitted for me before I immigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia on the 5th October, 1969. You're not going to believe the story that I am about to tell you.

This story begins way back in another century, on the 5th October 1969, when I immigrated to Canada as a 22-year-old young man, still wet behind the ears. If you are old enough to remember & still have your marbles, that was a mere 51-years ago. In those days Australians traveled to the 'Old Dart' England or to North America to see the world. 

The SS Oronsay arriving into Sydney Cove, note the
Sydney Opera House is still under construction.

I chose to head towards Canada in North America, the main reason was that the wages were much more superior than what the Poms were paying for a fully qualified motor mechanic & what's more I loved snow skiing.

My girlfriend at the time was a beautiful young lady named Pam, we had met in the snow fields of Perisher Valley, NSW, in the winter of 1969. As luck would have it once we started hanging out together we realised that we had a lot in common.

Me and a sporty Mustang GT 500, at Mount Seymour,
North Vancouver, Canada. 1970. Photo: Pam

To start with I had been planning to immigrate to Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, once I mentioned my future plans to her she was so excited she asked me if I needed a traveling buddy. Well what was a young chap to do, so we started planning our trip as a couple.

However, my trip was all but finalised & I was due to depart Sydney on October 5th, 1969. I was ticketed to travel onboard the P&O Ship SS Oronsay from Sydney. Needless to say we could not depart Australia together because Pam needed to arrange her working Visa for Canada plus everything that is required for such an adventure. 

So we decided that I would depart as planned on 5th October '69 & she would follow 3-months later to arrive in Canada for a White Christmas that neither of us had ever experienced, sounded like a good plan to me.

My skills as a fully trained motor mechanic came in handy
on our world travels, keeping our VW Kombi running smoothly.
September 1971. Photo: Pam

I already had employment arranged upon my arrival into Vancouver, I would be teaching the mechanical staff of this organisation that were employing me how to install Mark 1V car air conditioning units to their customers vehicles. Pam was a key punch operator & would not have any problems securing employment no matter where she traveled to in the world, that would make our partnership work very well.

As the October 5th departure date grew nearer, I received a magnificent going away present from Pam. A couple of days before I boarded the ship for the 17-day voyage to Vancouver, via Auckland & Honolulu, she appeared at my place with this hand-knitted Cable Sweater to keep me warm until she arrived at Christmas. 

With camera and binoculars at the ready, I'm in the main straight
grandstand, poised to take in my first Indianapolis 500 in 1970.
 Photo: Pam

This magnificent Cable sweater that she hand-knitted for me (with love) all those years ago (51-years, to be precise) as a going away present is still worn by yours truly whenever required. I would say that without a doubt this sweater would have to be the most traveled sweater in the world. Because not only did I wear it on our 3-year working holiday around the world from October '69 - December '72, it also accompanied me on almost every international flight I ever flew with Qantas as a 'Trolly Dolly' for 32-years. 

As you can see in the photograph (at the very bottom) there is some wear around the neck & also at the cuffs. Not too shabby for a piece of clothing that is now 51-years young. Many 100's if not 1,000's of people the world over have commented about my sweater & still do whenever I wear it. I get great delight telling them the story of how this sweater came about.

Pam and myself at the Grand Canyon in 1970. Me wearing my 
sweater that has outlasted every passport I have ever had in my life.

I honestly think this sweater would have to claim a world record for longevity & miles traveled throughout the world. It is so warm & being a neutral colour, it will never go out of fashion.

Just in case there are people out there that think this story is a bit far fetched, I have also included a photograph of Pam & myself (above) visiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona in 1970 wearing this garment & holding a Super-8 Movie camera in my right hand with the backdrop of the mighty Grand Canyon behind us.

2020: The world's best travelled sweater today
and it still has plenty of miles left in it.

Now if that is not a good story I don't know what is. That's all folks, I sincerely hope that you enjoyed the story about the most traveled sweater in the world. Definitely different.

Please stay safe & look after each other during these exceptional Covid times. Always remember my Motto. 'Adventure before Dementia'

Cheers
Warbo


Coming up next: I travel to Tasmania to catch up with Pam after we have not seen each other in 51-years. Stay tuned.

Tuesday, 8 December 2020

Symbols of Distinction

8th December - 2020

Everyone of us car enthusiasts have plenty of these unfinished wet weather day jobs that, with best intentions, we have been meaning to complete for ages. l decided this week to get up off my BIG fat Covid 19 butt & do something about it.

This photograph shows you the radiator protector grill that l 
have fitted to my 1931 Model A Ford 2-door Tudor Deluxe Sedan

Ever since l became a Model A Ford 'Tragic' in 2009, l have collected various club badges & Model A Ford National Meet badges from past events that l have participated in, plus a couple of very rare badges that l have acquired over this period of time that l think you may be interested in.

Here's a more detailed shot of my badge collection on
my 1931 Model A Ford 2-door Tudor Deluxe Sedan

The badges above are: Top line L-R: 

* 14th National Model A Ford Rally held in Windsor, NSW, in 1996. (l did not attend that rally because l hadn't become a 'Tragic' until 2009)
* Model A Ford Club of NSW Club badge.
* Celebrating 90-years of the Model A Ford (1928-2018) 
* Model A Ford Club of Queensland.

Bottom line L-R:

* 22nd Model A Ford National Rally held in Ipswich, Queensland in 2012. (This was my 1st National Rally that I attended in my completely restored Model A Ford towing my Teardrop Caravan - see photo below).
* 21st Model A Ford National Rally held in Launceston, Tasmania 2010. (I attended this Rally in Tassie without my car because l had only just purchased the vehicle the year before & it was still in my workshop in hundreds of pieces waiting to be restored.
* 50th Anniversary Model A Ford Club of NSW badge (1970-2020)
* Australian Bicentennial Castrol World Rally badge
* 25th Model A Ford National Rally held in Murray Bridge, South Australia in 2018
* Bay to Birdwood entrant in Adelaide, South Australia in 2018.

The first National Rally that I attended in my completely
 restored Model A Ford towing my Teardrop Caravan

The yellow Bay to Birdwood experience is a 'Bucket list' event that attracts interstate & overseas enthusiasts from all over the world. Driving through the beautiful Adelaide Hills is one of the major delights of the Bay to Birdwood experience.

By 1990 the Bay to Birdwood Run had established itself as Australia’s premier historic motoring event and had earned Australia wide recognition by winning the National Tourism Award as the best special event or festival staged in Australia.

The front of my 1929 AA Ford Truck (Hoover)
which was used to build the Hoover Dam in Arizona, USA.

The photograph above illustrates to you the front of my 1929, AA Ford Truck (aptly named Hoover) which was used as a work-horse to help construct the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River between the US States of Nevada and Arizona during the Great Depression of the early '30s. 

l manufactured a special bracket to retain my badges to the front bumper bar as you can see in the photo.

The detailed shot of my 1929 AA Ford Truck (Hoover)

Details of these badges L-R:

* Bay to Birdwood badge that l have already explained.
* 50th Anniversary Model A Ford Club of NSW badge. (1970-2020).
* Australian Bicentennial Castrol World Rally badge that l found under the front seat of my 1931 Model A Ford 2-door Tudor Deluxe Sedan when I purchased it in 2009.
* Golden Anniversary of Rotary International. (1905-1955).
* NRMA badge, & there is quite a story behind how I came by this very rare badge. This 3" or 90mm badge was made by Craftsmen Enamellers for the NRMA way back before 1935.

If you care to read the writing on the back of the badge it reads like this: Registered No. H114. This badge is the Property of the National Roads & Motorists' Assoc (NSW) and must be returned to the Secretary immediately on the Holder ceasing to be a Member of the Association. Craftsmen Enamellers Sydney.


The back-side of the pre-1935 NRMA badge
[click to enlarge]

The story of how I acquired this automotive artifact goes like this. 

I was visiting an old employer of mine (John Dodd) in Kempsey, NSW in early 2010. John owned the Caltex Service Station on Port Hacking Road in Lilli-Pilli, NSW. John employed me as his No.1 Motor mechanic to run his mechanical workshop after I returned home to Australia in 1972 from my working holiday around the world. I worked for John as his right-hand man right up until the day I joined Qantas as an International 'Trolly-Dolly' on the 5th June, 1974.

John had heard that I was now the PROUD owner of a Model A Ford & graciously gifted this unique NRMA badge for me to install to my new, old vehicle once l had restored it. These badges were made for the NRMA up until 1935, so it is very appropriate for this badge to be installed to one of my Model A Fords especially because this was the era of the Model A Fords (1928-1931) & you would like to think perhaps this badge may have previously been fitted to another Model A Ford back in the day!!! Who knows...

That my friends is another story in the life of a 'Tragic' Model A Ford enthusiast.

Cheers for now, stay safe in these extraordinary times.

Warbo


MORE READING: To read my history with my 1929 AA Ford Truck (Hoover)