Australia Day with Honours...

Friday 27th January - 2023

Now that the dust has had time to settle from yesterday’s magnificent Australia Day celebrations in Cronulla, I have decided to put pen to paper to bring you all up to date with me being awarded the Sutherland Shire's Citizen of the Year Award for 2023.

First of all I would like to say that receiving this award is an incredible honour for me, however I would like to dedicate this wonderful award to my parents, Norma & Allan Warburton & my sister Carol.

While I'm very proud to say, that I am this year's Sutherland Shire Citizen of the Year ‘23. I will now try & explain why. As this has been a 75-year-long journey for the Warburton family.

Pictured at Cronulla Beach on Australia Day after the Ceremony with

the Mayor of the Sutherland Shire, Carmelo Pesce. The festivities

performance stage and the magnificent Cronulla Beach are in

the backdrop. Photo: Steve Core

It wasn’t until Carol was five years old that Mum and Dad realised that something was wrong with their daughter. Carol was diagnosed with a mental disability. My parents did not know at the time, but Carol’s disability occurred because my mum suffered from German Measles when she was pregnant with Carol.

While we now know that the disease can have serious complications on an unborn child, this wasn’t known in the 1940s. I am Carol’s little brother, three years her junior. Sadly, Carol & my parents are no longer with us.

Because of Carol’s disability my parents had a plan. They wanted to change the lives of people with a disability. My recollection goes back as far as the 1950s, Mum and Dad along with another four families were the founding members of the Handicapped Children Centre of NSW, (1947) which is now known as Sylvanvale.

One of my favourite photos and my late sister Carol

and me. Photo: Courtesy of Sylvanvale

It all began at the Baptist Church in Flora Street, Kirrawee. The church allowed a group of ladies who had a child with a disability, including my Mum, to meet in the Church hall. It started off like a playgroup and support group for the parents and the Children. The parents then wanted the chance to give their children an education and to achieve this, they needed to raise funds.

Every Saturday morning we used to participate in a fete at outside the Cronulla Post Office. Dad would work on a chocolate wheel and Mum and the other ladies would sell things they’d sewed, knitted or cooked. Little things like those covered coat hangers and teapot cozies, anything to raise much needed funds.

The Handicapped Children Centre thrived, so much so that the families were able to open a home - the very first Rainbow Lodge - for people with a disability in the Blue Mountains. I have been involved with this wonderful organisation my entire life, helping out wherever I can, volunteering my time and energy to support people with a disability to reach their potential.

On Cronulla Beach on Australia Day. The Sutherland Shire Council put 

on a magnificent day of free entertainment for the Shire's nearly a
quarter of a million residents. Photo: Steve Core

I was humbled to learn last year that Leanne Fretten, CEO of Sylvanvale, had nominated me for the Sutherland Shire Citizen of the Year Award for 2023. Yesterday, I was invited to attend the Australia Day Awards in Cronulla Park and low and behold yours truly walked away with the treasured and prestigious Sutherland Shire Citizen of the Year award for 2023 for which I am absolutely over the moon about.

My point is that without the guidance of my wonderful parents I would never have been involved with Sylvanvale or nominated or receive this magnificent recognition for the Warburton family.

These days I am still heavily involved with Sylvanvale to raise money for whatever cause is most important to help people that are less fortunate than myself. Every year since 2015 (except for Covid) with the help of Steve Core (my right-hand man) along with a band 30-loyal Volunteers from Qantas who l used to fly with as an International 'Trolly Dolly' organise the Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car show to raise much needed funds for Sylvanvale.

Cronulla Park provides a natural amphitheater for Australia Day festivities
in Cronulla. You can see that people have their blankets and tarps

pegged out for the evening's entertainment and fireworks.

Photo: Steve Core

The 2023 Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show will once again be held on the asphalt in the Council car park in Flora Street, Sutherland on Sunday September 17th. What I am asking you to do is to write this date down in your papyrus diary because this event is not to be missed. It is a wonderful day out for the whole family to feel, touch, smell, and admire 150 Classic Vintage motor vehicles built before 1939 with all monies raised going to a wonderful cause.

In finishing off this story before I hang up the gloves on this blog I have a few thoughts that I would like to share with you and why I do what I do. As a child growing up I can remember vividly the struggles the foundation families of the Handicapped Children of NSW experienced. I remember those early days when they didn’t have enough money to rub two copper coins together.

Today, from those very humble beginnings Sylvanvale supports 750 people, we have forty Group homes throughout Sydney and the Blue Mountains, and wait for this, Sylvanvale has an annual turnover of $70 million. My dear old Dad used to say to me with his words of wisdom. “Son, don’t ever think you can’t make a difference in this world”.

I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed reading just a little of the Warburton family’s journey through life.

Sincerely

Ken Warburton

NB: Now I have to head back to Phoenix, Arizona today to continue my planned vacation. So I'm hopping on Skippy, for another Qantas trans-Pacific flight this morning.

Now... T-minus 8-months away...

Tuesday 17th January - 2023

Today, marks exactly 8-months to go in the countdown to our 2023 Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Carshow. Set for Sunday, 17th September, 2023, at the Sutherland Council Car Park in Flora Street, Sutherland, NSW.

Since the outstanding success of our first Show in our new location of Sutherland in March 2022, we have been working hard on the 2023 Show to make it grander and more spectacular.

Please mark the date now in your Diary as it will be not one to miss.

Event: Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show

Date: Sunday 17th, September, 2023

Location: Sutherland Council Car Park

Address: Flora Street, Sutherland

Time: 9:00am until 3:00pm

Food and Beverage vendors on site

'Sheila' back from the Mexican Auto Beauty Parlor

Wednesday 11th January - 2023

You can’t keep a good man down they say…

This morning when Sam & I ventured over to Mesa, here in Phoenix, to pick up 'Sheila' after she had spent a couple of days of 'enhancement treatment' in the Mexican Auto beauty salon. Boy was I pleasantly surprised when I first set eyes on her this morning.

'Sheila' sparkling in the Arizona Winter sun after she returned
today from the Mexican Auto Beauty parlor over in Mesa

I purchased 'Sheila' from a guy in the seductive & beautiful town of Sedona in Arizona 13-years ago on one of Ken’s ‘Magical Mystery Tours’ with my son Nathaniel , that's when we were on our way for a massive road trip all way up to Alaska in the RV.

As I have mentioned previously 'Sheila' has served me very well in all those years of driving her all over America. I decided it was about time that I spoiled her with a decent face lift. 

I had to re-introduce 'Sheila' again to her other sisters
because they would not have recognised her.

In the past couple of Blogs, I have shown and described to you what my baby looked like when I arrived here 3-weeks ago after a 3.5-year desert hiatus due to many various reasons.

The detailers also cleaned 'Sheila's' engine spotlessly. Now, you could eat your dinner off the mighty 4-cylinder, side-valve, 40hp donk.

Sam senior & I collected a bale of hay out of the ‘31 Model A Ford
pick-up to feed the horses & goats.

I am delighted with the resurrection that they were able to do with the paint work, interior & upholstery.

God forbid, after looking at the old girl today in all its splendor I may have to make a ‘Trailer Queen out of her’ not likely.

The goats on the property also need looking after

at feeding time in the afternoon

I am delighted with the resurrection that they were able to do with the paint work, interior & upholstery.

God forbid, after looking at the old girl today in all its splendor I may have to make a ‘Trailer Queen out of her’ not likely.

Just to keep 'Sheila' happy when I arrived back into the San Tan Trailer Village this morning I had to re-introduce her again to her other sisters (see photo) because they would not have recognised her.

The horses know when it's feeding time here

in the corral

Once that formality was out of the way, I then parked her under the car port at space #93 right next to my permanent trailer home.

Then later this afternoon it was time to stop playing with my toys & do some real work around our surrounding farmland property to help Sam senior out.

It was time to feed my boys. Sam senior & I collected a bale of hay out of the ‘31 Model A Ford pick-up to feed the horses & goats. Let me tell you that here on the farm that word GOAT certainly does not mean ‘Greatest of all Time’.

The detailers also cleaned 'Sheila's' engine spotlessly. Now, you could eat your
dinner off the mighty 4-cylinder, side-valve, 40hp donk.

Tomorrow, I hope to receive my new gear change cable that is being shipped from Virginia, then it is full steam ahead to replace the cable & move onto the emission's test, registration, etc, of the RV.

This coming Friday I will have been here in Phoenix for 4-weeks, I can’t believe where the time has gone to. 

My good 'Shire' friend Steve Core, will be here for 3-weeks at the start of February and we have a few road trips planned in 'Sheila' and I if I know Steve, there will be something to do with planes somewhere along the way.

'Sheila' safely parked under the car port at space #93
right next to my permanent trailer home

Plus Steve loves his photography, so we will draw on his skills to capture 'Sheila' in some all mighty iconic locations before my 90-day US adventure is over in March. You can look forward to seeing those photos in my upcoming blogs.

Then, come March, I will be heading home again before you can say ‘Jack Robinson’ - that’s scary.

That’s all folks for today’s live report from the San Tan (over 55's) Mobile Village here in Arizona.

Looking forward to looking back.

Stay safe, cheers for now.

Warbo

Visit to the Martin Auto Museum

Tuesday 10th January - 2023

It's about time that I sat down to scribe a decent blog to all my loyal followers, it has been quite some time since I have written an informative article on my travels since returning from my 3-month extravaganza in Great Britain last year.

Today is one of those days that I can sit here & tell you all about my visit this week, to the Mel Martin Auto Museum here in Glendale, in Phoenix just a quick hop, skip & a jump from the San Tan Mobile Village here in Chandler, where I live.

Mel Martin's immaculate 1965 Shelby AC Cobra

Today’s tour was brought about by my Model A Ford Restorers Club of Arizona of which I have been a member for 13-years.

It is really great to have a story that I can get my teeth into once again instead of telling you boring old stuff like working on my vehicles for the past 3-weeks preparing them for sale.

The Cobra's dash is personally autographed by legendary
automotive designer and entrepreneur, Carroll Shelby 

Instead of getting grease under my fingernails, skinned & bleeding knuckles. I decided that today was a leisure day, down with the tools off with the overalls & on with the my smart casual clothes that you are all aware of to enjoy a day with twenty of my colleagues from the Arizona Model A Car Club.

Established in 2008, the Martin Auto Museum is the brainchild of owner & founder Mel Martin, an Iowa-born real estate developer, (see photo of Mel & myself). Mel’s passion is sharing his collection that represents significant periods of time in automotive history.

The Museum features more than 170 vehicles, including classic cars, hot rods, customs, imports, & much more. It also has one of the largest collections of auto memorabilia, antique gas pumps, & signage anywhere in the world.

The aptly named

1951 Ford Country “Squire” Wagon

Mel’s goal is to protect & preserve their fine automobiles & collectibles for the enjoyment & education of future generations as is our similar goal with our Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car show every year in the Sutherland Shire in Australia.

A trip to the Martin Auto Museum wouldn’t be complete without taking some photos of their vehicles.

Yes, I did just that & was very fortunate to meet the man himself & he was kind enough to spend some time with me to tell me all about the Museum, how he made his fortune & he is a complete petrol head just like the rest of us, only with a lot more of that folding stuff.

Museum owner & founder Mel Martin and myself in
front of his pristine 1965 Shelby AC Cobra

Mel is 92-years old, (see photo above) and he's still as sharp as a razor blade. He made his fortune out of Real Estate, as you do. The Museum recently relocated to an old Supermarket building that works sensationally for a Auto Museum and Event Center.

Mel’s 1965 Shelby AC Cobra if you can believe it, which I do, has the sum total of 6 original miles or 9.6 kms on the clock, the dash is personally autographed (see photo) by none other than the legendary automotive designer and entrepreneur, Carroll Shelby himself. Can you just imagine how much this highly collectable and rare gem would be worth? this vehicle would be priceless.

Mel also told me the story behind his 1917 Douglas Dump Truck (see photo below) he was very amused when I told him that we call these trucks in Australia Tipper Trucks.

Mel's personal 1917 Douglas Dump Truck, the 
first vehicle Mel ever purchased

This Dump Truck was his first vehicle that Mel purchased when he was a hairy arsed kid at 16-years old. The Douglas was a fully workable workhorse when he was a youth, check out the solid rubber tyres. The truck was used in mining Onyx in Arizona.

You know what, I have to try & keep this email short, or else it is going to end up like War & Peace & I sure a hell do not want you to get bored with my ramblings.

There are a couple of other vehicles that I would like to tell you about, however I will start off with the 1930 Duesenberg, Model J Torpedo, Convertible Boat-Tailed Speedster (see photo below). This is one magnificent motor vehicle. 

Back in the ‘30s the Doozy's, as they were nicknamed, were the preferred choice of wheels chosen by all the movie stars in Hollywood & I sure can see why. If you want to make an impression on someone this is definitely the vehicle to do just that.

1930 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Convertible boat-tailed Speedster
Once the preferred car of the Hollywood jet set

Henry Ford with his 1930 Model A Ford did not cut the ice, trust me.

This next vehicle really tickled my fancy, I wonder if you can work out why! Check out the 1951 Ford Country “Squire” Wagon.

As you can see I have only talked about four motor vehicles in this report, there are another 170 classics on display in this truly sensational Martin Auto Museum, if you are still interested you can always Google martinautomuseum.com & browse through their site, well worth the effort. I am sure that you will find vehicles that turn you on, unfortunately I don’t have the space to cover everything in my blog.

Proudly wearing my Arizona Model name badge on the day.

I have been a member for 13-years.

Tomorrow it looks like I am back on the tools again, there is no rest for the wicked you know. My RV has top priority this week, I am waiting on a gear shift cable that I am having made in Virginia, it won’t arrive here in Arizona until Tuesday or Wednesday this week. 

Until then I really can’t drive it because I cannot select the gears & when you can’t select the transmission into forward or reverse the big V-10 Chevy engine ain’t going anywhere. Once I have the RV mobile l can then drive the old girl to have the emission's test done & then re-register the sucker.

Here in Arizona, testing is required in the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, where ozone and particulate matter pollution are a problem. You cannot sell a vehicle unless it has passed the emission's test. 

Part of our Arizona Model As group's vehicles outside the

Martin Auto Museum in Glendale, Arizona

Then next week l will be able to display the RV out the front of the San Tan Mobile Village overlooking the very busy Gilbert Road then hopefully jag some passer-byer to purchase my 33ft RV. Please keep your fingers crossed for the 'Squire' from the Shire to sell my RV that I have criss-crossed America in over the past 12-years.

l will keep you all up to date with any developments, for now, that is my live report from Arizona, hope that you have enjoyed the story.

Stay safe and Cheers for now from your wandering 'Squire' in the USA.

Warbo

Build-up to getting my RV ready for sale

Sunday 8th January - 2023

I hope everyone is having a great start to 2023.

I am bright eyed & bushy tailed this morning because I managed to fire up the RV yesterday without too much drama, if you can believe it!

This was the job that l was fearing the most and it turned out to be the easiest. I had much more trouble with my Model A Ford, 'Sheila' & the Toyota Echo getting them to start than I did with the RV. Thank heavens.

My RV has a lot of work to be done on it after siting idle

here in Phoenix for the last 3.5 years

I even slept in yesterday fearing the worst of what lay ahead of me, as I was not game enough to even start with lifting the bonnet. Turns out after a period of 3.5 years the old girl started up with some tender loving care from the old motor mechanic from Down-Under.

I tried all my years of experience & tricks & guess what, the BIG V-10 engine is purring like a kitten.

My RV that you see in the photos is 33ft or 10 mts in length with a huge V-10 engine, chewing up more than 10-miles to the gallon of petrol. In the past I have enjoyed many wonderful road trips driving all over the United States in it, east to west & north to south. Now it is too expensive for a battler like myself to drive all around America like I used to do.

My RV has served me well over the years,

but now it's time to clean it up and sell it.

I tow my stick shift 2000 Toyota Echo sedan behind the RV camper, with the mighty V-10 powering the RV on the open road, you wouldn’t even know that the car is being towed behind you.

The last big road trip I did was to drive over to Florida in May, 2019 to see where Henry Ford & his close mate, inventor, Thomas Edison used to spend their summer vacations in Florida. I actually wrote a blog about that trip a few years ago, maybe you read it? (Click here to read it)

My next job is to get the RV pollution tested & re-registered & it will be ready for sale. You can’t sell a vehicle here in Arizona if it does not have a current, valid pollution certificate. Right now it is 7:00 am, the sun does not rise until around 07:20am so I will have my brekko & hit the tools again today.

The big V-10 donk is housed directly under
the front cabin floor

It will be such a load off my mind when I clear myself of all this baggage up here that l have accumulated over the years plus not to mention the cost.

I can’t believe how expensive the cost of living has become here in America, inflation is rampant, it used to be cheap to come to the States & enjoy a magnificent holiday, you used to get value for your money, now it is completely over the top.

Believe it or not we are so much better off in Australia than these poor people here in America & in England & we have the good weather to go with it. Trust me count your blessings that we live in the lucky country.

The access panel to the mighty V-10 engine is through

the front of the rig

It is just starting to come light outside & looks like it will be another nice day, we have had a couple of rainy days which is very unusual for Phoenix.

Time for my brekko with fresh, free-range farm eggs, they are sensational straight from the meandering chooks here on the property at the San Tan Village, they are still warm if you can believe it.

Need to finish off now & hit the road running.

Stay safe. Cheers as always from your roving “Squire”

Warbo

RELATED: To read about my visits to Fort Myers, Florida the site of the historic Winter Estate homes of US industrial icons, Henry Ford & Thomas Edison. CLICK HERE

'Sheila' now US roadworthy

Tuesday 3rd January - 2023

After two weeks of being here in Chandler, Phoenix, Arizona, I have finally got my my Model A Ford, 'Sheila' ready in preparation for local registration.

At 5:00pm this afternoon Sammy & myself were putting the finishing touches together at the local motor registry to register both my Toyota Echo and 'Sheila' for legal use on US roads.

'Sheila' looking a little bit dusty after 3.5 years in

storage here in Arizona

When I insured 'Sheila' yesterday with the State Farm Insurance Company they required photographs of the old girl for their records & also the all important VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) that is stamped on the LHS chassis rail.

Sheila's engine, she's still purring like a kitten
and has never let me down

Today, I gave her a quick wash & took some photographs to forward onto the Insurance Company as they requested. Without that Number the authorities will not allow any vehicle to depart America.

The all import VIN number

After all my mechanical work to get her up and running smoothly, I can’t wait until I have 'Sheila' professionally detailed on the 6th January, she should come up brilliantly.

Then it will be ready for some grand touring. My friend, Steve Core will be arriving here from Australia in Phoenix on the 1st of February for a 3-week stay, and we are planning a few adventurous road trips in the old girl. 

In addition, the old Toyota Echo will also have a lick & a promise on the 5th January, then I will put her out the front of San Tan Mobile Village & see what eventuates, hopefully I shouldn’t have too much trouble selling it.

Earlier this morning we enjoyed a beautiful Arizona sun rise.
My view from my front porch.

Tomorrow, I will start working on my V-10 Chevy engine Mobile Home, I really have not been looking forward to that challenge. I already have a bloke interested in it with the condition that the engine is running, plus it passes the pollution test & finally re-registered for road worthiness. Wish me luck, I will need it.

Sammy, in the office, on the phone running his Arizona Model A

business here in Chandler, Arizona.

I am so fortunate that I have the resident Guthrie family here at the park, Sammy (junior) allows me to use all his tools, if l need any parts he usually has them in stock, not only that Sammy’s dad (Sam senior) drives me where ever I need to venture in Chandler in his 1931 Model A Ford pick up, we have an absolute ball.

You should see the pair of us 75-year old’s running around town we look like we are on the set of the Beverly Hillbillies, only we are having a much better time.

Sammy, parked out the front of my trailer home in

his huge Ford F250, Super Duty, 4x4, pick-up.

In the photo (above) it's a head-on shot of Sammy’s big Ford F250, 4x4, Super Duty, pick-up, if you look carefully, you can see my trailer home behind the tree. 

That has been my home here in Chandler, Arizona for the past 13-years. When I venture over here for my 90-day vacation, it's been my home away from home.

All for now.

Warbo

Getting 'Sheila' roadworthy in Arizona

Sunday 1st January - 2023

Hello everybody from Phoenix, Arizona. Happy New Year to one and all.

Now that the festive season is behind us, it is now the right time to put the overalls on and open my tool box to prepare my 1931 Model A Ford slant window Town Sedan for the many drives through the desert here in Arizona.

My Model A Ford needs a little tender loving care after laying idle for 3.5 years here in the harsh desert conditions of Arizona, admittedly 'Sheila' has been under cover all that time. I would hate to think what condition it would be in if I had left it out in the elements all that time as I have done with my Mobile Home. (That’s another story to come).

My 1931 Model A Ford slant window Town Sedan

that I purchased here in the US, 13-years ago.

My baby needs new tyres, a new battery, new fuel pump, grease & oil change plus an oil filter & a bloody good detail to bring it back to all her beauty.

Tomorrow, I am having five new Radial Ply tyres fitted to my 16” Kelsey rims, the old tyres are well & truly past their use by date & I sure as hell do not want to have a blow out driving through the desert on my way to Las Vegas, because it gets very lonely out there in the desert when you are a long way from the nearest town in the middle of nowhere.

'Sheila' parked outside California's legendary Hotel Del Coronado
in San Diego on one of my many US road trips

I purchased 'Sheila' 13-years ago & have driven it all over America during that time, touch wood she has never let me down once, even when I drove her through Death Valley in California in temperatures of 120F or 49C on my way to a Model A Ford National Rally in Lake Tahoe 4-years ago.

All of my American friends said that I was an absolute idiot to have done what I did back then & thinking back on that experience I probably was. However as you all know the 'Squire' always pushes the limits.

The interior is still in tip top condition

All of my other Model A Ford friends over here always trailer their vehicles to & from the National Rallies, but not Warbo. None of my cars here or in Australia are trailer Queens, & that’s the way l like it.

Believe you me I have so much fun driving 'Sheila' all around America, there is nothing better than driving my 91-year old, Henry Ford Classic on a road trip, it opens so many doors for me without me actually saying one word.

I can’t wait to hit the highway again once she is up to my very high safety standards. I need to make sure it won’t let me down because I do not want you reading bad news about the “ Squire” in the Sydney Morning Herald, if you get my drift because I still have some Superannuation to spend.

Sam senior, is my tough old right hand man in
the San Tan RV Village Phoenix, Arizona

(Above) The guy standing next to 'Sheila' is Sam, he owns the 55 and over San Tan Mobile Village that I live in here in Chandler, he is like nobody else you have ever met in your life. Tough as nails, just look at the size of his left hand. He is from the old school & I simply love him to death. We have a ball together, let me tell you I want him on my side in a dark alley.

The Winter weather at the moment here in the Southern States, especially here in Phoenix Arizona is absolutely perfect, very cold during the evenings & early mornings, once the sun rises above the yardarm about 9:00am it is a different world. The last couple of days here in Arizona have been nothing short of sensational 22C or 72F while up in the Northern States they have experienced atrocious weather conditions as I am sure you all know listening to the news reports.

Finally, do you like my bumper sticker on the rear window of 'Sheila'? It reads: ‘I Love Pot Holes’ Chicken, Alaska.

This bumper sticker would not be appreciated in NSW, Australia right now due to the horrendous road conditions after all the bad weather we have experienced over the past 6-months.

Stay safe.

Cheers for now.

Warbo.