Corowa 2010 - VMVC Blog JThe VMVC has arrived at Corowa 2010. I have started a Blog page to give some details of the happenings over the week. Check out the page and photos
Steamfest 2010 - Swimming the LVT John B has been out playing in the water again. See the latest video of John swimming his Buffalo LVT at Steamfest 2010. Thanks to Rod for submitting the video.
ANZAC Day - Please help out ANZAC day is fast approaching, Our Club Coordinator Jim Harris has asked for maximum participation from the club this year. THe Diggers are getting old, and more vehicles will be required then every before. Please fill out the attached form and return to Jim.
Rebuilding a legendDuring a Club meeting, Ray told me the story of a Dodge Command Car that was getting a repo body. Read the story of what two club members are prepared to do to bring back a a legend to life.
- 22 February 2010
2010 Mar NewsletterThe March newsletter will be released at the end of the month.
Want to be published?, Submit an article for the Web or paper versions.
This copy of the newsletter is password protected. If you are a VMVC member, email info@vmvc.org.au to receive the password.
- 29 January 2010
2010 Feb NewsletterThe first newsletter has been released and is avaliable for download.
You can find many of the most recent newsletters on our Archive page.
There are also copies of the newsletter available in our archive page.
- 19 January 2010
New Vintage Power Wagon NewsletterA number of the suppliers are providing email newsletters to thier customers. The most recent one I received is from Vintage Power Wagons.
- 30 October 2009
Visit to the Canungra MJCQ 2009 showIr was my first trip to Canungra Swap meet, and the Victoria Contingent headed off via Plane and Car to be on the Gold Coast Hinterland for Saturday 16 October 2009.
It was a great trip, I cam away with some needed parts, and I can now rate Bill M's snoring as a 9 out of 10.
- 28 October 2009
Chrysler pushing to get the Jeep back into the militaryThe Jeep could be on the verge of making a return to its roots: serving in the US army.
While today the vehicles are mainly used by suburban mums and dads making the run to school, jeeps got their start in life during World War II when they were used by US forces in a range of situations.
- 27 October 2009
Moving Ray's AmboWell, it was about time. Ray has provided photos of his famed ambo.
have a look at the photo album and let Ray know what you think.
- 26 October 2009
The restoration of a WC-52Darrin W tells the story of finding and resotring his WC-52.
The hunt for the vehicle and parts covered 5 states and two countries.READ MORE
- 18 October 2009
The Restoration of VirginiaLeon has recently completed his restoration of 'Virginia'
Read all about Leon's visit with Murphy.
- 18 October 2009
New How To - Fitting Radio to JeepsJohn McG has submitted a great article on fitting radios to WW2 Jeeps.
The article has lots of photos and heaps of details
- 2 October 2009
- HELP WANTEDI am contacting you on behalf of a committee setting up a memorial park here at Robinvale to honour those who served and we were seeking symbols for the three main services being an anchor, propellers & a field gun. We are beginning to find that a field gun is taking a lot to locate. I am wondering whether through your connection to military buffs if there are any surplus pieces available. Any assistance is very much appreciated and I thank you for your time. Regards, Len O’Brien Haeuslers Farm Supplies Lot 1 Moore Street (P O Box 675) Robinvale VIC 3549 ph.035026 1644 fax 035026 1688 robinvale@haeusler.com.au
- Buy, Sell and SwapA new section has been added to the NEWSLETTER Page. Looking for a vehicle, Service, or want to sell something, this is the page.
- 30 September 2009
New vehicle for the ADF?Australian soldiers could be driving a new high-tech, armour-plated vehicle on overseas battlefields by 2011.
The Thales vehicle - called the Hawkei - can carry up to six soldiers and has body armour to withstand attacks from grenades, rifle fire and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
- 28 September 2009
New Article - The Jeep CollectorNot happy just having one military Vehicle in your collection? read about how Gino got around the problem of not having his jeep in his Longe Room. READ MORE
- 22 September 2009
- New Articles
The Club Rules have been found and posted, read them on two pages; Page 1 and Page 2.
Members of the club recently attended the Coldstream Airport Discovery Day here.Gino has published his first rant! Read it here.
HELP - Stolen Property from Howard Bull
Howard Bull in Victoria has reported that items have been stolen from his property on the Mornington Penninsula,
The loot included new camouflage netting on the exterior, a bag of new additional netting inside, three modern armour helmets, two goggles, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, loud hailer, cash tin, even the chain which we place across the entry to the track when we are closed, three large laminated illustrations of tanks which were on the my walls etc.
We are asking members to be on the to look out for anyone selling the main gear. Howard can be contacted on 03 5973 4342.
- 22 Feb 2010 - Gino writes
From the PresidentGino was recently elected president of the VMVC and will be providing a message to VMVC members on a regular basis....
Join the VMVCAre you interested in Military Vehicles? Why not join the VMVC!! Follow the link below and download the application form. You can email or post a completed form to our Vice-president.
Download a Word verison of the Aplication Form
Download a PDF verison of the Aplication Form
About the Victorian Military Vehicle CorpsThe VMVC is a non-profit club run by enthusiasts of ex-military vehicles. The club is based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. New members are welcome. The club will provide friendship, technical help and fun !
Meetings are held at the Rats of Tobruk hall, 44 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park on the first Tuesday of the month ( no meeting in January ).
There is street side parking in Victoria Avenue, and you can enjoy a nice meal at one of the cafes prior to the Monthly Meeting, or partake in a pizza, delivered to Tobruk Hall at the end of the formal part of the night.
Club members will often stay at the hall and discuss issues related to the Military Vehicle Hobby, or just catch up with members they have not seen for awhile.
Meetings begin at 8 pm
Dingo, an Aussie Dog In early 1941, the Australian Army was faced with the difficulty of equipping the Armoured Division that was in the process of being raised - while obtaining tanks and armoured cars was difficult enough, such a division also required some 210 scout cars as a part of its normal establishment.
The resulting vehicle, named the Dingo - which bore little resemblance to the similarly named vehicle produced by Daimler for the British Army - used commercially available parts (including a Ford 30-cwt commercial lorry chassis) and an angular, all-welded hull manufactured from locally produced armour plate.
The Dingo scout car, unfortunately, was a flawed vehicle. From the outset, problems were found with the strength of the front axle assembly, driving the vehicle for any length of time was found to be exhausting due to the cramped nature of the driver's position, visibility for the driver was very poor, and the weight of the vehicle (at some 4.7tons when fully equipped) severely restricted off-road performance such that the type was more or less limited to roads or hard surfaces
The Australian Dingo scout car did not see active service abroad with the Australian Army
- 22 February 2010
- We need your feedback!!!!!
- The committee has produced an online survey to help collect your ideas and thoughts. In less than 5 minutes, you can have your say on how the club will evolve. the survey is hosted on Surveymonkey.com
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The VMVC Shop is open Not sure what to wear on that next club outing? Time to get a VMVC logo hat, Shirt or coffee mug.
All the items are produced with the VMVC logo. you can order one or many items, pay for them on the website, and have them shipped directly to your home
Go to the VMVC shop
Club Meetings Are held the first Tuesday of each month, at 8pm.
View 44 Victoria Ave, Albert Park in a larger map
Rats of Tobruk keep on giving
Age has certainly not wearied the generosity of the Rats of Tobruk.
A group of the World War II veterans from Melbourne has donated $1.5-million to the Royal Children's Hospital.
Not many "Rats" are left, but their legacy will live on at the Royal Children's Hospital.
Rats of Tobruk Victorian president, Alan Eldridge presided over Friday's official ceremony to hand over the donation.
"We do hope that it corrects serious head damages to thousands of kids over the years to come," he said.
The Rats raised the money through the sale of their Albert Park hall where they have met for more than 50 years.
Businessman, Bill Gibbons, bought the meeting hall in 2007 when the Rats could no longer afford its upkeep.
But the former soldiers were never asked to move out and they continue to meet there every month.
"We still meet, have a beer after and put the world in order," Mr Eldridge said.
The former soldiers fought in one of Australia's most successful military engagements, holding the Libyan port of Tobruk against the Afrika Corps in World War II.
The hospital's neuroscience unit has been named the "Rats of Tobruk Ward" in honour of the contribution.
One boy who has spent a lot of time there is five-year-old Joel Rees.
He suffered a stroke two years ago, paralysing the left side of his body.
His father, Luke Rees today praised the donation.
"They gave it all for their freedom and that and now they're just continuing it on for the children now so it's just very overwhelming," he said.
The Chairman of the Royal Children's Hospital, Tony Beddison, says the donation will have a lasting impact.
"It's wonderful, it's going to make a difference.
"The $1.5 million will fund a fellowship in the neuroscience department and it will live on and on and on as a wonderful legacy from the Rats of Tobruk," he said.
Victoria's Rats of Tobruk have donated $1.5-million to Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital. (ABC TV News)