Western OKA gathering 7 th SEPT

remember the canola

it's now on the ground swathed

in 3 to 4 weeks we start harvesting it weather permiting.

I had grand plans of having #260 and the camper trailer in a hangar in Melbourne by now, ready for Tasmania in January, but my internals have been uncooperative and the possibility of me doing long drives (like across the Nullarbor) have diminished dramatically - so we might get to enjoy your hospitality in early December after all Brett. I have my mother's birthday lunch on December 8th (not to be missed) so we may not be there at the same time as others, but I'll keep an eye on developments.

I reckon Al & Jo should harvest those Broome mangoes and deliver a few boxes to Harrismith! Have you seen the price on those things??!!

Harvest is happening.




Nov 30/Dec 1 weekend we will be doing the block ware my house is.

All welcome to come & watch harvest in progress.

I will be in Perth Fri morning & home in the afternoon,
move in & make yourself at home, I won't be far away.
stay as long as you like.

NO FIRES
Oct to March fire ban

cheers Brett

Brett
What width is that machine the bigest we see down here is about 35ft and they dont like hills or turns.
Greg

42ft

the big ones are 56/58ft

outyonda wrote: Harvest is happening.
NO FIRES
cheers Brett

Hahaha

I wish that was the case here.

Sunday 3rd of Nov we had a lightning strike in the swamp below the sheds. If not for a lucky wind change it would have made the houses.

The area is fairly heavily wooded with BIG rivergums and paperbarks (they burn really well) and it's only been the last day that I haven't seen smoke or been down putting out peat fires. No help from DFES, even though it was on crown land in parts. Lost the best part of a week of harvest getting it contained. Thank God for willing neighbours, bulldozers and big loaders. Burnt about 1000ac of river and lost less than an acre of crop.

Reckon I may have given the current Olympic 110m hurdles record a nudge when 80ft of rivergum decided to fall in my direction without warning when we where mopping up.

Ended up exhausted and crook at the end of it. As far as I can know this area of the river hasn't burnt in 70yrs

Although I am not a farmer or a bushy, isn't funny how city folk react, or not.
How country folk come to the rescue of their neighbours?
I am sure TH and Outyonda, you would help your neighbours too!!
TH, maybe you're a bit far away from where I am, but Outyonda, if you need a hand, I am free this weekend for three days!! Hopefully no fires.

Tony, we're really glad you and your family are safe.

You took us on a good tour around your block when we called in to see you and it's a great shame, but sadly not unusual, to lose so much attractive bushland. It will recover of course and in 9 months you'll hardly notice the blackened stumps.

I hope none of your special orchids were lost.

We feel your pain too, this is our block after a big grass fire on Australia Day 1986. We weren't even there, we watched it unfold, helpless, on the TV news in a motel room. Neighbours, the CFS and water bombers protected our house. I made a big donation to the CFS that day.

Regards David and Janet

Harvest is progressing, so far so good.{no fires}
still on for next week end if any one want's to have a look.

TH
DEC call that a prescribed burn!!
set it on fire & let every one fend for themselves.
has it stoped smoldering yet.
good neighbour hood watch, first sign of smoke & everyone shows up to help,

oh that is very cheeky
hmm that is what mangoes are....cheeky
harvest is very late this year...I have to stay a little longer to help with harvest [hehehe]
Jo

Oops I meant to put this comment to Hal Harvey being cheeky...must have overdosed on mangoes this breakfast

Brett, I won't make it there this weekend or next, sorry to say. The guts are being very demanding at the moment, and the painkillers have been escalated dramatically and still aren't managing. I went back on chemo yesterday after six weeks off, and while for most people that wouldn't be much to be happy about, last time I was in this scenario (April), the recovery from it coincided with starting the new chemo drug. Hopefully it will be the same this time, but it will probably take a couple of weeks.Then I'll be able to get into overnighters, or even longer trips again hopefully.

Some spectacular photos from three members above there. Much appreciated. I'm not a bushy either - the joy of living rural must still outweigh the stress of what might happen.

Hal
anytime you are feeling up to it, bring the family for a look. there is all way's something happening down on the farm.

A neighbour's header went up in flames on Monday. A bit of excitement, every one turned up to help put it out. nothing left of the header & a few acres lost.
a bearing failure, we are prepared for it.

See the photo of TH ute with fire unit. Every farm has 1 or more of them & an old truck tank as backup. we have the OKA permanently set up as a fire truck.

Hi Bret I was looking forward to coming down this w/end but after waiting 3 wks for the slave cylinder from Paul it turned up (he forgot to send it) so at the moment no clutch but when Hilda gets back from overseas we will come down for a drive.
Martyn

Martyn
that is fine. we will be harvesting for a couple more weeks.

weather permitting. todays rain will stop us for a day or two.

harvest is done & dusted. over for another year.

Good stuff Brett.

Just in time to put your feet up and watch the cricket.

Nice to see the Oka 6x4 in operation. Is it a full 6x6 yet?

6x6 is an after harvest job.
maby the end of March

You've beaten me. We still have 150ha of lupins and 90ha seed wheat to come off.

Gunna ask Santa for another header next year.

santa's helpers have been out here.
it's time for another one.

green, yellow & red gnomes
[John Deer, New Holland & Case sales men ]

dandjcr wrote: Now we are back home with a bit more computing power, here are a couple more items from the Harrismith Gathering.

Our campsites scattered around the farm:

Brett gently unloading his Lada from a trailer:

Darren
single 50 mm axle, 2 tonne hubs OKA 8 stud, H D Nissan rear leaf springs.
I reset the bottom helper springs same as mains.
About 50 mm shorter than OKA but you can get them anywhere.
ARB replace brand new ones with high lift kits so a carton usually buys them.

2 ton per hub, elect brakes, trailer is good for 4 ton.

OKA springs are fine just big & heavy.
Take some leaves out & you have spares for OKA if need arises.