The Bundaberg Swim-In 2009

What was essentially the inaugural Bundaberg Swim-In was held over the June long weekend, on the Walker’s property ‘Jedburgh’, on the banks of the Burnett River. The event was organised by the Military Jeep Club of Queensland.

‘Jedburgh’, is picturesque place…. rolling, green, grassy hills sloping gently down to rainforest gullies and the river, which is quite wide, due to being the backwater of the Bingera Weir. The river itself, accessed by two concrete boat ramps, was the perfect venue for amphibious vehicles, giving ample space for all to be on the water together.

The weekend was well organized with a day trip to Kincoona and the beach on Saturday, a forest drive ending at the Cordalba Pub for lunch on Sunday, and various interesting and fun events during the other times, which involved joy rides in the amphibious vehicles, paddle powered No4 trailer races on the dam, the floating of a GPW in a tarp and the loading of a GPW into the DUKW by a Kenworth wrecker.

The Australian Bunker & Military Museum Project had a stall, and it was very interesting to chat to the fellows who manned it. Their enthusiasm had to be experienced!! If, as they say, there are as many vehicles and equipment as they suspect still buried in bunkers all over Australia, then there is a goldmine of yet to be acquired goodies just waiting to be snapped up.

On Sunday afternoon, a number of attending vehicles lined up in the paddock for a photo shoot.

I attended in our 1964 Series 2a SWB General Service Land Rover. I was with a small group of Land Rover enthusiasts, all members of the Registry of Ex-Military Land Rovers (REMLR). We drove up from Brisbane.

So…vehicles…

There were:
5 Land Rovers…the 2 Series 2a SWB GS’s (one towing a Track trailer), a Perentie towing a No5 trailer, a S2 Workshop and a S3 Workshop.
2 Buffalo’s
10+ Jeeps, some towing No4 trailers
5 Jeep GPA’s
1 DUKW
2 Blitz’s
A number of Dodge Weapons Carriers
A Bren Gun Carrier
A Scorpion tank
A Stuart tank
A Studebaker US6
A Kenworth wrecker
A Ford M8
An interesting bike with an axle rear end
A generator

All up a guesstimated 50-60 ex-military vehicles

I have to say, in some ways I enjoyed this meet much more than Corowa. Maybe it was that everyone was camped together, and that the whole event was less formal and more relaxed. Maybe it was that I got to ride in the Buffalo on the river. Maybe it was that everyone was so friendly and in such good moods….whatever the reason it was great to see the vehicles doing what they were designed for, either charging across the hills flat strap or plunging into the murky waters. At all times any number of vehicles were on the move around the campsite and surrounds.

Pat S and Glen H