Boats come in

THE CONTENTS of many of Geelong’s man caves will be hauled into the bright light of day during Barwon Valley Wood Wrights’ exhibition on this weekend.
Among the exhibits will be the intricate model boat work of Okke Jansma and his fellow Geelong Model Boat Club devotees.
Okke is working on a model of the Geelong, a Fremantle-class patrol boat used by Royal Australian Navy on fisheries, immigration, customs and drug law enforcement operations.
It’s his second model patrol boat, the first being a German version that saw active service during World War II.
In fact, it was the sight of one of the menacing KM Schnellboot S205 patrol boats cruising along the canals of Okke’s country of birth, Holland, that first sparked his childhood admiration of watercraft.
“I can recall asking my dad what that ship was and I’ve remembered it ever since,” Okke reminisced.
After two attempts at retiring, Okke finally turned his hand to model boats.
“I enjoy getting away from it all in the man cave. It’s lovely to have a hobby – a man’s gotta have a shed,” Okke declared.
He described the model boat club as “a loose affiliation of kindred spirits” without the usual formalities and administrative duties of a formal organisation.
“We still have a code of conduct, though, based around respect for each other.
“We’re mates who get together, swap ideas, materials, and talents, have a beer and have a chat.
“We participate in the Geelong wooden boat show, we visit other clubs in Melbourne and regional Victoria and they in turn visit us.
“Some of our members are interested in tugs, some in sail boats or subs, freighters or liners – there’s a huge diversity of interests within the group.
“Men’s sheds are huge now and this is our version. The club has been going 25 or 30 years with the same philosophy.”
Okke dreamed of a huge hobby show combining the talents of all local interest clubs to demonstrate the depth of talents within the region.
“It would be great to show everyone what we can do. I’m sure it would generate a lot more interest.”
Okke said timber would always be a significant part of building boats.
“I have a soft spot for working with wood,” he confided, “because it’s easier to work with and a lot more forgiving.”
Geelong Model Boat Club meets the first Sunday of each month at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus lake. More information is available by phoning William Van Leuwen on 5282 3932.
Okke and his fellow model boat experts will be at wood wrights’ annual woodcraft exhibition from 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday at Geelong’s State Government offices in Little Malop St.