I bought a jeep: Jock Ferguson (left) and jeep owner Ted Hughes in the 1943 WIlly’s Jeep that was restored by Ted and his father-in-law George Thompson after they found it in a paddock on a Condobolin farm.
An 80-year-old restored army jeep that had been sitting for decades in a paddock of a Condobolin farm was at the pointy end of Rochester’s Anzac Day parade last Wednesday.
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The restoration project was undertaken by Rochester’s Ted Hughes and his late father-in-law George Thompson, who bought the jeep 22 years ago after finding it overgrown by weeds in the central western NSW farming community.
George Thompson served in the Air Force in World War II and died at 95 years of age in 2007.
He served in air stores in the islands of Indonesia, mainly Borneo.
Ted, a truck driver and part-time mechanic, was able to turn his hand to providing the manpower to restore the 1943 Willy’s jeep.
After tracing its history he found it was part of the navy fleet and was based at the Sydney quarantine centre.
The jeep became the workhorse of the US military during the war, replacing horses and draft animals in almost every role from cavalry to logistics.
Modifications made the jeep capable of performing practically any other function necessary, including on this occasion — as a parade chariot for a 90-year-old long-time Rochester citizen.
Jock Ferguson drew a lot of smiles from the assembled masses along Gillies St during the Anzaz Day parade last Wednesday — sitting proudly and occasionally waving at familiar faces from the passenger seat of the army Jeep, which was 10 years his junior.
Jock, born in 1933, arrived in Rochester when he was only six weeks old,
Nineteen years later he spent three months in national service at Puckapunyal army base and, in recent years, has become involved in the Anzac Day march.
He will celebrate his 90th birthday in June, a father of four and with 22 grand and great-grandchildren.
His wife Clare was a respected nurse at Rochester hospital, working mostly as a midwife. She died in 2013.
Andrea Brooks is the eldest of his daughters, the younger trio being Yvonne Wolfe, Rhonda Dullard and Marg Monahan.
While now living in a unit at Wharparilla, he remains strongly connected to Rochester through his near life-long associations with Rochester fire brigade and Campaspe Golf Club.
Planning is well under way for a 90th birthday gathering with family and about 15 of Jock’s friends.
Six years ago Jock was the recipient of a 65-year CFA service medal and he remains closely connected to modern day 1st Lieutenant Brett Kyne.
Interestingly, it was Kyne that led last week’s Anzac Day parade and was the recipient of the Spirit of Anzac award.
Best seat in the house: Jock Ferguson, who will turn 90 in June, in the World War II jeep that is 10 years younger than him. The long-time CFA volunteer was among a large contingent that marched in the parade.
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