Okanui! What is that?! Godzilla’s bride? Frankenstein, when he dropped a hammer on his toe?
No! An Okanui is a 1950s-era hollow timber surfboard, made in the hundreds in Australia. Ken Holloway had one, rescued from Maroubra SLSC. But it wasn’t quite a surfboard. It was more a box of firewood, some long interesting curvy bits and a painting of a swordfish.
When his friend Rod Gorvin brought it along to the Men’s Shed, we could see it would be a great challenge. The Guru of the Grain Timber Technician Stephen Dodd, and us chappies had a good look, made comforting and encouraging sounds, and told Ken and Rod – no problem.
Yes, it took a while. At one stage we had 10 blokes and all the shed’s clamps and straps doing the glue-up processes. Yes, sourcing NZ kauri and Australian red cedar to make up repair parts was tricky. Plus, realising that some of the bits in the box weren’t from the original surfboard!
But look at that beautiful creation now, Ken on the left, Stephen on the right. And the swordfish, tall and proud in the sun.
Sometimes we may feel we’re in bits. Or maybe we feel stuck in a box, unloved, just junk. Let me tell you, I’ve felt like that. But the Men’s Shed is one place where you can get out of that box, and stand tall in the sun again. Okanui!
199a Parkes St; Mon-Wed 9am-3pm. 0478 892 485; helensburghmensshed.org.au
