This was the first time I [Gerard] had met Rev. Oake a fine pleasant charming spry gentleman for sure and he shook hands with and hugged everyone. The Rev. flew up from Gander with Wilson Hoffe President of the Park and the Rev.'s son Dana flew in from Ontario. Only press with us for the full day was CBC Halifax with Colleen Jones and a cameraman. Colleen and the Rev. hit it off immediately. Besides the CBC's main camera they also had 2 go-pros on the aircraft. All this by the CBC was condensed down to about 2½ minutes and was shown Monday [June 23 2014] at various times during the day on CBC Newsworld, it was also shown locally in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador during the supper hour.
Also the Skydiving School's divemaster had a go-pro strapped to his wrist and a 2nd school jumper also had a go-pro. The videos from the school will belong to the Park.
Photos courtesy of Gerard McCarthy, Mary (Power) MacDonald, Colleen Jones of CBC Halifax and Atlantic School of Skydiving ...
Rev. Oake at the Skydiving School
Courtesy of Gerard McCarthy
Rev. Oake with Colleen Jones CBC Halifax
Courtesy of Gerard McCarthy
Rev. Oake with Wilson Hoffe the Park's Committee Chair
Courtesy of Gerard McCarthy
Rev. Oake with Gander supporter Mary (Power) MacDonald
Courtesy of Mary (Power) MacDonald
Rev. Oake with Gander supporters Mary (Power) MacDonald and Gerard McCarthy the Park's web administrator
Courtesy of Mary (Power) MacDonald
Rev. Oake with the School's Dave (R) suited up as the skies have cleared
Courtesy of Atlantic School of Skydiving
Some last minute instructions
Courtesy of Gerard McCarthy
And they're off ... it took 30 minutes to reach their altitude of 10,000ft.
Courtesy of Gerard McCarthy
Rev. Oake and Dave getting close
Courtesy of Gerard McCarthy
Rev. Oake and Dave ready to land
Courtesy of Atlantic School of Skydiving
Safely on the ground
Courtesy of Colleen Jones and CBC Halifax
All over!
Courtesy of Gerard McCarthy
Rev. Oake and School's Dave (L) discussing the Rev.'s next jump on his 100th birthday LOL!
Courtesy of Gerard McCarthy
Rev. Oake telling his wife Myrtle home in Gander all about his jump
Courtesy of Atlantic School of Skydiving
Rev. Oake proudly displaying his Canadian Sport Parachuting Association's First Jump Certificate
Courtesy of Colleen Jones and CBC Halifax
Rev. Oake proudly displaying his Canadian Sport Parachuting Association's First Jump Certificate
Courtesy of Atlantic School of Skydiving
Rev. Oake with his son Dana after the jump
Courtesy of Atlantic School of Skydiving
This is my take on Rev. Oake's jump ... the Park Committee will publish a more formal update so stay tuned!
Gerard McCarthy, Web Administrator / June 24, 2014
NOTE*** Donations in honour of Rev. Oake may be made by cheque or money order to: Gander Heritage Memorial Park, c/o Joy Janes, 8 Bachman Place, Gander, NL A1V 1R8. Please indicate your donation is to sponsor Rev. Oake. If you make your donation through the website by Credit Card, please follow-up with an email message to Joy to indicate that you have done so at: rajanes@nf.sympatico.ca. This way we will ensure these donations are accredited to Rev. Oake.
NOTE*** Your comments are welcomed!
However, all comments will be queued for review before being published and name=anonymous will be deleted unless your name is included at the end of your comment! This is to prevent spam, etc.
Before you click Publish your Comment please click on Name/URL and enter your full name. Don't forget the scrambled words - this is so automated spams cannot be dumped here!
Thank you. Gerard
Oh, what a time it was! Saturday, November 24th, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion hosted a Seniors Pot Luck Dinner and Dance with all proceeds going to the Gander Heritage Memorial Park. Admission to the event was a donation to the Park and even those who could not attend sent along a donation. There were more than 60 people in attendance and the hot and cold entrees were absolutely fantastic and the desserts were divine! Dancing and listening music was provided free-of-charge by the band Six-Pack (unusual name as there were eight members in the group). They played non-stop for 2 hours and the dance floor was just swinging!
