Thanks O Sung Wu,

That was an amazing generation, wasn't it ? Maybe born before or during or just after the First World War, then a brief boom, then the Depression, then the Second World War - and then worked until their pension, or like your dad, much later. Bloody heroes.

But I'll still nominate the Elliotts. Just wonderful people.

Joe

Loudmouth: But I'll still nominate the Elliotts. Just wonderful people.

My problem with these people & those like them is, why couldn't they have done the same work for Aboriginals or the Homeless in Australia.

Some friends of mine went off to be Evangelists on some remote Island. I asked why they weren't down under the Bridge (in Townsville) preaching to the people living under there. No explanation.

No Money in it. When the Island people die, of introduced diseases, they will all their possessions to the Church.

G'day Jayb,

Good point. But I was watching an SBS program last night about a group in Ethiopia and it seemed that, although they were obviously in what we would call poverty, they were managing. When the outside world really hits them, maybe it will be a different story. What they had in worldly goods, compared to most Indigenous people, even back in 1972, was bugger-all.

It's easy to confuse squalor with poverty. Back in 1972, it wasn't hard for any able-bodied person to find work if they anted it, and for them to raise a family on a standard wage. If people wanted to chuck all that and hit the grog and live under a bridge, then that was their right - and the outcome of their own decisions.

People can throw themselves on the mercy of strangers or the State, OR they can battle through their troubles and do whatever is needed to get on their feet. How many times have we heard of people reaching the top of their calling from very humble backgrounds ? Alan Rickman, Julie Andrews, Michael Caine, Belinda Blethyn, to name some ? Paul Robeson, George Washington Carver, Dorothy Maynor, Harold Blair. Wonderful people who drove through adversity to build better lives for others.

I'd still nominate the Elliotts.

Joe

I'm reading about some incredible role models here
and I'm so glad that we're having this discussion.
Everyone has a story to tell. And they're all worth
telling.

When I was in hospital recently I met some awesome
people. In re-hab in the Peter James Centre I shared
a room with three other people. The lady in the bed next
to me was 90 years old, single, and also had
had a very bad fall and was in a bad condition (also
shattered leg and shoulder like myself). She was an
inspiration, so positive, game for any exercise and
never gave up. She made me laugh and persevere.
Her attitude made such a difference to our room. She
kept telling all of us - "If I can do it at my age,
you certainly can do it!"

Then I also remember the day - when we were all rather down.
So to cheer us up - we
had a Chinese male nurse who brought in a radio and
started to play the hit-tunes of the Bee Gees for us.

Later he switched to Chubby Checker, and other popular
tunes like "Obla Dee, Obla Dah - Life Goes On!"

Before you knew it
our mood picked up, we started to sing, other nurses
came into our ward, and they began dancing.
Everyone else from other wards thought we were having
a party and they asked us the next day in physio what
the occasion was for our party.

Sometimes it only takes a small gesture to make a
remarkable change - and like ripples the effects can be
amazing - especially when the mood is catching!

Foxy: When I was in hospital recently.

I hope you are doing well. Yes the attitude of people there can help a tremendously.

My report on my stay at Allamanda.

I was out on the third day, now recovery. The swelling in my neck has mostly all gone down & I'm just about back to as normal as one can get. The only pain I have now is from the bloody sticking plaster. Cages between C4/C5/C6, a plate & 6 screws. I'm about 20 mm taller.

Even some of the pain has gone out of my Lower Back. He said that the nerves were so twisted up in all the Spurs & the collapsed Vertebra that I would have eventually lost the use of my arms.

The Left leg is going the same way. I'll have the Lower back done later this year. My missus said, "I sure am one tough old fart." I turned 70 two weeks ago. I am now officially, "Old Fart." ;-)

Dear Jay,

I know whst you mean about age.

I never felt old prior to my accident -
and suddenly - I realised I'm not so young any
more. However, I hope that you keep on doing
well. God Bless and I wish you All The Best.