On Friday morning I flew down to Melbourne with my son Jack for some meetings.
We had a chat with David White – David is the Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia and has worked with disadvantaged kids for 25 years.
This is a guy who is so devoted to helping kids through a tough time – a really inspiring guy.
Then it was time for lunch with a guy called Craig Harper (right) and his mate Johnny.
Craig is a very well known motivational speaker, author, media guy and all round nice guy here in Australia.
And boy, Craig’s arms are big! Wow! Real big! (Note to Accounts: Invoice Craig for the mention of his arms he wanted me to do.)
My son Jack and I rocked along, grabbed a bite to eat and had a chat.
We didn’t really talk about anything specific – much of the time was taken up by me telling Craig and Johnny just how funny I am (!) – but a chat with a couple of solid, positive guys like these is a terrific thing.
And not not just for me – my son Jack just sat back and took it all in and loved it.
The Benefit From Bike Riding
I see that a lot.
I see that when Jack (that’s him on the left having a Hot Chocolate during a bike ride break) and I go for a bike ride with a few of my (and now Jack’s) mates the benefit isn’t always in the bike ride.
The benefit comes from 15 year old Jack sitting down with positive, caring people and having a normal chat about normal things and being treated as an equal.
The benefit that a young fellow like Jack gets from sitting down and spending an hour or so chatting with good people like David, Craig and Johnny (and Kate, whom you’re about to hear about) is immeasurable.
Dinner With Kate Leeming
Jack and I finished off Friday with dinner with our new friend – the amazing, wonderful and just plain lovely Kate Leeming – that’s Kate with Jack on the right.
In 1993, Kate became the first woman in history to cycle across the ‘New Russia’, when she organised, led and completed the five-month, 13,400 kilometre Trans-Siberian Cycle Expedition in aid of the children of Chernobyl.
Ten years later, she conceived and organised the Great Australian Cycle Expedition (GRACE), a 25,000 kilometre journey around Australia.
(You can buy Kate’s excellent book about the ride here.)
Aside from being an excellent selector of restaurants, great company and one of the world’s most amazing ultra-endurance cyclists, Kate is also one of the very best real (also called Royal) tennis players in the world – she’s ranked # 3 in the world.
As I said to Kate, “Aside from me, you’re the nicest person I know.”
Kate was far too polite to say “You idiot!” That’s how nice she is.
4 wonderful and positive people all doing wonderful and positive things. Not a bad day for a 15 yo boy (and his old man) to enjoy.
Cheers
Brendon
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Great story, Brendon. I hope a few other folk read this and get the real message. All this Internet and Business and Making Money and being Important is worthy to some exstent, but we have a much higher calling than the dollar sign … to train up or children, hopefully to do better than we did … and I don’t mean to be lazier and richer … by _that_ measure too many seem to be doing well.
A famous story I once heard involved a quite well-to-do and “important” man and his son taking the son’t bike to bits in the driveway one afternoon … cleaning, greasing the bearings, re-assembling, etc. A neighbor walked by … and then hours later walked by again and noticed the pair were still at it, greasy hands and all.
The friend said to “Mr. Big”, “My goodness, you’re so busy, wouldn’t it be smarter to take the bike to the bicycle shop and have them overhaul it”?
The rich man said to his friend, “You seem to be mistaken. I am not rebuilding a bicycle, I’m building up a son”.
Brenden and Jack!
So glad you get to spend such meaningful time together! Very good to see… er hear… ok… read?
Jack, I am sure meeting you enriched all four of these people as much as meeting them did you!
By the way, no matter what Uncle Craig says… your dad is funny!
You’ll appreciate his subtle humor later.
Nice dedication to the role of father Brenden… Jack is the richer for having you (and vice versa, I imagine!)
Have a great day fellas!
Jack, you are adorable!
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Tami