Star News Group editor Garry Howe shares 10 things – or people – that inspire him. Tell us what – or who – inspires you.
1- The St Francis Xavier College Sticky Note Campaign
I remain moved by the student, or students, responsible for the Sticky Note locker campaign at St Francis Xavier College in 2013, after one of their cohort found things a bit too tough and took their own life. The sticky note message they plastered on to each locker was simple, but simply brilliant. The note told their fellow students: ‘You are important, and you are loved’. This remains the single most inspirational gesture I have come across in my 16 years in the Editor’s chair at Star.
2- Rick Crowe
I never cease to be impressed by my neighbor Rick Crowe, who became a quadriplegic when falling awkwardly on one of his own jumping castles at a mate’s buck’s party just before Christmas in 2012. I have never heard him once complain about his plight and he has handled the cards life has thrown to him with the aplomb of a casino croupier. “What’s the point of complaining,” he says. “That’s not going to get my legs back.” Rick has maintained his good humour and is not afraid to have a laugh at his own expense. He is currently learning to drive and just the other day missed a turn and ended up in someone’s yard just down the road. When a passer-by rushed over the help and inquire about his health, Rick said calmly: “Yeah, I’m okay, but I can’t feel my legs!”.
3- Honey Brown
Honey lost her ability to walk about 15 years ago when crushed by a cow while helping on the farm yet, like Rick, has risen above the disability. The Warragul mother of two teenagers has established herself as a best-selling and award-winning author and her sixth book, sensual thriller Six Degrees, will soon hit the shelves. She has received nation-wide publicity and acclaim and her portrait, by Gippsland artist Carolyn Henry, is on the way to Sydney for the Archibald Prize judging. Yet Honey remains as grounded and as humble as when we first met years ago – a beautiful person in every sense of the word.
4- Brad Waterhouse and the Maryknoll community
Back in April this year, 26 people lined up to have their heads shaved in an event organised by the close-knit community of Maryknoll in a show of support for one of its favourite sons – former CFA captain Brad Waterhouse – in his battle with cancer. The love and respect shown to Brad that day reflected the love and respect he had shown his home town over many years. It engendered a real sense of community. There were lots of laughs and a few tears, yet people left the recreation reserve that afternoon walking a bit taller – and many with a lot less hair.
5- The Anzacs
I had the privilege early this year of reading every Gazette produced in the period of the Great War between 1914 and 1918 and was able to gain a glimpse of life (and sacrifice) made by the local community back then. What a fascinating journey that was. Scores of patriotic young men left the area in search of adventure and many did not return. Of those who did, many were not the same. A century on, their blind leap of faith and willingness to courageously run head-long into obvious slaughter would appear to many to be a bit misguided, but that does not make what they did any less admirable. We must never forget to acknowledge their sacrifice.
6- Challenge Family Violence
Kudos to the 100-or-so local men who put their hand up under the Challenge Family Violence banner to take responsibility and help to change culture and behaviour within their spheres of influence to help curb the scourge of family violence and violence against women. Even more inspirational are the increasing number of affected women who are courageously declaring that ‘enough is enough’. More specifically, all our hearts go out to Peter Blackwood and his family and friends in admiration for the work they are doing to ensure a legacy remains for their murdered wife, mother and friend Kylie Blackwood.
7- Windermere and Graeme Moore’s orphanage challenge
Two trips to Cambodia under the Windermere Adventure Challenge banner provided plenty of inspirational moments – none more so than one steamy afternoon on the 2013 trip involving Cardinia’s clown councillor Graeme Moore. The Yakkerboo Festival stalwart, who loves to dress up for a carnival, had a room full of laughing and smiling orphans engaged in an interactive ditty, then within minutes collapsed through a combination of illness and exhaustion. These Challenges were designed to raise money for kids and families in need locally through Windermere, but we also got to leave our mark in a small way at an orphanage set up for children with HIV. Both trips attracted a magnificent group of giving and caring people and left many fond memories.
8- Dorothy Thomas
Being Editor of a respected family-owned media company has to be one of the best gigs going around but, like every job, it has its moments. Every time I think I’m having a bad day at work, I think of Dot. She sat in the hot seat for 19 years while also raising a small family, including one child with special needs. Husband Ian was a tireless worker and they made a formidable team and left a legacy that we constantly strive to live up to.
9- People like Neale Daniher and Chris McPherson
I always say you can judge a lot about the character of a person by the way they perform between when they resign and when they leave a job. The same goes with life in general – how people behave between a bad medical diagnosis and the sad result of that. Who has not been impressed by Neale Daniher’s recent efforts, spending his limited hours trying to raise awareness and find a cure for Motor Neurone Disease? Shepparton newspaper man Chris McPherson is cut with the same cloth. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer, he decided something needed to be done and organised the first Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch in his home town to raise money and awareness. Seven years on, there are now about a dozen similar events across Victoria and the Riverina, which have collectively raised over $1.6 million. Our first Casey-Cardinia lunch last year raised $53,000 and numbers for the second lunch locally on Friday 31 July have already exceeded last year.
10- Doc Doherty
I cannot imagine anyone who has aged more gracefully than Nar Nar Goon icon Bill ‘Doc’ Doherty. Now a couple of years into his ninth decade on Earth, Doc is no less engaging than he was in his so-called ‘prime’. He is a pleasure to be around – offering good advice, a great memory, a sharp wit, a healthy dose of humility and all this with a lot of good humour. He is widely respected and just great company.
Footnote: Apologies to my family – wife Gaylene and sons Josh, Brodie and Nik. They would have shied away from the list, but deserve to be in there somewhere. We have a great time together as a family unit and I am continually impressed by the way our three sons have developed into wonderful human beings and are tackling life head-on in their own ways.
Tell us what – or who – inspires you. Leave a comment or email dailyeditor@starnewsgroup.com.au
