Last night I mentioned that today is Melbourne Cup day. Tonight the race has been run and history been made. I wont go into details, instead I will tell you a little story about Melbourne Cup Day, 1987.A few months earlier I was going through a bad time and for reasons that didn't even make sense at the time, let alone 18 years later, I stood on the side of a road with $3 in my pocket, bugger all in the bank and stuck my thumb out. Within 24 hours I was in Brisbane.
The next day I was able to get unpaid employment as a volunteer in a local homeless men's centre. I had food, free staff accommodation and the time to look for a full time job. I loved the work I did and became great friends with many of the men. It was there I saw great hardship, human tragedy - and some of the most touching moments of kindness I have ever encountered.
Move forward to Late October.
The Melbourne Cup is a huge event here, talked about for days before the race. Many of the residents asked me who I thought would win. "Kensei" I told each of them. I rarely bet on a horse, maybe two bets a year if that, but ever since I was a kid I loved following the horses.
Sure enough, Kensei came home the winner and I had lots of thanks from a lot of grateful residents and salaried staff. One chap said to me, "You must have done well Mike", I told him that I didn't have a bet because I didn't have the money to do so. He looked at me in amazement and enquired, "why didn't you say something?" I just shrugged.
A few hours later, he approached me with a large yellow envelope. "Me and the boys had a whip round for ya mate - ya did us a favour, we do you one." The only ones who hadn't contributed were of course the salaried staff.
At that time, the salaried staff of that particular organization were some of the most corrupt sons of bitches I have ever encountered; the sort who were quite happy to take box loads of free clothes home to their families, (despite a ban on volunteer staff having any free clothing) and fill the trunk of their cars with food from the kitchen, so I was not surprised.
At Christmas, I will tell you another incident that shows a side of homeless men so many do not see or even consider.
Wherever you may be - be safe!
Photo: Our notorious "Millennium train" which is still not fully operational. Although the guy in the seat in front of me looks like me - it's not!
