Hello,
Two of the people from this month are no longer with us, one left a long time ago the other recently.
Mr Swaffield was not an extrovert who needed to be the centre of attention. He was a man who quietly went about his business and gained universal respect by doing so.
I never met Artie Barnes but always wondered who A.C. Barnes was when I looked at the name of Kruttschitt Oval’s grandstand.
I loved his story, a man who came to Mount Isa for an opportunity and built a life.
Len Evans did the same but built his life after he left. However the city gave him his greatest gift; “his darling Trish.”
Feature Story
Miss Mount Isa and her Sommelier
He was a wannabe Golf Pro and she was a girl from Kent. They grew up in similar circumstances but found each other on the other side of the world. Most great love stories begin with the couple having nothing but each other and theirs is just that.
This month's stories
Mr Swaffield
My technical deficiencies mean there are no photos but the words to me are important.
Mr Swaffield was a man I respected enormously and when he passed away recently I wanted to show it. Using the words of his family I hope you get a picture of the man.
Artie Barnes
One bank said no — she was a woman. They named the grandstand at Kruttschnitt Oval after him.
Five Minute Fillup Podcasts
This week’s listen: Because I Say So
Because I say so is not a reason to make someone do it and is a phrase that is often said to cover a deficiency of the person saying it. Honesty is more important than being perfect and usually leads to a relationship built on respect
A Final Note
I loved talking with Trish Evans about how her and Len met. I love a good love story but I also enjoyed her take on Mount Isa and the time she spent here.
She may have been all over the world but I could hear the memories coming back as she recounted her time here. The best times in our life are usually when we have nothing but each other, whether that be the love of our life or surrounded by friends.
It is the people we meet along the way that dictate how rich our life is, not the money or possessions we accumulate.
"The world isn't as bad as the news makes it. There are good people everywhere — you just have to know where to look."
Until next time,
James
Stories of people, place and perseverance