Vale Mick Owen
Posted on: Saturday, May 19, 2012
I didn’t know Mick Owen, but I reckon he would have made his neck of the woods an interesting place. If he found something offensive, he’d whip out a post-it note and pen and make a comment. A typical one – “You are parked illegally in a disabled parking space, wanker.” Mick died earlier this month, aged 62, and wrote his own funeral notice for the Illawarra Mercury… Here’s part of it:
I’m dead … I am not asleep, departed or at rest … No, I’m just dead. At least, I hope that I’m dead because I am to be cremated. Relatives and friends are invited to attend my funeral … (But remember, nobody likes a hypocrite. If you couldn’t be bothered during my life, don’t bother now.) I want no flowers and I want no prayers. If you feel that a gesture is needed, smile at a dog. Dogs smile all the time.
No, didn’t know Mick, but I’ll think of him next time I smile at a dog.
A fine man died on Sunday. A few weeks shy of his 87th birthday, Don Ritchie passed away in St Vincent’s Hospital, surrounded by his wife, Moya, three daughters and four grandchildren. For what he gave to a number people Don received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006, he and Moya were named Woollahra Council’s Citizens of the Year in 2010 and, last year, Don received the Local Hero Award for Australia by the National Australia Day Council.
If Don saw anyone contemplating that desperate leap to the unforgiving rocks below, he would approach them, palms up with a smile, and ask, “Is there something I could do to help you?” Apart from the gift of care and a smile, he also took many home for a cup of tea or breakfast and a chat… and his real gift tallies in at around 160 lives saved. As Don would say, “… never underestimate the power of a kind word and a smile.”
It’s May 14 and English comedian, Eric Morecambe, was born John Eric Bartholomew on this day in 1926 – he took his stage name from the town where he was born. During his career he had a friendly rivalry with entertainer Des O’Connor. When Morecambe dropped a massive heart attack at age 42, O’Connor told his audience to pray for Morecambe as he was fighting for his life. When told, Morecambe’s response was, “Tell him those six or seven people made all the difference.”
As well as the travel info, there will be a blog that will be have two daily posts – in the morning, a quirky, informative and funny On This Day looking at history events, birthdays, and people who died on that particular day… striving for a healthy balance of accuracy and stupidity… and, in the afternoon, more random postings. Each day will have a ‘theme’. There’s Monday Moments, Tuesday Travel, Wednesday WTF, Thursday’s Thoughts, Feline Friday and, on Saturday and Sunday, the Week that Was and the Weekly What’s On.
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