Suggest you read today's Daily Telegraph page 15, of the "Sunday Magazine" - one of Quinty's health problems - one could say apart from investing heavily in MCO.
Although he fiecely believes in the company, and obviously speaking (maybe too much) in favour of it.
You also very much struck a chord with Quinty, a raw nerve in fact, when alluding to our forbears fighting for the right to speak out.
Quinty's best mate killed himself shortly after returning from Vietnam.
He also grew up with a Dad nicknamed "Killer" by his fellow Rats of Tobruk.
He was one of three sons who put his age up to enter WWII as #1 machine gunner, in the frontline trenches of Tobruk and El Alamein, then New Guinea.
On his return his father became "a street angel but home devil," on the gold card from 50 to 81. Quinty worked with him for virtually no $$$$ several years after leaving school at 15, then later like his Dad's best mate (#2 gunner's son) had to put him a way in a mental institution, vehemently hating his son upon his release ntil he died.
Quinty never knew a lot of about the inner workings of his Dad until his funeral, so couldn't take into account what his father sacrificed for "freedom of speech" among other things in this country.
The eulogy was from Joe Madelely OAM - see "Good Week-end" issues April 25-27, 2008 pages 1, 24 to 34, and more recently same Fairfax magazine April 22-24, 2011 page 10 "2 of Us" for a bit of background on Madeley.
Madeley's eulogy astonishingly revealed "Killer" was champion light heavyweight boxer when he joined the Australian Army 2/13 9th Division - the longest battalion to serve in Tobruk, and a top cricketer, footballer and wrestler, as well as protector in many Cairo fights for his amorous smaller mate Madeley.
He later trained the Riverina Heavyweight title holder Norm Anderson, Grefell, and prior to this received a Royal Humane Society Award for a failed rescue attempt at Kiakatoo Weir - neither the stranger who drowned nor Killer could swim. The latter again unbeknown to Quinty.
Quinty's son too was an Australian Champion Boxer in three fights (picture of him Lester Ellis, Johnny Famechon and Geoff Fenech receiving the belt).
But the third generation "Killer" was bribed by Quinty to quit the clutches of the late, great boxing promoter Bill Mawdy, who was shipping him over to the US - Quinty assumes probably to be found with a sharp stick in his arm dead in the gutter.
Quinty's son has hardly spoken to him since, he believes this relationship was virtually killed by Quinty's bribe and loss of his son's face with Quinty's scathing protective outburst at Mawdy.
Its probably the only real fight that Quinty has had, and did not involve the loss of life, but he thinks probably saved one.
Quinty is still haunted by his Dad mowing down many lives - one night burning out his beloved Vickers; and then captured German and Italian machine guns; then hand to hand bayonets, and side arm, in and out of the trenches.
Lives which could have tallied up near the thousands.
Incidentally his Dad finished the War topping a machine gunner's course somewhere in Victoria - competing the best against the rest.
"Killer" was battle worn by this stage, and fiercely rebelled at being told what he could and could not do, going AWOL out on the town, dragging his rifle in the dirt at parade etc., but got away with it. He never picked up a gun since, nor talked about war except to fellow Rats.
The alcohol took its toll though, in more ways than one. Quinty is just like his father, fiercely independent and these days will hardly be told what to do, by any orifice.
So there is your answer Aurofice - what a peculiar name?
I think you will see Quinty again, but I am advising him to quieten down; stick to his medication; and don't dwell on the past.
MCO Price at posting:
25.0¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
