Living Legend Encounter
BY: TIM SHEEHAN
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This Silver Community Link edition is on the topic of sustainability, which suits me fine because I had a close encounter with one of Australia's most "sustainable" personalities and I have been busting to tell as many people as possible.
In November of 2009 I had the very good fortune to be standing on an escalator. Standing on an escalator is not of itself a remarkable experience. People stand on escalators all the time and so long as you don't fall over or get a toe stuck in the grate it is pretty hum-drum. What transforms a humble escalator ride from an everyday experience into an experience that is worthy of a newsletter is who happens to be standing beside you on the escalator. The person standing beside me was an Australian living legend and one of my personal heroes - James Bartholomew Cummings: Otherwise known as Cups King Bart Cummings.
I am sure that Bart will remember his encounter with me by my sparkling conversation. Here is a recap on the conversation - without the embellishments that I added for all my mates when I recounted the story over a few beers later that day.
Tim jumps onto escalator and notices person in front is a great Australian. Tim has always thought Cups King is a genius (no doubt inspired by the fact that I always struggle to back a winner and I find an easy way to go is to just have a bet on any horse trained by Mr. Cummings). Tim decides - don't be a pussy cat - say "hello".
Tim: "Hello Bart, my name is Tim. Congratulations on all your recent success." (Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate etc, etc)
Bart: "Thank you. It is a hot day isn't it." (Bart is humouring me. Treating me like a person! How lucky am I! He is a good bloke.)
Tim: "Yes it is Bart." (Fascinating point Tim. You could take over from Michael Parkinson with a style like this.)Bart: "I could use a couple of winners." (This gives an insight into the genius's character - insatiable appetite for success.)
Tim: "Not half as much as me Bart." (True story! I am an ordinary punter.)
Bart: "Have a good day." (Getting near bottom of escalator.)
Tim: "Thanks Bart. Best of luck in the Melbourne Cup." (Escalator ride ends. Tim has a great story for all his mates - a great story that is after I embellish substantially. Example of one embellishment: Bart says to Tim - "Hey, you seem like a dynamic and enthralling personality, why don't you come down to the stables one morning to swap interesting yarns. You can tell fascinating stories about body corporate life and I can show you around. Maybe we can race a horse together?" - Sadly nothing like that happened.)
I can prattle on for pages on why Bart is a living legend and worthy of recognition by all Australians and not only those with an interest in horse racing. Unlike my pathetic conversation with Bart, he has a sparkling wit, and never stops delivering one liners. One famous story is a conversation with a health inspector going through his South Australian stables. The health inspector said "Mr. Cummings, you have too many flies in your stable", to which Bart responds "Well, can you tell me how many I am supposed to have?" Then there is the answer to an interviewers question "What is your secret to being a great horse trainer?" to which Bart answers "Fast horses".
I am happy to call Bart one of my heroes. I use the word "hero" deliberately because what I admire about Bart is not his uncanny ability to get a horse fit. That ability is a gift from God and I don't think it can be repeated or emulated. That is not heroic. What is heroic is his attitude to adversity and we all can emulate that.
What gives him heroic status in Tim Sheehan's world is 2 simple achievements, which probably come from the one heroic attitude. The first achievement is for a person to still be active in their chosen profession at the age of 82. That is awesome. If you are doing something that you love then why give it up. Passion for the job is sustainable. What is not sustainable for Australians is for people to retire early. We see plenty of these people in body corporate land. These are people who have plenty of positive stuff to offer, but nowhere to invest it other than their body corporate. Thank goodness we have these people otherwise we would really struggle to get a committee.
The second achievement I admire is for a person to be facing financial ruin at a time when other people are thinking of retiring, but to battle through. These achievements come from what could possibly be the simple attitude of just never giving up. I aspire to this attitude. Body corporate committees should aspire to this attitude. At SSKB we are passionate about body corporate management and we will never give up trying to improve and remain at the top of our profession.
P.S. Bart, if you ever read this article, I want you to know that I could still use a couple of winners. No doubt you still want a couple too.
