This morning (Tuesday), I will be sharing my story on Conversations on ABC radio, about how I've tried to keep living a simple, decent, honest life while the path I was walking dropped from under my feet.
To listen to my interview with Richard Fidler live online, or to subscribe to the Conversations podcast, go to www.abc.net.au/local/sites/conversations or if you want to go old school, just listen to the radio - tune into 702 AM from 11am-12pm tomorrow.
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Monday, 29 September 2014
Saturday, 27 September 2014
138-thoughts on a Swans GF pumping
I get really angry if my football team loses a game because they didn't try, but if they try as hard as they could but get beaten by a better team, I can live with that, and that's exactly what happened to the Sydney Swans today.
The Swans got pumped by Hawthorn but not because they showed a lack of effort or heart, on the contrary, the Swans were SO good in the back half of the season they looked as though they were expecting to win, but they came up against a juggernaught in Hawthorn, and they didn't have he answes to stop what was going on.
There aren't a lot of good things to come out of today for a Swans fan, but if there is one it's that their lesser lights will be stinging. The Swans were embarrassed today, but it was their kids who didn't show up-their stars weren't too bad, but the Swans live and die on how well their young blokes play, and today they just didn't turn up. So in 2015, those kids whose pride was severely dented today will be back with a vengeance, so look out AFL next season-there are going to be some talented footballers with a point to prove.
To back up my emotional statement, I've put $100 on the Swans to win the flag next year, so bring it on.
The Swans got pumped by Hawthorn but not because they showed a lack of effort or heart, on the contrary, the Swans were SO good in the back half of the season they looked as though they were expecting to win, but they came up against a juggernaught in Hawthorn, and they didn't have he answes to stop what was going on.
There aren't a lot of good things to come out of today for a Swans fan, but if there is one it's that their lesser lights will be stinging. The Swans were embarrassed today, but it was their kids who didn't show up-their stars weren't too bad, but the Swans live and die on how well their young blokes play, and today they just didn't turn up. So in 2015, those kids whose pride was severely dented today will be back with a vengeance, so look out AFL next season-there are going to be some talented footballers with a point to prove.
To back up my emotional statement, I've put $100 on the Swans to win the flag next year, so bring it on.
Thursday, 25 September 2014
137-Not all quiet on the Kokoda front
A neighbor recently asked me if the trip to Kokoda was still going ahead in October next year, and I'm pleased to announce it's still all guns blazing.
If the trip perked your interest when the idea was initially promoted, now is the time to turn your thoughts into action and book. Group numbers are limited and once capacity is reached, no more bookings are accepted. So have a look at the details below, and if you are keen, join John "The Hound Dog" Rakic and I and put your deposit down, and if you decide to join us, please email me at barnaby@barnabyhowarth.com.au so I can see what our crew will look like.
com) with your full name and preferred postal address and a Booking Confirmation letter will be emailed to you, once the letter comes through, put your deposit down ($500) to reserve your spot.
If the trip perked your interest when the idea was initially promoted, now is the time to turn your thoughts into action and book. Group numbers are limited and once capacity is reached, no more bookings are accepted. So have a look at the details below, and if you are keen, join John "The Hound Dog" Rakic and I and put your deposit down, and if you decide to join us, please email me at barnaby@barnabyhowarth.com.au so I can see what our crew will look like.
Kokoda To Owers Corner
- Led by: Australian Led
Tuesday, 23 September 2014
136-SPECIAL AFL GF EDITION-Penno in The Age
Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh: Two little Demons who morphed into mighty Swans
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High-end talent: Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh with Swans coach John Longmire. Photo: Getty Images
The Pennant Hills football club has no club rooms; two years ago they had no home ground. At the weekend they lost their second grand final in a row.
What they can boast, however, are bragging rights over the two Sydney-raised products, Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh, who Swans fans hope will lead their club to premiership glory on Saturday.
Established in 1972, the Demons are not among the bigger clubs in Sydney's AFL competition. They turn over $150,000 a year, roughly the wage of an AFL rookie plus match payments, and consider it a good year financially if they can break even.
Unlike their rivals, they do not pay any of their players. That they were able to field three winners of the Phelan Medal – the competition's equivalent of the Brownlow – at the weekend highlights how much the players love playing for the club.
"What it shows is even a community club can produce AFL-standard footballers in what is probably the hardest market in Australia," said club president Phil Hare.
The club has produced some of the high-end talent in the AFL. Lenny Hayes, the St Kilda warrior who retired this year after 297 games, cut his teeth at the club. So too McVeigh's brother Mark, who played 232 games for Essendon.
The club has 150 players across their three senior teams and up to 400 juniors. Their junior ranks have swelled significantly from when McVeigh and Jack were at the club.
"When I was president we had 86 players and the nearest soccer club had 90 teams," the club's former juniors president Jon Simpson said.
The club had to move from its old home ground because it was not considered big enough to play Premier Division footy. "It was on the side of a hill. It couldn't be made any bigger," club secretary Bob Wray said.
The club is lobbying the local council for money to help build club rooms and hope their submission to Hornsby Shire Council will be strengthened by the deeds of Jack and McVeigh.
McVeigh was always destined for big things. So big were the raps on the future No.5 draft pick he was seldom seen after his under-14 days as he progressed towards the big league.
Simpson can remember a representative game where the "skinny kid with the fuzzy Afro hair" dominated. "He was an absolute standout player. He had immaculate skills and he kept getting the ball," Simpson said. "He played half-forward, kicked five goals by half-time. The game was over, so the coach took him off because he was so far ahead of every other player."
Jack was not as naturally gifted as McVeigh, Simpson said, but had intangible qualities that showed he had a big future.
Simpson recalls an under-14 game where Jack, the son of rugby league great Garry Jack, was badly injured in a crunching tackle. Blinking back tears, Jack "got up, stood his man and dived on the ball again". His mother then took him to hospital to treat what was later diagnosed as broken ribs.
"We said at the time we never saw that quality in kids – but he had that courage and leadership," Simpson said. "He always had the work ethic of dad and the rest of his family have got."
Jack and McVeigh are still connected to the club. There are even whispers Hayes and McVeigh will line up for the Demons after their AFL days are over.
The Demons get a kick whenever Jack returns to the club, such as for an Auskick clinic, when he was a favourite among the youngsters. "They were hugging him. He listened to every story from every parent and kid," Simpson said.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/kieren-jack-and-jarrad-mcveigh-two-little-demons-who-morphed-into-mighty-swans-20140922-10khet.html#ixzz3E6w35dzs
Friday, 19 September 2014
135-Bidding starts for Penno jumper signed by the Jacks
$1000 has been raised on the PHAFC jumper signed by Garry, Kieren & Brandon Jack, and the auction has been retweeted by Kieren who will lead the Swans into an AFL preliminary final tonight, so it's time to give yourself a chance to secure this piece of history.
To place your bid, go to www.32auctions.com/BarnabyHowarth, create an account (click on "LOGIN" which will take you to the "create account" button) and have a crack. Or if you couldn't be bothered creating an account, grab a ticket to Give it a crack at the Sydney Comedy store in November at http://sa2.seatadvisor.com/sab o/servlets/TicketRequest?event Id=100729193&presenter=AUCENTU RY&venue=&event=&version= where the sale of the jumper will be finalised.
Thursday, 18 September 2014
134-Barnaby Howarth live on Conversations on ABC radio
With a booking to be a live guest on conversations with Richard Fidler on ABC radio on September 30, I feel like all the quotes I've lived by are all coming together, none more so than "sometimes s#*t just works out for you."
When I started my speaking business, there was the temptation to rush it through to start making money, but "if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well," so I sat back and waited until it was perfect before I started rolling it out. Now I feel like the rolling stone that gathers no moss - tomorrow I'm speaking at the launch of Diabetes NSW new marketing strategy launch, next month I'm speaking at my old High School, I'm on ABC radio soon, then next year I'm speaking for the Murray business Network in Echuca, and I've been asked if I can talk at a conference in Melbourne with 1300 guests. Then in November, I'll be "going to the chapel and we're, gonna get married."
The day after our wedding, we will be going on our honeymoon, and as Big Kev said "I'm excited"
My future wife, Angela and I will be "making hey while the sun shines." We've decided we want to see as much of the world as possible, and to fund our travels we will be delivering keynote speeches around the world. Rather than sit back and analyse the “why mes” and “what ifs” of life, we just want to get on with enjoying it. We will be speaking to audiences about how facing our struggles with a smile on our faces has helped us appreciate the simple things in life.
To listen to my interview with Richard Fidler live online, or to subscribe to the Conversations podcast, go to www.abc.net.au/local/sites/conversations or if you want to go old school, just listen to the radio - tune into 702 AM from 11am-12pm on Tuesday, September 30th.
It seems fitting to close with my favorite quote: "Rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, but there comes a time when you just have to get over it and go and play in the puddles."
Wednesday, 17 September 2014
133 - Garry, Kieren & Brandon Jack signed PHAFC jumper
A Pennant Hills AFC jumper, signed by former Australian Rugby League fullback Garry Jack, and 2 of his sons Kieren (Sydney Swans co-captain) & Brandon (Sydney Swans player), highlighting the Pennant Hills football clubs reputation as "The family club" - Kieren and Brandon both played for Pennant Hills before being signed by the Swans.
I am auctioning this jumper to raise funds for the Pennant Hills Demons AFL club to say thanks for helping me reach my 100th game after thinking I'd been forced into an early retirement when I was bashed and had a stroke when I was 4 games short.
The sale of this jumper will be finalised at Give it a crack on Wednesday November 12 at 8.30 at the Sydney Comedy store. The jumper can be picked up from the comedy store on the night, or other arrangements can be made.
To give yourself a chance of securing this 100% unique piece of Australian sports memoribilia, place you bid at www.32auctions.com/BarnabyHowarth
I am auctioning this jumper to raise funds for the Pennant Hills Demons AFL club to say thanks for helping me reach my 100th game after thinking I'd been forced into an early retirement when I was bashed and had a stroke when I was 4 games short.
The sale of this jumper will be finalised at Give it a crack on Wednesday November 12 at 8.30 at the Sydney Comedy store. The jumper can be picked up from the comedy store on the night, or other arrangements can be made.
To give yourself a chance of securing this 100% unique piece of Australian sports memoribilia, place you bid at www.32auctions.com/BarnabyHowarth
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
132-The Goods Factor wins the Howarth and Phelan medals
At the Sydney AFL best and fairest dinner last night, I was honored to present a former team mate, Alex Goodall with the Howarth medal, then was filled with pride as he backed it up by winning the Phelan medal for the best player in the competition.
Alex was just a kid when he started playing first grade for Pennant Hills, he was this stocky little unit whose skills were rough around the edges, but during games he would throw himself into situations that I thought were far too dangerous to even consider. After spending the next few seasons picking "Cheese" up from off the bottom of packs, he earned himself the trait that good footballers seem to share...reliability. The gap between Alex's best game and his worst game is tiny - every time he runs out, you know what you're going to get from him.
So congratulations the Goods Factor for the Phelan, and I couldn't think of anyone I would rather have presented the Howarth medal to.
Alex was just a kid when he started playing first grade for Pennant Hills, he was this stocky little unit whose skills were rough around the edges, but during games he would throw himself into situations that I thought were far too dangerous to even consider. After spending the next few seasons picking "Cheese" up from off the bottom of packs, he earned himself the trait that good footballers seem to share...reliability. The gap between Alex's best game and his worst game is tiny - every time he runs out, you know what you're going to get from him.
So congratulations the Goods Factor for the Phelan, and I couldn't think of anyone I would rather have presented the Howarth medal to.
Monday, 15 September 2014
131 - Baptism as a Coptic Christian
Driving with my FIANCE to get baptised yesterday, Angela told me that in the Coptic church, a baptism is at least as significant as a wedding. I think I had underestimated how meaningful a step being taken in as a member of the church was, but after coming out of the baptismal waters, it hit me all at once.
In a beautiful, intimate ceremony, the differences in the appreciation of the significance of the situation was obvious - Angela's mother came up to me after I was baptised and told me I was looking at Father Matthew while he was reading a prayer with such reverence that I "looked like an Angel." While my nephew, Adam Junior, said to his Dad, after I came out of the waters in a white robe that had become see through, ""I can see Uncle Barns' undies."
If you were deeply into this blog and hanging to see where it ends, I apologise - I need to go and sent out some wedding invitations (bit excited just quietly!)
In a beautiful, intimate ceremony, the differences in the appreciation of the significance of the situation was obvious - Angela's mother came up to me after I was baptised and told me I was looking at Father Matthew while he was reading a prayer with such reverence that I "looked like an Angel." While my nephew, Adam Junior, said to his Dad, after I came out of the waters in a white robe that had become see through, ""I can see Uncle Barns' undies."
If you were deeply into this blog and hanging to see where it ends, I apologise - I need to go and sent out some wedding invitations (bit excited just quietly!)
Tuesday, 9 September 2014
130 - "Davo's Bloody Donors" bring happy to the world
My friend Edwina Dighton's father, Davo was diagnosed with a blood cancer, MDS, but rather than sitting around feeling sorry for herself, Edwina starting making the world around her better...
Edwina started "Davo's Bloody Donors", a group that regularly gets together at the Chatswood Red Cross and gives blood to help people like Davo who desperately need it. A friend from high school, the wife of a very good friend and former AFL team mate, and the MC of Give it a Crack last year, I've always thought Ed's devotion to helping her father during his battle with MDS was impressive, but today I saw this video she has made...:
http://vimeo.com/105537856
...and my opinion has gone up immeasurably.
Ed didn't want to change the world when she started "Davo's Bloody Donors" (which you can follow on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/DavosBloodyDonors), she just wanted to help her sick Dad, but she proved to me after watching this video, that you don't need to aim for huge things to change the world, small acts of kindness can make yours, or the people around you's lives better.
Edwina started "Davo's Bloody Donors", a group that regularly gets together at the Chatswood Red Cross and gives blood to help people like Davo who desperately need it. A friend from high school, the wife of a very good friend and former AFL team mate, and the MC of Give it a Crack last year, I've always thought Ed's devotion to helping her father during his battle with MDS was impressive, but today I saw this video she has made...:
http://vimeo.com/105537856
...and my opinion has gone up immeasurably.
Ed didn't want to change the world when she started "Davo's Bloody Donors" (which you can follow on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/DavosBloodyDonors), she just wanted to help her sick Dad, but she proved to me after watching this video, that you don't need to aim for huge things to change the world, small acts of kindness can make yours, or the people around you's lives better.
Thursday, 4 September 2014
129-The Wedding ball starts rolling-Barnaby's baptism
My Pharonic princess of a fiance is of Egyptian culture, and is a Coptic Christian, so if we want to be married in her church I need to get baptised, and next weekend, that's exactly what I'll be doing.
The Priest at Angela's Church, Father Matthew is a sensational bloke who I was friends with long before talk of joining the church, so I feel like I'll be in good hands when I get baptised at St George Coptic church next Sunday after mass.
This baptism is the first official part of Angela and I dedicating our lives to each other, so I couldn't be happier - the two of us have almost identical views on the world - we love our families, we try and be compassionate to others, we think there is good in every situation no matter how grim things look, and we both think I'm right every time, so the two of us being part of the Coptic Church is a beautiful and natural step.
We can't wait to be married as Coptic Christians.
The Priest at Angela's Church, Father Matthew is a sensational bloke who I was friends with long before talk of joining the church, so I feel like I'll be in good hands when I get baptised at St George Coptic church next Sunday after mass.
This baptism is the first official part of Angela and I dedicating our lives to each other, so I couldn't be happier - the two of us have almost identical views on the world - we love our families, we try and be compassionate to others, we think there is good in every situation no matter how grim things look, and we both think I'm right every time, so the two of us being part of the Coptic Church is a beautiful and natural step.
We can't wait to be married as Coptic Christians.
Tuesday, 2 September 2014
128-Give "give it a crack" a crack
Angela and I have selected the song we'll be swing dancing to, a Pennant Hills AFL jumper signed by former Demons now current Sydney Swans, Kieren and Brandon Jack, and their Father and former Australian Rugby League fullback Garry is at the framers, the comedians are hilarifying their jokes, and tickets are being sold for Give it a Crack 2014.
Six tickets have been sold online already, and given the event isn't until November 12, I'm getting pretty excited about the night. The fact that 75% of the profit will go to the Pennant Hills AFL Club means that confidence is high, I repeat...confidence is high.
If you'd like to see what the event is all about, go to: https://drive.google.com/file/ d/0B1_ 6n4pYVnDNZUFJN0dEaE5aVTdiYnZkT FExNU5mVDhQRXkw/edit?usp= sharing,and if you want to see Angela and I embarrass ourselves with our swing dance routine, if you want to support the Pennant Hills AFL Club, if you want the chance to bid for an AFL jumper signed by Kieren, Brandon and Garry Jack, if you want to hear what my BIG surprise is, or if you just want to laugh, come along to Give it a Crack at Sydney's Comedy Store on November 12. Tickets are available at: http://sa2.seatadvisor.com/ sabo/servlets/TicketRequest; jsessionid= 4967D57F8E1AC69B8E3C3D6B53E537 11?eventId=100729193& presenter=AUCENTURY&venue=& event=&version=
I hope to see you there.
Barnaby
Six tickets have been sold online already, and given the event isn't until November 12, I'm getting pretty excited about the night. The fact that 75% of the profit will go to the Pennant Hills AFL Club means that confidence is high, I repeat...confidence is high.
If you'd like to see what the event is all about, go to: https://drive.google.com/file/
I hope to see you there.
Barnaby
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