Friday, June 19, 2009

Rough start for gentleman Pat


More from Austrailia-YOU could have knocked me over with a feather when Pat Comben told me about his rough start to life.

It was hard to believe the 59-year-old ordained Anglican deacon and Clarence Valley councillor began life as a delinquent.

Cr Comben comes across as one of the Valley's most intelligent and articulate councillors.

The former Brit has had a remarkable and varied career, but things could very easily have gone the other way.

“I came to Australia by myself as a 16-year-old with no education,” he said.

“My home life wasn't good. I'd set fire to a school and I'd run away from home. I was seen as a delinquent.

“I tried to board a ship at South Hampton but they found I didn't have a ticket and the police were called to take me home.”

When the young man arrived home with his police escort, his father bashed him.

When his father had finished, he told his son that if he really wanted to leave he would buy his ticket. That was an offer the restless young man could not refuse.

I was pleased to hear that years later he and his parents reconciled.

More here-

http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/story/2009/06/19/rough-start-for-gentleman-pat-council/

2 comments:

The Traffic Goddess said...

Never judge a book by its cover! Every child needs a chance to blossom into a successful and respectable human being.

www.kidsactivitiesin.com

Petering Time said...

Comben's still a delinquent - only now he sets fire to local government democracy in the Clarence Valley and leaves schools alone.