tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68804608991758671892024-02-07T18:10:25.496-08:00Recollections by John Clarkea collection of stories and memories from John ClarkeJohn Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-72571106233969162062011-03-25T05:17:00.000-07:002011-03-25T05:17:31.344-07:00The Young Constable and "mobile phones"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>MOBILE PHONES'</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">A friend was flying to Sydney and had contacted the YC to catch up. The YC organised to pick up his friend at the airport and catch up, he left his mobile number just in case he got held up at his new job, on the ground at a well known Australian airport.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The friend arrived at the airport and waited out the front as planned, but the YC was nowhere to be seen. After half an hour the friend rang the mobile number the YC had left, however, the phone rang out. The friend became puzzled, he thought maybe something was wrong. He tried another two times but the YC's mobile phone rang out.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The friend thought he would wait a bit longer. About an hour later, the YC drove up in his car and the friend got in. He said, "what happened." The YC said, "Yeah I did have to work a bit longer." the friend told the YC he had rung the mobile number the YC had given him a number of times and it had rung out. The YC said, "Yeah, I wouldn't have heard it, we wear headphones on the Tarmac."</span></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-501235731164632502011-03-25T05:00:00.000-07:002011-03-25T05:00:23.769-07:00The Young Constable "The Inspector's Hat"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">THE INSPECTORS HAT</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">There was an Inspector at Tweed Heads who didn't mind going out on the street when something was happening.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The Police had received a call of an armed robbery up Bay Street and the Inspector decided to go up and check it out. He went up in one car and the YC went with another police officer in another.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">On reaching the scene the Inspector realised he had mislaid his new Inspector's hat with all the silver braid but was able to find a Constable's hat in the rear seat which he put on and went for a foot patrol to try and ascertain which way the offender went.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The YC and the other officer did the same thing in the next street, the YC couldn't find his hat either, so he put the only hat on that he could find, of course it was the one with the silver braid.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The Inspector and the YC met on the corner of Bay and Steward Streets and an immediate hat-swap took place with the Inspector saying "aw shit you got my hat....next thing you will be after my rank".</span></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-36587668308365566712011-03-25T04:55:00.000-07:002011-03-25T04:55:07.406-07:00The Young Constable "The Triathlon"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>THE TRIATHLON</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">In may 1994, the YC had been conned into doing the swim leg for a team in a small triathlon, held in Tweed Heads. Now, for a small triathlon, this race had well over 500 entrants. Because of this large number, they divided the entrants into equal groups and sent each group off with a five minute break between them.. All team competitors were to start in the first group.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Prior to the race, the YC had been told by 2 other team members that the race starged at 7am sharp, and to be there well beforehand, YC, the team swimmer being in the first group, had to get there early to get the team off to a good start.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Well, the big day arrived. There were hundreds of people standing around the starting area. The other team members had located each other amongst the throng of people, but neither of them had seen or heard from the YC. About 6.55am, when all the athletes were gathering by the water's edge ready for the start, one of the team members though he'd better do something quickly. He approached one of the race announcers and asked could he put an announcement over the PA. Soon the PA blared "If the YC is in the area, could you please come to the announcers area, your team is looking for you." There was no response.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">At 6.59am, one of the team members noticed the YC strolling casually across the grass towards them. "Where have you been?" the team members cried. "What's wrong? It hasn't started yet." the YC replied. "It's about to start now. Get down there!!" they yelled. The YC stripped off and made his way to the start area.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">It's hard to imagine, but for some reason, the YC got his wires crossed. He was under the impression that it didn't matter which group you started in, as long as you swam the full course and didn't cut any corners or cheat. So, that's exactly what he did. He went with the fourth group, which started at 7.20am, swam the full course, before exiting the water and tagging another of his team members for the cycle leg. What the YC didn't realise was that because all team competitors were supposed to start at 7am, and he didn't start until 7.20am, the computerised timing system didn't take this into account and automatically added 20 minutes onto his swim time and ultimately, the team's time. Nonetheless, the team soldiered on and eventually finished the race, but because of their early handicap, they were beaten convincingly by a Year 8 girls team from Tweed River High School and a pensioner's team from South Tweed Bowls Club!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The Yc has since retired from triathlon competition.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-23966889410738702552011-03-25T04:42:00.000-07:002011-03-25T04:42:06.718-07:00The case of the Dead Red Setter* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
It was Good Friday night and a few years back. The two police officers got a call that a dog had been skittled righ on the middle of the Barneys Point Bridge at Chinderah.<br />
<br />
They attended and sure enough a very large red setter had been bowled over fair in the middle of the bridge by about a hundred cars. It was fairly mangled and not a pretty sight.<br />
<br />
Well, of course the correct thing to do was call the Council out to remove the remains, but both of these fellows being fairly resourceful came up with the idea of quickly disposing of the corpse by throwing it straight over the railing into the Tweed River.<br />
<br />
They waited for a break in the traffic. It happened, and they dashed onto the bridge, one on each end and heaved that dog straight over the railing. Instead of a splash there was a loud crash and terrified screams came from below. A quick look over the railing revealed two blood spattered terrified bream fisherman in a tinny with the deceased red setter between them.<br />
<br />
The police officers made a very quick exit to the south and took off.<br />
<br />
I still hear fishermen talking about the myster of the red setter in the Kingscliff Pub but haven't let on...this one is better left as a mystery.John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-63486021321479313452011-03-25T04:37:00.000-07:002011-03-25T04:37:33.767-07:00The Young Constable and "The Wedding Ring"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">THE WEDDING RING</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The YC got married and was given a very nice wedding ring.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Touch footballers when playing are required to remove their jewellery for safety reasons. They usually place their jewellery with their clothing at the side of the field.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Not the YC...he put his down his underpants, duly played the match and was observed afterwards - hours afterwards, desperately searching the field.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The ring has never been found.</span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-19908785390495192722011-03-25T04:35:00.000-07:002011-03-25T04:35:53.376-07:00The Young Constable and "Lord Howe Island"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>LORD HOW ISLAND</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The YC and his girlfriend went to Lord Howe Island for a week.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">After having arrived they decided to get married.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">They did - that day - on Lord Howe Island.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">They YC gave his Mum and Dad a ring to let them know the good news ... I never really heard what the reaction was.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Before they left the Island a cyclone came to the Island and blew the roof off their accommodation.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">A few months later the YC and his wife went, guess where, yess, Papeete, Tahiti, got back one day before the atomic bomb riots. Guess we should have warned the authorities.</span></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-42656339987693867692011-03-25T04:32:00.000-07:002011-03-25T04:32:37.250-07:00The Young Constable and "Sunglasses in the USA"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i></i></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">SUNGLASSES IN THE USA</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The YC visited the USA in 1995.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">He was on a domestic flight at the airport seated in a small Boeing when he realised that he had left his expensive Bolles in the terminal.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Unfastening his seatbelt and standing up, he made the announcement "I've left my sunnies in the terminal".</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Amazingly, perhaps because he was an Australian, who knows? The plane stopped taxing to the runway and arrangements were made for the sunnies to be immediately returned to the YC who carried on his trip quite normally, despite the amazement and curiosity of his fellow American passengers.</div><div><br />
</div></i></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-67367874044093860312011-03-25T04:29:00.000-07:002011-03-25T04:29:50.510-07:00The Young Constable and "Savings on Electricity"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>SAVINGS ON ELECTRICITY</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC was living on Greenbank in a duplex. His neighbour was an 86 year old gentleman who lived alone, suffered a little from Alzheimers, long suffering from the ways of the world and a really nice old bloke.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC went on a weeks holiday and to save power he turned off the electricity at the power box. Only trouble was that he turned off the wrong electiricity and off he went for a week. The old gentleman after living three days in the dark decided to ring the electric authority who arrived and turned on his power, but not before all his frozen foods were ruined.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC on his return, made good the frozen foods for the old gentleman, the YC was forgiven and their relationship continued at a high level - after all, anybody could make a mistake like that!</i></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-4486255169791415192011-03-25T04:26:00.000-07:002011-03-25T04:26:50.488-07:00The Young Constable and "The Touch Football Match"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>THE TOUCH FOOTBALL MATCH</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC's car was in dock which was a fairly frequent happening. He was in the touch football team and required to play a late evening match.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>He got in touch with another Police Officer friend for a lift. Well this was OK by him, but he only trouble was that his wife was working that night and he had the two kids who he needed to get home to bed immediately after the match.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The match was duly complete and the Police Officer friend who was giving the YC a ride home, bundled the kids into the car and had a look around for the YC who he spotted on the edge of the field talking to a group of people. He called out "Right to go mate?" and the YC replied "only be a minute".</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Ten minutes later the Police Officer is beginning to get a little anxious and gave the YC another hoy. The YC broke off his conversation and hopped into his friend's car and away they went.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>After a couple of minutes, the YC's friend (the other officer) said, "who was that back at the field?" The YC replied, "Oh that was my Dad and Mum and sister, I don't see them much - they are just up for the day and head back tonight on the plane"......</i></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-84146439374424473992011-03-25T04:21:00.000-07:002011-03-25T04:21:42.171-07:00The Young Constable and "The Police Portable Radio"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>THE POLICE PORTABLE RADIO</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC is a very able and talented photographer.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>One night, whilst on night work he wanted to take some snaps of the sunrise over the Pacific from Duranbah Beach, so he took off in the Police Truck to the beach, placed the Police Portable Radio in his camera bag in case he got a call and proceeded to the water line and obtained his snaps of the sunrise.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>He knocked off shortly after and went home to bed.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Some time later, he became involved in deep dreams where he was being called by radio VKG. "VKG to Tweed 1, VKG to Tweed 1".</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC woke in a cold sweat and couldn't believe it when he continued to hear the radio call. A quick search of the camera bag revealed the Portable Radio still there, receiving and in good working condition.</i></span></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-37401310521539843382011-03-25T04:18:00.000-07:002011-03-25T04:18:41.003-07:00The Young Constable and "TheGuthega Ski Break Incident"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>THE GUTHEGA SKI BREAK INCIDENT by Tracey A.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>A couple of years ago the YC went skiing down to the Guthega Ski resort in NSW, Australia. The YC was staying with a friend, along with myself. The particular time of year we went skiing was at the end of the ski season.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC, being a very good skier, well and truly above average, started at the top of the mountain. His prior intention with me was to meet me at the bottom of the mountain, just near the chairlift which is also near the resort. They UC started skiing down the mountain like a professional. He was parallelling and doing fancy moves down the mountain. At the bottom, the YC was going a bit too fast, in fact he was travelling at high speed. Due to the high speed, he had to take evasive action to slow down so that he would not knock over a large number of people coming out of the resort and getting on the chairlift.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC performed a brilliant sideway skid stop, sending up a curtain of brown sloppy white melted snow and slush all over a handful of people as they walked out of the resort. This slush and brown snow sprayed people making their beautiful expensive ski suits brown and wet. The YC then continued to ski to the chairlift where he was waiting for me to reach the bottom of the mountain. These poor people that he has unintentionally drenched with slush and snow did not even get an apology, from him anyway, I had to apologise for him as I got to the bottom of the mountain. These people were swearing and cursing the YC, as you could well imagine.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC just had no idea of what had happened and he was quite devastated when I put him right.</i></span></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-54016793663228173832011-03-25T04:12:00.000-07:002011-03-25T04:12:09.786-07:00The Young Constable and "The Wedding Suit"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)\<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>THE WEDDING SUIT</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC was invited to a pretty important wedding in Sydney. Only problem was that he didn't have a dinner suit. Made a few enquiries, checked out another Police Officer friend, who had, a couple of years earlier bought a magnificent dinner suit for $700.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Well, the YC borrowed the suit and really stood out at the wedding, the women though he was great and the men were all jealous.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Some weeks later the Police Officer needed his dinner suit and approached the YC regarding its' return. The YC advised him that it was in the dry cleaners and gave him the money and ticket to get it back out.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Well, the Police Officer got it out in plenty of time for his function and on the night threw on the gladrages only to find that the bottoms of the trousers were six inches higher than his shoe tops...yes, the YC had lifted the hems, done a bit of amateur home sewing with lumpy cotton and a blunt needle and of course, by getting them dry cleaned had placed a permanent crease in the bottom of the trousers.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Luckily, the Police Officer's wife is handy with thread and needle...he did make the function and no one noticed anything untoward...or at least, no one said anything. </i></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-41471964726148774012011-03-25T04:06:00.000-07:002011-03-25T04:06:55.054-07:00The Young Constable and "The Amphibious Caged Truck"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>THE AMPHIBIOUS CAGED TRUCK</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>One cold winters nigh, the YC was the driver of the Tweed Heads Caged Truck with another Police Officer as the observer. They were patrolling in a n industrial area about midnight when a job came over in a neighbouring suburb. The YC explained to the other Officer that there was no need to go the long way around (via public streets) as he knew a short cut, so he proceeded to drive along a dirt road off the beaten track. About a kilometre in they came across a puddle which took up the entire width of the track. After some discussion, the YC started driving through the puddle as he assured the other Officer that cars frequently used this route.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Half way across the puddle, the car started sinking, and continued sinking until the wheels and completely disappeared and water was halfway up to the doors. After numerous attempts to drive the car out, the Kingscliff car was called for to pull them out. The YC, not wanting to dirty his new Police pants or boots, took his boots and socks off and rolled his pants up well above his knees. He waded through the muddy water and hooked the winch up to the front of the truck. He got back in his truck and was winched out much to the laughter of the other police officer.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>When safely on the other side, he rolled down his pants and noticed a small mud spot on a pants leg, so the YC walked back to the water, wet a handkerchief and proceeded to rub off the mud. However the water he used was dirtier than the mud and the YC finished with both pants legs a brown-blue colour. He became a bit upset at this, as the other three Police were laughing and joking, so he opened the door of the truck to abuse them, and out fell one of his boots into the mud.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The next day, a brand new pair of pants and boots were found in the station dumpmaster.</i></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-61658610237087515382011-03-25T04:00:00.000-07:002011-03-25T04:00:34.475-07:00The Young Constable and "The Hospital Escapee"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - - </i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>THE HOSPITAL ESCAPEE</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC and another police officer were guarding a murderer in the hospital. The murderer was pretty ill and the fact that he had a guard was only that it was required as he was in custody. I mean no one really thought that he would escape.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>About 1am, cold winters night, the police officers both nodded off, but something awoke the YC and he glanced over to the prisoner's bed - guess what - he was gone.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC immediately leapt into action. He woke the other police officer and raced down the stairs into the street just in time to see a ghostly figure in the mist in the distance apparently running at a fast speed and dressed in white in a hospital sheet.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Well the YC is a pretty fine athlete and he took off after the figure. At the same time, the other Police officer appeared in the street with outstretched revolver yelling "will I shoot!?" .. the YC screamed out "Don't shoot, don't shoot", as he was between the police officer and the offender.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC kept running and after several hundred yards realised the escapee was outrunning him, which had him pretty puzzled. He also noticed that the escapee had an unusual running style.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>At this point by a stroke of luck, a cab came past which the YC hailed and jumped aboard and then rapidly caught up to the escapee who it was now realised, was making good his escape on a stolen wardsman's bicycle. A bike stop was carried out and the escapee/patient rapidly returned to hospital where he was kept under close and alert guard until his hospital court appearance the next morning.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>No occurrence pad entry was made on this occasion.</i></span></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-90617813439226995342011-03-25T03:53:00.000-07:002011-03-25T03:53:47.502-07:00The Young Constable and "The Bruce Jones Affair"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - - </i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>THE BRUCE JONES AFFAIR</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC purchased a first floor unit at Greenbank. It was really nice. Bruce Jones was transferred to Tweed Heads and was stuck for accommodation at the time, so the YC offered Bruce accommodation at his unit. This worked pretty well for a time....</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The Yc had to go to court in Sydney for a couple of days and whilst he was absent, Bruce had a problem with the toilet in the unit. It got blocked up.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Bruce contacted a plumber from Banora Point and got him to come and check it out. The plumber arrived and tried everything he knew - he tried the hose down the pan, he tried suction things and long bendy rubber things, but nothing worked. He eventually went downstairs and saw the German lady underneath and asked permission to remove a wall panel in her lounge room so he could get to the sewerage pipe from the above unit. She allowed him to do so, and this particular plumber being a stickler for correct work practices, removed the wall panel, unscrewed the pipe and it being knock off time, left things in this state and went upstairs and advised Bruce not to use the toilet and that he would be back next day to complete the repairs.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>As luck would have it, the YC came home unexpectedly on the plane late that night, on coming home, went straight into the toilet where he performed a major action, flushed the toilet which resulted in a very smelly and unpleasant mess cascading out of the wall into the flat below onto the lounge room carpet, quite unbeknown to the YC.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>A minute later, thee was a heavy pounding on his front door and his irate German lady neighbour was at the door screaming 'you should be shot! you should be shot!'....The YC was completely nonplussed until he was taken by the elbow and confronted with the 'evidence'.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Bruce left the unit shortly after, to enter his own accommodation.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The matter had a squel when the plumber concerned was not paid for his work (and rightly so), but he subpoenaed the YC's wages through the Commissioner of Police, but eventually the matter was settled out of court.</i></span></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-65665398329086114422011-03-25T03:46:00.000-07:002011-03-25T03:46:31.815-07:00The Young Constable "The Water Bed"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>THE WATER BED</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC was living in Tweed Gardens in a 25 story highrise on the edge of the Tweed-Coolangatta Golf Course. He was living with two other female police officers, on the eleventh floor of the building which was brand new at the time and quite luxurious.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC purchased a beautiful water bed, lugged it up to the 11th floor and rigged it up in his bedroom, got the hose in, connected it up and turned it on full boar. The instructions said it should be filled in an hour or so, so the YC made his lunch and settled down in front of the TV.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Several hours later, the YC awoke with a terrible feeling that he had forgotten something. He raced into the bedroom of which most fo the space was taken up by what appeard to be a large hot air balloon. Water in the bedroom was ankle deep.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC immediately began to siphon water our the bedroom window with the hose, but unfortunately the streams of water went through the windows of the units below. The water on the floor of the bedroom seeped through eleven floors to the basement ruining eleven floors of bedroom carpets.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC made the lists on the insurance company's annual report that year and soon after, left Tweed Gardens to the girls.</i></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-39447122638637920952011-03-25T03:40:00.000-07:002011-03-25T03:40:50.989-07:00The Young Constable "The Case of the Tuberculosised Chimpanzee"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>THE CASE OF THE TUBERCULOSISED CHIMPANZEE</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC and I were working the day shift at Tweed Heads. At the time, the Developers in the area had purchased Coolangeatta Zoo for a development (now called The Grove - a poor housing area).</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The Zoo owners had a pretty torrid time disposing of all the animals and had sold them to zoos and parks all over Australia and they had come to the point where the developers wanted to move in and start work. Unfortunately, some animals were still on hand. A number of these were kangaroos which they fixed up by having a shooting match and buried them all in a big pit which of course hit the headlines. The next problem they had were a huge husband and wife chimpanzee family who were too vicious for anyone to buy. So suddenly this story started up that these chimpanzees were suspected of having tuberculosis and therefore had to be destroyed. Well, after the kangaroo shooting match you can understand that the animal liberationalists weren't too happy about this and we got some calls at the Station that Police should be on hand to ensure that the executions were carried out in a humane manner.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Well, the YC and I rolled up quite prepared to do our duty. The zoo owners were there. The vet was there and there were we. The vet had decided to do the job he would first use an anaesthetic blow pipe to knowck the chimps out and then give them the fatal injection prior to a post mortem to check out the TB side of things. The veet blew the gun at the female chimp and she began to stagger about before lapsing into sleep, but the male, seeing this, began to beat his chest, bare his teeth, shake the cage bars and generally became completely enraged.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC, being the kind animal lover that he is, approached the chimp and spoke words of calm. The chimp completely misunderstood, hacked and coughed and cleared his throat and with the utmost accuracy let the YC have it in both eyes and face. The YC staggered back, hands to his face and quite shocked. Slowly it dawned - a member of the Force had been spat in the face by a tubercolosised chimpanzee. </i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Weeks of blood tests and injections ensured but luckily no TB reactions were evident and the YC was given a clean bill of health. The poor chimp was destroyed and the post mortem revealed no sign of TB. A convenient way of getting rid of something inconvenient. So sad </i></span></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-43821822336084687732011-03-25T03:32:00.000-07:002011-03-25T03:32:31.700-07:00The Young Constable "The Matter of a Visa"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - -<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - - </i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>THE MATTER OF A VISA</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC was looking forward excitedly to his forthcoming trip to Hawaii with his Sergeant mate. The YC was fairly naive when it came to overseas trips and his travel companion continually contacted him to make sure he had forgotten nothing and that he had packed everything he required for the trip - surfboards, toothbrush, documents, etc. The YC assured his friend that everything was right and that there would be no problems.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The big day came and the YC duly arrived at Sydney International Airport with Paul and they prepared to board the big Boeing and entered the lineup at the incoming gates.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>On arriving at the turnstiles, his travel companion produced his travel papers, his visa, his receipt for travel tax and duly passed through the gates. The YC was next and handed over his travel folder. The puzzled attendant went through his passport and said, "Where is your Visa?" The YC calmly pulled his wallet out and produced his Police Credit Union Visa Card....The attendant had a bit of a story to tell his family that night.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC's travelling companion took off for Honolulu with his luggage and the YC's, but unfortuntely the YC remained grounded in Sydney for two more days whilst he made urgent requrests and numerous visits to the American Embassy until he obtained his Visa for travel to Honolulu and two days later he was able to jump the Boeing and eventually arrived in Hawaii.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>On arrival at Honolulu Airport he was observed by Customs to be a little strange as most passengers that arrive there do have some form of luggage and he was taken to the little Customs Room, interviewed and strip searched.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>We believe that the YC then enjoyed a wonderful holiday once he was united with his travel companion and his luggage.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-39369314418022845222011-03-25T03:23:00.000-07:002011-03-25T03:23:53.471-07:00The Young Constable's "Commendation"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
- - - -<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>- - - - -</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>THE YOUNG CONSTABLE'S COMMENDATION</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC was on duty in the station at Kings Cross. A weirdo came in and wanted to give himself up. The YC told him where to go. The bloke came back three times and got told each time.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The last time one of the other Police thought he looked familiar and looked across the foyer to the most wanted posters, and yes, you guessed it - here is the bloke featured as MOST WANTED.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC and his mate took off up Darlinghurst road, spotted the bloke who had by this time changed his mind about giving himself up and the YC eventually ran him down tackled and arrested him.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The YC was eventually was commended for his brilliant Police work in recognising the wanted man and making the arrest.</i></span></div>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-30780016148329880582011-03-25T03:15:00.000-07:002011-03-25T03:19:37.484-07:00The Young Constable "The German Restaurant Debacle"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
<br />
- - - -<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">- - - - - -</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">THE GERMAN RESTAURANT DEBACLE</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The young constable and his friend were travelling in France. They were going skiing in the French Alps and were en route in the train. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Unfortunately, they both dropped off to sleep and woke up in Germany.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">They woke up cold and hungry and got off the train and looked around the small German town til they found the local restaurant. Well the menu was in German which neither spoke so the YC ran his eyes down the list and spotted "Steake Tartare". He thought he would be pretty right with this dish as anybody would and pointed to it to the waiter.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">It didn't take long as no cooking was involved and the waiter proudly produced the "steake tartare" which is sliced lean raw steak mixed with raw egg. Well YC didn't take too kindly to this and demanded that it be cooked. The waiter reported to the chef who thought someone was having a lend of him and came out into the restaurant with his chopper.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Eventually it was sorted out and the YC had a cooked steak. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The boys eventually made their way back into France and found the French Alps.</span>John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-27730532545388826242011-03-25T03:06:00.000-07:002011-03-25T03:20:13.911-07:00The Young Constable "bagels and tuna"* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i></i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable is one of the Century's innocents. He has no malice in him. He goes about his business in a quiet and private way, it's just that life's circumstances and strange and weird incidents have a habit of catching up with him. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>The young constable's father was amazed when he reached the age of 21, and why this is so, we just don't know except we must think that similar stories to those related here must have been occurring during the YC's lifetime prior to him reaching his majority. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Whenever I'm absent for a time one of the first questions I need answered on my return is whether any further Young Constable stories have occurred in my absence. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>These are some of the stories about the Young Constable that come to mind. I have written them down as they are too good to allow them to be forgotten.</i></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>John Clarke</i></span></div></i></span></div><br />
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Bagels and Tuna<br />
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The young constable had just come back from snow skiing in the USA and was told about a great little shop in Salt Lake City that makes beautiful bagels.<br />
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He called in and ordered a ham and cheese bagel and a cuppacino.<br />
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when the girl came with the order he noticed a cup of something on the tray next to the bagel.<br />
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He asked the girl what it was, thinking it was a side order with the bagel - she told him "a cup of tuna". Wonder what she said to her mates out the back when she took his order to the kitchen!!John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-64670603975664913042011-03-25T02:55:00.000-07:002011-03-25T02:55:11.132-07:00PIGS* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
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In the early 80's, my mate Frank at the local caravan park got onto a pig farmer who was prepared to sell him dressed pigs (for eating) if he could purchase a few.<br />
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He contacted me and I checked out the guys at Tweed Heads Police Sation. Eight of us wanted pigs and Frank was duly informed.<br />
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The pigs arrived and Frank rang me. We got the Police Truck and went down to the caravan park and loaded the eight pigs into the truck and returned to the Twee Heads Police Station only to find the Superintendent was there doing an inspection.<br />
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We had to put an "accident" on the telephone pad and were 'tied up' the rest of the afternoon with our load of pigs until we got a coded radio call when the Super left, then we returned and duly unloaded our cargo.John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-89114721185348261122011-03-25T02:51:00.000-07:002011-03-25T02:51:33.688-07:00CATCHING GALAHS IN TOTTENHAM* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
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There was a big gum tree on a friend's property and a pair of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galah">galahs</a> were nesting in a big old dead branch.<br />
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We waited til the chicks were fairly mature and Rex and I went out in his new work utility (Rex was an electrician). We put the extension lader up in the back of the landrover and I climbed up with a chainsaw to enlarge the nest hole so I could get my hand in.<br />
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As I started to cut, the branch suddenly snapped and fell fair on top of Rex's Ute's cabin, pushing it down in the centre to bonnet level.<br />
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We never got those chicks who were further in the tree. We came home with our backs and necks bent down under the smashed roof to the amusement of the Tottenham population.John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-78682820940240892902011-03-25T02:44:00.000-07:002011-03-25T02:44:02.042-07:00CATCHING GOANNAS* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
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In Tottenham (a town in outback NSW Australia) my mate Rex and I, used to catch goannas and sent them to Sydney by train to Petersham.<br />
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The local barman at the Pub was an Irish backpacker called Patrick who had great interest in wildlife.<br />
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One day, he called at the station with a big slash in his arm that had just been stitched up (16 stitches). He had tried to catch a huge goanna for us and it bit him and ran up a large dead tree.<br />
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He was keen to take us out to this tree about 14 miles out of town.<br />
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We got to this paddock and there was this 7 foot goanna up the top of the tree.<br />
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The farmer came past in his tractor and when told the situation he gave the tree a push with the tractor and down it came. After a chase we managed to lassoo the goanna with our special rigid lassoo.<br />
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He measured just on 7 foot.<br />
Pat got 10 shillings for his effort, Rex and I got 7/6.John Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880460899175867189.post-11245916455869645792011-03-25T02:37:00.000-07:002011-03-25T02:38:50.795-07:00SHANGHAIS IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS* a collection of stories and memories, in no particular order, from the life and times of John Clarke, who served as a policeman in the Australian Police Force, a great practical joker, he also had a great affinity with people and wildlife, was a champion swimmer, snooker player, loved golf, still loves fishing and is also an artist. I hope you enjoy his recollections - cheers, karin (his daughter)<br />
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<i>This story is courtesty of my father's childhood friend, Neal. Thank you Neal, a very entertaining story!</i><br />
<i>After reading Dad's blog, Neal recalled the shanghai stories and sent this typewritten to him via snail mail.</i><br />
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As kids at Katoomba, we almost always carried catapaults (shanghais). It wasn't just a craze we went through. Shangais were considered long term necessary equipment. We felt rather naked without one stuffed in the back pocket and rocks stuffed inside pockets. They weren't the type you can buy these days (if you break the laws prohibiting dangerous weapons) which are made of steel and surgical rubber. Ours were made out of a forked branch of a tree, strips of rubber cut from car tubes, a piece of leather which was usually the tongue of an old show, and some pieces of copper wire.<br />
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We all had our own design preferences. Clarkey (John Clarke) reckoned that the longer the rubber, the raster the rock would fly. When the rubber was fully stretched out, Clarkey had both arms almost fully extended, a bit like a scarecrow. This made aiming difficult, although I must admit Clarkey was very accurate. Clarkey recently claimed he was able to hit a bird on the wing.<br />
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Sometimes we had a contest to see whose shanghai was the most powerful. We would on a given signal all shoot a stone as close as we could to exactly vertical and then wait for them to return. The owner of the one that landed last was the winner. Keeping track of the owner of each stone, and then avoiding the stones when they came hurtling back were both difficult. It was great fun.<br />
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One day, Pricey (Glyn Price) and I decided we would make the biggest and best of all shanghais. It would possibly fire half a house brick. We got a particularly big fork and cut some especially wide rubber. However it proved to be far too big and strong for one person to handle. We thought we could make it a 2 man operation. One could face the target with the fork held in front and braced against the shoulder while the other pulled back the rubber. Obviously the poor kid at the front was in serious danger so we gave up on the idea altogether. No heart some might say.<br />
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We used our shanghais for chasing wild parrots but we would walk along potting at just about anything just for the fun of it. We became excellent shots which such a lot of practice. Sometimes we broke the rules and a lot of other things. I remember one day we were walking home just on dusk and the street lights suddenly came on. I fired a quick shot toward one which was a long way down the road. I got such a shock when it shattered, we scattered in all directions.<br />
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There were lots of parrots at Katoomba, Mountain Lowrys (Crimson Rosellas), Kingies (King Parrots), my favourite the Gang Gangs and others. Our aim was to catch them to put in our aviaries. Our technique was pretty simple; walk to the berry trees etc., where we knew the birds would be, sneak up on them, shoot, and when they fell race up and grab them before they gained their senses. I think they fell mainly from shock as they always quickly recovered and we often got bitten. Being bitten was very painful but we no doubt deserved it. For kids all this was fantastic fun.<br />
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Most kids had aviaries. Once a person had one bird at home in a cage it would call others down and we could then trap them. We made automatic traps out of fruit boxes. I had about six Mountain Lowrys. One in particular was very tame and would come close when I walked up. I really loved those birds. However one morning I came out to find the door of the aviary open and the birds gone. It was probably far better that way.<br />
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Sometimes when we were chasing birds we ran out of rocks. Then we substituted. Acorns were popular but I remember Clarkey firing pennie s(coins) on one frustrating occasion.<br />
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The skill and thrill of making and using shanghais seems permanent, a bit like riding a bike. Clarkey was recently bemoaning the fact car tubes are now not made of latex so are not suitable. He has however found a substitute in surgical rubber. It seems most members of the group have passed the art and love of shanghais to their offspring. It is comforting to know it will not go to the grave with us.<br />
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I still have a shanghai in the garage, it needs new rubber. I think I'll fix it up and I'll give those bloody Minah birds a bit of hurry up!<br />
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NealJohn Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923537200802313517noreply@blogger.com0