MY 80th BIRTHDAY SPEECH

This event took place in Melbourne on December 8th, 2023. 

“Thank you for coming to my 80th Birthday Dinner. 

Thanks Ken and Sue for hosting this marvellous night.  You are all my Top 20 people (don’t tell the others!) and so here are my top 10 moments and I emphasise, they are not in any preferential order! 

1.Ken getting married to Sue. 

2. Bob coming out of the surf in Durban, South Africa and a blonde girl runs up to him and says” Please teach me to surf!” 

3.Martin: I missed his superb wedding speech, but I gifted him some of my records! 4. Ray for his boxing left jab!

5. Visiting Colleen and Ron in their Currumbin Creek unit in happier days.

6.Graham and Sue McNamara: Too many good memories to recall! 

7. Chris and Anne Weir: Selecting me to MC at their wedding. Friends for life.

8. John Stefanou: Chasing one another down the Thredbo slopes.

9. Kirsty and Megan: Thanks for making me your favourite Uncle!

10. Jordana: Superwoman! She can do anything...so get out of her way!” 

MY TOP 6 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS:

1. Meeting Simon Coke by chance in London’s Hyde Park the day before he flew to New York. 

2. A year later I walked into a Salt Lake City Bank and Simon was coming out! He almost collapsed with shock and had to get a treatment!

3. Watching Mum and Dad when I walked through the back door. They thought I was in Afghanistan! 

4. Sailing away from Perth on my way to explore South Africa. 

5.Standing in court in London and found “Guilty”. Given 2 years. I appealed and won...without a Lawyer! Anyone else with a police record? 

6. Travelling to Morocco 4 times with 4 different women...Is this some kind of record?