The Risk of Launching

My Dad taught me to follow the instructions Jesus gave to Peter on the beach in Galilee about fishing. ‘Push your boat out into the deep and throw your net on the other side.’ It’s been an operating principle in my life for decades. In the past couple of months, I’ve been launching my book Tell Me Another out into the unknown feeling probably a bit like Peter, that this is a rather risky strategy. Fortunately, the Master of seas has been in control of the enterprise. 

​You’ll see from the photos a number of friends have kindly given me platforms to launch from. In Sydney, Dr Ted Boyce and the Pacific Hills School Centre of Excellence team threw themselves into a day of storytelling training and then an evening promotion featuring my mentor Dr Stuart Piggin and by video link, Mark Mc Crindle, Karl and Jane Faase and Colin Buchanan.
 
Experienced broadcasters Chris and Katrina Roe won a hearing for me in the South Wagga Anglican Church, where they’ve found a spiritual home. It was fun teaming up with family for the presentation. I was surprised and encouraged by a whole contingent of old Bourkites who emerged out of the woodwork to lend support.
 
Arriving at the Back O’ Bourke Exhibition Centre was a homecoming really and a chance to thank the community for the opportunities I’d been given as a historian and storyteller. Speaking of which, the talented Andrew Hull, Ian Cole, Nerida Cuddy and Jen Greentree made the night rich with stories, poetry and music.
 
After these launches, the haul of fish hopefully will be a school of storytellers covering Australia with good-news stories by every means at their disposal. I’m indebted to the crew who lent a hand in all these places. A team of friends makes launching easy.