Being in my 92nd year I imagine that nobody would be surprised to hear me say that I often ponder on my eventual demise, on deity, and on the “after life”.
I have had a comprehensive Catholic education and have been a lifelong weekly church attendant. It never occurred to me to doubt the existence of a God.
I have to admit, though, that in the light of recent publicity of the Israeli, Gaza, and Ukraine atrocities. I have questioned myself “wherever is God?”
I have been in contact with many priests over a lifetime and the one who I hold in the highest regard seems to predominantly refer to “Your God”.
Rather than blaming God for my misfortunes, I like to acknowledge his assistance in my better fortunes.
And so, here goes.
I was born, the youngest of seven children, and mum died of cancer when I was 4 years old. My father was an alcoholic and his sisters determined that he couldn’t care for his family.
What was my future?
One of my aunts was ‘Mother Augustine’ in the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Ballarat. She held a position of authority. The Sisters ran a school/cum home for primary school boys – Villa Maria on the outskirts of Ballarat East. Villa was to become my home …. Off the record, I always regarded it as an ‘institution’.
And so, my primary education and living arrangements were covered. (My good fortune.)
On finishing my grade 8 and obtaining my Merit Certificate I escaped Villa.
The future?
My aunts decided that I was too small to enter the work force. At age 12 I weighed about 4 stone! I was a midget!
Staying with Dad’s sister Mary-Anne and husband Ned Caine I was only 6 or 7 miles from the Swanwater North State School where, at the school years end, I could sit for a Government Scholarship. So, another years’ schooling and I gained the scholarship and was eligible for a secondary education and accommodation at St. Patrick’s College, also in Ballarat.
How fortunate!
I spent four years at St. Pat’s and then returned to my Uncle Tom O’Shannessy’s farm, also in Swanwater. He scouted around a number of Stock and Station Agencies to see if he could obtain employment with for me. To no avail. Then on visiting St Arnaud he decided to call on the VPC (Victorian Producers Co-operative). The managing-director from Head Office happened to be in attendance on a routine visit. How convenient! He interviewed me and appointment me to the position of junior clerk at the VPC Benalla office.
I was blessed to obtain board at the home of Frank and Eileen Elliott in Benalla. I became acquainted with another boarder, Bill Keenan, whose girlfriend was Marg Hernan. Bill invited me out to Marg’s parents’ farm at Winton and after a short time, the Hernans virtually adopted me! Over a while I proposed the toasts at 21st birthdays of each of their seven children and acted as Santa at their Christmas celebrations for many years. I enjoyed a family environment which previously had been denied me.
Still boarding at Elliots’ in February 1951, I had an encounter with a bush fire. It was a very hot day; the fire bell was ringing; people running everywhere. I was not a member of the local fire brigade, but every available male was ‘on call’ that day. I joined with two farming brothers whose home was in the path of the fire. We drove to the face of the fire, a timber church beside us, dry paddocks all around. The fire intensified; the church caught alight and soon became a smouldering ruin; the fence posts were burning. The fire immersed us as we stood on the road in the shelter of the Ute. The fire roared overhead: we were unscathed! Miraculous!
I reached my 21st birthday in May 1953 while still boarding at the Elliots’. A friend arranged to meet me at St Joseph’s Hall on Saturday night to take me to a country dance. I arrived at the appointed time and to my amazement a band was playing; all my friends were there greeting me with birthday wishes. The Elliotts had arranged a surprise birthday for me! How wonderful!
Years go by; transfers in my job; I find myself in Wodonga, working my butt off till 11.30 pm Monday to Thursday; normal hours Friday. I succumbed to the pressure – nervous debility! I visited a neurologist in Wagga Wagga and was counselled – “study accountancy and work for yourself!”
I transferred to Melbourne Head Office and visited my brother John, with the “Age” newspaper under my arm. I explained that I was seeking an advertisement for accommodation. My sister-in-law replied with an outburst, “You’ll do no such thing, you are staying here!” Even though they had a household with five children. The next two years while living there were two of the happiest years of my life. “Your God” was working overtime.
In 1962, still at my brother’s, I was critically injured in a motor accident. Severe internal injuries, fractured skull and brain damage. I survived and am still hale and hearty at 91 years plus.
Still working at Melbourne Head Office, I was advised that the Benalla branch was experiencing internal difficulties. The Benalla manager requested that I be appointed Benalla Branch Accountant.
I returned to Benalla and became reacquainted with Bernadette, who was to become my loving wife. (We now have four wonderful children and 11 grandchildren.)
After some two years I felt that I was not working to my full potential and disastrously changed job. So disastrous that within 12 months I quit without another job to go to. Simultaneously, a vacancy occurred in Jim Smith’s Chartered Accountancy practice, and as luck would have it, I had just asked him if he knew of any vacancies. Remarkable timing. Jim offered me the job.
Having just married earlier in the year, housing was a consideration. We were living in a flat in Church Street and had purchased a building block on the outskirts. We had little money, but finance became available through the Co-Operative Housing Society which Jim Smith was managing. Am I stretching things too far to suggest that “your God” may have been responsible?
In the course of events, I studied to be an accountant. I was studying to a time schedule which expired with me being one subject short. I was in Limbo! Through negotiations with the Bendigo Institute of Technology (now LaTrobe University), I was able to pass that subject and become qualified.
I was able to do a deal with Jim and purchased a half share in his practice which guaranteed me a stable lifestyle.
In my private life, in the mid ‘80’s we benefited from a windfall. This enabled us to purchase a small percentage in a land development corporation. 150 building blocks were developed, and the financial reward was significant. “Our God” was working for us and we now have a comfortable retirement.
So, there is a summation of my life which portrays that, although I was disadvantaged in many ways, so too I was blessed.
Thank you, Father Des Welladson, for teaching me to appreciate “Your God”.
Ray O’Shannessy,
March 2024
I have had a comprehensive Catholic education and have been a lifelong weekly church attendant. It never occurred to me to doubt the existence of a God.
I have to admit, though, that in the light of recent publicity of the Israeli, Gaza, and Ukraine atrocities. I have questioned myself “wherever is God?”
I have been in contact with many priests over a lifetime and the one who I hold in the highest regard seems to predominantly refer to “Your God”.
Rather than blaming God for my misfortunes, I like to acknowledge his assistance in my better fortunes.
And so, here goes.
I was born, the youngest of seven children, and mum died of cancer when I was 4 years old. My father was an alcoholic and his sisters determined that he couldn’t care for his family.
What was my future?
One of my aunts was ‘Mother Augustine’ in the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Ballarat. She held a position of authority. The Sisters ran a school/cum home for primary school boys – Villa Maria on the outskirts of Ballarat East. Villa was to become my home …. Off the record, I always regarded it as an ‘institution’.
And so, my primary education and living arrangements were covered. (My good fortune.)
On finishing my grade 8 and obtaining my Merit Certificate I escaped Villa.
The future?
My aunts decided that I was too small to enter the work force. At age 12 I weighed about 4 stone! I was a midget!
Staying with Dad’s sister Mary-Anne and husband Ned Caine I was only 6 or 7 miles from the Swanwater North State School where, at the school years end, I could sit for a Government Scholarship. So, another years’ schooling and I gained the scholarship and was eligible for a secondary education and accommodation at St. Patrick’s College, also in Ballarat.
How fortunate!
I spent four years at St. Pat’s and then returned to my Uncle Tom O’Shannessy’s farm, also in Swanwater. He scouted around a number of Stock and Station Agencies to see if he could obtain employment with for me. To no avail. Then on visiting St Arnaud he decided to call on the VPC (Victorian Producers Co-operative). The managing-director from Head Office happened to be in attendance on a routine visit. How convenient! He interviewed me and appointment me to the position of junior clerk at the VPC Benalla office.
I was blessed to obtain board at the home of Frank and Eileen Elliott in Benalla. I became acquainted with another boarder, Bill Keenan, whose girlfriend was Marg Hernan. Bill invited me out to Marg’s parents’ farm at Winton and after a short time, the Hernans virtually adopted me! Over a while I proposed the toasts at 21st birthdays of each of their seven children and acted as Santa at their Christmas celebrations for many years. I enjoyed a family environment which previously had been denied me.
Still boarding at Elliots’ in February 1951, I had an encounter with a bush fire. It was a very hot day; the fire bell was ringing; people running everywhere. I was not a member of the local fire brigade, but every available male was ‘on call’ that day. I joined with two farming brothers whose home was in the path of the fire. We drove to the face of the fire, a timber church beside us, dry paddocks all around. The fire intensified; the church caught alight and soon became a smouldering ruin; the fence posts were burning. The fire immersed us as we stood on the road in the shelter of the Ute. The fire roared overhead: we were unscathed! Miraculous!
I reached my 21st birthday in May 1953 while still boarding at the Elliots’. A friend arranged to meet me at St Joseph’s Hall on Saturday night to take me to a country dance. I arrived at the appointed time and to my amazement a band was playing; all my friends were there greeting me with birthday wishes. The Elliotts had arranged a surprise birthday for me! How wonderful!
Years go by; transfers in my job; I find myself in Wodonga, working my butt off till 11.30 pm Monday to Thursday; normal hours Friday. I succumbed to the pressure – nervous debility! I visited a neurologist in Wagga Wagga and was counselled – “study accountancy and work for yourself!”
I transferred to Melbourne Head Office and visited my brother John, with the “Age” newspaper under my arm. I explained that I was seeking an advertisement for accommodation. My sister-in-law replied with an outburst, “You’ll do no such thing, you are staying here!” Even though they had a household with five children. The next two years while living there were two of the happiest years of my life. “Your God” was working overtime.
In 1962, still at my brother’s, I was critically injured in a motor accident. Severe internal injuries, fractured skull and brain damage. I survived and am still hale and hearty at 91 years plus.
Still working at Melbourne Head Office, I was advised that the Benalla branch was experiencing internal difficulties. The Benalla manager requested that I be appointed Benalla Branch Accountant.
I returned to Benalla and became reacquainted with Bernadette, who was to become my loving wife. (We now have four wonderful children and 11 grandchildren.)
After some two years I felt that I was not working to my full potential and disastrously changed job. So disastrous that within 12 months I quit without another job to go to. Simultaneously, a vacancy occurred in Jim Smith’s Chartered Accountancy practice, and as luck would have it, I had just asked him if he knew of any vacancies. Remarkable timing. Jim offered me the job.
Having just married earlier in the year, housing was a consideration. We were living in a flat in Church Street and had purchased a building block on the outskirts. We had little money, but finance became available through the Co-Operative Housing Society which Jim Smith was managing. Am I stretching things too far to suggest that “your God” may have been responsible?
In the course of events, I studied to be an accountant. I was studying to a time schedule which expired with me being one subject short. I was in Limbo! Through negotiations with the Bendigo Institute of Technology (now LaTrobe University), I was able to pass that subject and become qualified.
I was able to do a deal with Jim and purchased a half share in his practice which guaranteed me a stable lifestyle.
In my private life, in the mid ‘80’s we benefited from a windfall. This enabled us to purchase a small percentage in a land development corporation. 150 building blocks were developed, and the financial reward was significant. “Our God” was working for us and we now have a comfortable retirement.
So, there is a summation of my life which portrays that, although I was disadvantaged in many ways, so too I was blessed.
Thank you, Father Des Welladson, for teaching me to appreciate “Your God”.
Ray O’Shannessy,
March 2024
