Life’s Challenges incorporate many things, events or experiences.
As a young boy growing up on a farm, I experienced many challenges including dealing with animals, learning to use farm equipment such as tractors, balers, mowers and tilling equipment. As well as that I learned to handle a firearm and go shooting rabbits and other pests in the afternoons. I also rode my bicycle 10 miles to the river, fished for trout all day, crossing rivers and coming home on my single speed bike up and down hills!!
Later after establishing a military flying career, I gave this up to travel overseas with my new partner in life, Karin, eventually moving to Australia where the real challenges began. Karin was part Aussie on her mother’s side, and I was 100% Kiwi, landing in Australia to establish our new life here. Trying to find work I had the qualifications for and experience in was very difficult. Nobody would acknowledge that I had any experience in Agricultural Research and Military Aviation. I was told that I should go back to New Zealand, as they didn’t want kiwi dole bludgers here!!
After a while I landed a job in the oil industry as an oil engineer for Mobil Oil. This lasted for 18 months, and I was moved on!
Eventually one of our neighbours suggested that I apply for a job in IT (Information Technology) as a salesperson selling systems and software to small businesses in Victoria.
I found my niche doing a job that no Aussies really wanted to do at the time and had the skill and tenacity to cold call new clients and sell them the systems they need to operate their business.
Another sales role for me in a second job, because when I commenced a job as a salesperson, I was paid base plus commission paid after I reached a 70% of my target. To keep the family housed and fed (Karin was a full time Mum) I had to get a second job. This job involved selling home loans for companies like Wizard and later RAMS home loans. I really enjoyed the Home Loans sales role, as people respected an older person in the job, compared with IT, where they moved workers on when they turned 60!!
On to the next Challenge…. dealing with a partner who had Dementia who denied this and spending my time chasing her all over the countryside to pick her up and bring her home. This eventually led to Karin being admitted to a Nursing Home for clients with Dementia to keep her safe.
To deal with this trauma and the need to fill in time, I found golf again and also cycling. Developing communities involving these groups allowed me to deal with the trauma of being a carer and to search and find the right help to allow me to he accepted as a carer for a partner with Dementia.
So, life’s challenges are small and large. Everyone experiences life’s challenges many times in their lives.
Life is a challenge. We all face it, dealing with it in our own ways and with the assistance of others; forging ahead and trying to enjoy the life we have….
James Davey,
October 2025
As a young boy growing up on a farm, I experienced many challenges including dealing with animals, learning to use farm equipment such as tractors, balers, mowers and tilling equipment. As well as that I learned to handle a firearm and go shooting rabbits and other pests in the afternoons. I also rode my bicycle 10 miles to the river, fished for trout all day, crossing rivers and coming home on my single speed bike up and down hills!!
Later after establishing a military flying career, I gave this up to travel overseas with my new partner in life, Karin, eventually moving to Australia where the real challenges began. Karin was part Aussie on her mother’s side, and I was 100% Kiwi, landing in Australia to establish our new life here. Trying to find work I had the qualifications for and experience in was very difficult. Nobody would acknowledge that I had any experience in Agricultural Research and Military Aviation. I was told that I should go back to New Zealand, as they didn’t want kiwi dole bludgers here!!
After a while I landed a job in the oil industry as an oil engineer for Mobil Oil. This lasted for 18 months, and I was moved on!
Eventually one of our neighbours suggested that I apply for a job in IT (Information Technology) as a salesperson selling systems and software to small businesses in Victoria.
I found my niche doing a job that no Aussies really wanted to do at the time and had the skill and tenacity to cold call new clients and sell them the systems they need to operate their business.
Another sales role for me in a second job, because when I commenced a job as a salesperson, I was paid base plus commission paid after I reached a 70% of my target. To keep the family housed and fed (Karin was a full time Mum) I had to get a second job. This job involved selling home loans for companies like Wizard and later RAMS home loans. I really enjoyed the Home Loans sales role, as people respected an older person in the job, compared with IT, where they moved workers on when they turned 60!!
On to the next Challenge…. dealing with a partner who had Dementia who denied this and spending my time chasing her all over the countryside to pick her up and bring her home. This eventually led to Karin being admitted to a Nursing Home for clients with Dementia to keep her safe.
To deal with this trauma and the need to fill in time, I found golf again and also cycling. Developing communities involving these groups allowed me to deal with the trauma of being a carer and to search and find the right help to allow me to he accepted as a carer for a partner with Dementia.
So, life’s challenges are small and large. Everyone experiences life’s challenges many times in their lives.
Life is a challenge. We all face it, dealing with it in our own ways and with the assistance of others; forging ahead and trying to enjoy the life we have….
James Davey,
October 2025
