October 1999 Volume 80 Number 10
"serving the protectors"
| October 1999 Volume 80 Number 10 "serving the protectors" |
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| Dominant Genes | |
| By
David Marr |
A few of us were sitting about in a quiet corner of my plumber neighbour’s shed on Sunday afternoon waiting for the footy to start on TV. It was a fine, sunny day and we were all feeling contented and at one with nature. At least I thought we were. The state of the nation was inadvertently raised and suddenly the discussion level seemed to jump a point or two.
Pretty soon the boys were expressing strong opinions about the full range of political issues that had been dominating the papers and TV the last few days. Now Mick from across the street is hot-headed at the best of times; and always a bit vulnerable to the sub-tonal asides and stirrings of old Ted. Ted is an old Scot who spent some years as a union rep around the Melbourne docks. Ted has always been old. People who have known him for many years can’t remember him as ever being other than old. He has an unnerving habit of turning his head aside and speaking in undertones. You gather he wants you to know he’s speaking about you, but he doesn’t speak up enough for you to hear what he says.
I can’t say I saw it coming, because I was watching “Mate” Gus’s blue heeler dog. It seems Ted’s muttering must have really got under Mick’s skin, for suddenly Mick had angrily grabbed Ted’s Scottish “Presbyterian” ear, as he called it, and was attempting to push him out of the shed. Spilled drinks went everywhere. Gus was leaping to calm the situation when “Mate” seized Mick’s “Irish Catholic” backside, as Ted described it, ripping the seat from his trousers. By the time Gus had them separated and taken the boot to “Mate”, everyone had said more than a few words.
Ted headed for home, muttering his way down the street and Mick shuffled across the road trying to hold his trousers together. “They’ll be back you know,” said Gus with a laugh. “Can’t help themselves. It’s in their genes.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Well, it’s Mick’s nature to fight, and it’s Ted’s nature to pick one. From what I can see they both got it from their parents. They’re both decent blokes really but neither of ‘em are sensible. I think the recessive gene for common sense is becoming rarer and is rapidly being replaced by the gene for stupidity.”
I couldn’t help myself and replied: “Well, Jeremiah in the Bible says the human heart has a bias toward evil. It’s the nature of man.”
“Quite right,” Gus commented, “that’s why we need coppers, the military and other do-gooders. But in spite of what seems natural, we’ve got to get along with each other, help each other and do the right thing. We’ve got to work at making the world caring and positive and a bit forgiving. You’ve told me yourself that is what true religion and God is all about.”
“Right again,” I said, as Gus turned up the AFL theme on the TV.
There was a slight creaking as the door opened. Ted and Mick stepped inside.
Leaning forward, Gus whispered: “I hope forgiveness is in your genes.”
Welfare Section 58 David Marr Tel: 8364 3567 Senior Police Chaplain. Academy 8 Mark Thomas. Tel: 8296 9616 Adelaide: Angas Street 158 Bruce Grindlay. Tel: 8295 2220 Adelaide: Hindley Street 62 Bruce Grindlay. Tel: 8295 2220 Adelaide Hills Division 54 Adrian Stephens. Tel: 8398 2510 Office: 8398 2517 Berri 212 Vacant Ceduna 214 Bob Borgas. Tel: 086 253 503 Christies Beach 20 Vacant Clare 202 Michael Dutschke. Tel: 088 423 681 Communications 172 David Hand. Tel: 8295 6992 Elizabeth 52 Stephen Brooks. Tel: 041 884 0739 Far North 210 Tony Redden. Tel: 08 8672 5011 Focus 21 Richard Lawton. Tel: 08 8362 4836 Gawler 52 Brian Tscharke. Tel: 085 222 288 Glenelg 22 Malcolm Thomas. Tel: 8377 0772 Henley Beach 18 Brenton Daulby. Tel: 8443 8286 Holden Hill 44 Tony Swansson. Tel: 8258 8951 Rod Dyson. Tel: 8365 1170 Kadina 71 Mark Dickens. Tel: 8823 2513 Kingston 208 Richard Dutton. Tel: 08 8767 2590 Mount Gambier 208 Brian Ashworth. Tel: 087 231 353 (W)
Tel: 087 252 537 (H)Murray Bridge 200 Malcolm Bottrill. Tel: 085 325 536 Naracoorte 208 Bruce Cliff. Tel: 8737 2457 Mo 0417 811 702 Norwood 60 Vacant Nuriootpa 204 Andy Kowald. Tel: 085 621 011 Plympton 14 Ian Dempsey. Tel: 8210 8108 Port Adelaide 6 Jeff Oake. Tel: 8341 5930 Port Pirie 206 Vacant Prosecution Services 176 Vacant Port Augusta PS 210 Shirley James. Tel: 08 8641 0146 Port Lincoln 214 Rob Packer. Tel: 08 8683 0302 Salisbury 53 Vacant South East Terry Natt. Tel: 8571 1114 Sturt 12 Chris Beal. Tel: 8278 9578 Tea Tree Gully 48 Bob George Tel: 8395 9363 Thebarton Barracks 32 Joe Grealy. Tel: 8338 3225 Transit Division Wayne Shepherd. Tel: 8443 4895 Unley 28 Max Bowers. Tel: 8272 8324 Whyalla 218 John Dunckley. Tel: 08 8645 2500
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