When the Dust Settles
I know this bloke. He’s a bit, well, extraordinary. And he’s written a book.
You might know him too? 
His name is Rob Cook and (if you have been round here over the past year or so) you will already know that I think he is one of the most inspirational people ever.
We were lucky enough to meet Rob and his beautiful wife Sarah just over twelve months ago, at Beef 2012 in Rockhampton, where Rob was the motivational speaker at an event we attended.
Rob survived an horrific helicopter accident on Australia’s most remote cattle station, and (with the unwavering support of his wife and extended family) he has travelled an often-rocky road back to his ‘new normal’ – a tale which would be worthy of a Hollywood movie*.
I have shared a little of Rob’s story here – and his website is here for those keen to learn more about this amazing Aussie.
We have been blessed to have the chance to know Rob and Sarah (and his parents Bill and Letty) a little better since our first meeting just over 12 months ago.
My opinion of them has only grown in this time, and we have enjoyed a few ‘back and forth’ visits with them since (although we are yet to make the epic journey to ‘Suplejack Downs’!).
Their family, like ours, is passionate about their cattle and their land. (Letty and Bill pictured with Mr I below).
I love hearing their stories about life in the outback, and I loved meeting the patriach of the Cook family, Bob Savage too.
What an amazing vision he had, building his rural empire in place surrounded by desert, and making it work. Bob’s grandson (one of very many) Rob seems to have the same kind of ‘big picture’ skills.
While his challenges may be taking on a different path, possibly away from ‘Suplejack Downs’, I have no doubt his future involves cattle. We saw the look in his eye when he looked over his new Brangus cows a couple of weeks ago…
When your passion is cattle, there is nothing quite like seeing content cows and imagining their offspring cavorting around the paddock. It doesn’t matter whether you are riding a horse, driving a car or a wheelchair… the joy is the same.
With a story to tell that shows the extent of his passion for his vocation, and encapsulates the unstoppable drive that makes him so unique, Rob has managed to ‘pen’ his story, with journalist Carl Curtain. His newly released book is ‘When the Dust Settles‘.
I read this book (on my e-reader, because I am too impatient to wait for a hard copy) in just two nights. While packing and travelling to the Ekka. I know – I should have had the literary eqivalent to indigestion. But it was everything I had hoped for… and my Amazon review read like this:
What a book… what a story, what an outlook, and what an incredible family!
If you have ever wanted to learn about the kind of people that make the Australian Outback tick, then this is the book.
Rob Cook tells his unique, confronting and heroic story with an honesty that is breathtaking and inspiring. A ‘must read’.
I asked Rob and Sarah to send me a couple of copies of the book – I always love to hold a ‘proper’ copy myself.
Then over the weekend, I got a message from Sarah:
“It’s in the mail today…”
With this photo…
I know. WOW.
I got a little emotional – I imagined Sarah might sign the book I had requested. I should have known that Rob would work his way around things to do it himself!
And guess what?
There’s an extra book in the parcel – also signed by Rob – for you too. Well ONE of you anyway…
To enter for this fantastic prize, I thought I’d ask you to do something a little different.
Considering Rob’s inspiring outlook, his inspiring story, and his inspiring mantra:
“I would rather attempt something great and fail, than to do nothing at all and succeed.”
… I am asking you to add your favourite quote or saying into comments below. You can enter as often as you like, and I will draw the winner (randomly) when entries close at noon next Monday (August 19). Where possible, please also share the original author of the quote. (I’d like to include some of the best into next year’s BB of Oz calendar.)
To get the ball rolling, here is one quote that I shared on Facebook yesterday:
“If you are going through hell, keep going.” (Winston Churchill)
Looking forward to your entries!
♥
* Actually I fully expect just that to eventuate one day – you listening Clint Eastwood?
ENTRIES CLOSED… WINNER ANNOUNCED SHORTLY!
35 Comments
jeanie
Mum once gave me a plaque:
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” – Henry David Thoreau
The plaque is long gone, but I need to reacquaint myself with the words from time to time.
jeanie´s last blog post ..The Third Thing
Helen Gardner
“If wishes were horses even beggars would ride.”
Author unknown.
I think I read it about 50 years ago in a little book of Chinese proverbs. It has stuck with me for all these years.
JacquelineT
So many amazing quotes! some of my favourites..
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow. Mary Anne Radmacher.
First you have to learn the rules of the game, then you have to play them better than anyone else. Albert Einstein.
And
The beauty in realising our dreams is not when we make a decision to pursue them, but when we gently yet relentlessly put actions to that decision. (me)
debby
“And the day came for the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom.” – Anais Nin
“It is not enough to be busy. The question is what are we busy about?” Henry David Thoreau
“You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.
For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons…” Khalil Gibran
“Try to live your life so that you wouldn’t be afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.” Will Rogers
“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” Winston Churchill (He also said, “A woman drove me to drink, and I never had the decency to thank her,” which I love, but shouldn’t go on a calendar, I suppose.)
“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” A.A. Milne
Too often we… enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
John F. Kennedy
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debby
How about “I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues” Dr. Seuss
debby´s last blog post ..Face Palm
Sal
Life is mostly froth and bubble,
two things stand like stone,
kindness in another’s trouble,
courage in your own. – Adam Lindsay Gordon
Can’t wait to have a read, certainly an inspiration to all.
debby
Oooh. Sorry, Sal. Somehow I missed that you had posted this already. My apologies.
debby´s last blog post ..Face Palm
Bill
I prefer to use my own wit and wisdom. – Bill
BB of Oz
And I shall count this as an entry Bill! 😉
Kelly
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 7.
Kelly´s last blog post ..Only four jars…
Kelly
“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only at night.” – Edgar Allan Poe
Kelly
“God is in the details.” -Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe
Jac
“Freedom is instantaneous the moment we accept things as they are.” ~ Karen Maezen Miller
Just have to throw in a Texan saying I’ve been meaning to send you…
“All hat and no cattle”
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Kylie Addy
Those who lose dreaming are lost….Aboriginal Proverb
and
The road to a friend house is never long….Danish Proverb
JT
Being strong isn’t something you choose to do, it’s something your forced to do when being weak isn’t an option.
JT
Whether your moving a mob ten miles south or training a champion cutter, doing things right just takes time.
Colin Huggins
A truly remarkable person.
Tributes for this man are great to read and learn about, however, they are minor as to what should inspire us all.
Great to see that you were able to catch up.
Lisa
A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new – Albert Einstein
Yvonne
be true to yourself and your conscience will be clear
Yvonne
It is the way one treats his inferiors more than the way he treats his equals which reveals one’s real character.
—Rev. Charles Bayard Miliken, Methodist Episcopal, Chicago.
Robyn
Everybody wants happiness, nobody wants pain, but you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain 🙂
Rachel
I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.
-F. Scott Fitzgerald
LindaP
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
– Dr. Seuss
quincy's keeper
“I’m so busy, I don’t know if I found a rope or lost my horse.” ~ ugly yellow tee shirt my aunt got me for Christmas 🙂
debby
“Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another’s trouble,
Courage in your own” Your own Adam Lindsay Gordon
debby´s last blog post ..Face Palm
Sandy
Let go of the past
Enjoy the greatness of the moment
Expect increased good in the future
JENNY TALIA
This one sounds like Rob may have written it…
“don’t count the days, make the days count”
PS- Imma go buy the book, so don’t enter me xx
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Lisa
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.”
― Henry Ford
Danielle
“Always remember how much you are loved” -How my mother signs off her emails to me!
Katie
“Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you have.” author unknown
I like this one as it makes you strive to get what you want. Then accepting happiness for what you have achieved. Despite the situation, you can find happiness through being great full for what you have.
I have been very fortunate to be an audience member of one of Rob’s presentations. He is an inspirational man!
Heidi
“The best definition of success is that those who know you the best, love and respect you the most” ~ John Maxwell
I can’t wait to get my hands on Rob’s book…it looks inspiring!
Andrea - Mum behind the Box
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
Scott Adams
Wonderful, anyone can be creative.
Michelle
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. Explore, Dream, Discover. –Mark Twain
jeanie
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen [pounds] nineteen [shillings] and six [pence], result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.”
Charles Dickens, David Copperfield
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Bronte
Too late for the comp, but thought it might be appropriate.
‘ What lies Behind us and what lies Before us are tiny compared to what lies Within us ‘. Ralph Waldo Emerson