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When the Dust Settles

August 13, 2013 / 35 Comments

I know this bloke.  He’s a bit, well, extraordinary. And he’s written a book.

You might know him too? Beef2012_4719 e

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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’!).

 

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Their family, like ours, is passionate about their cattle and their land.  (Letty and Bill pictured with Mr I below).

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I love hearing their stories about life in the outback, and I loved meeting the patriach of the Cook family, Bob Savage too.

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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…

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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.

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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‘.

rob cook book

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…

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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!

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35 Comments

  • jeanie
    August 13, 2013 at 6:35 am Reply

    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
    August 13, 2013 at 7:29 am Reply

    “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
    August 13, 2013 at 7:47 am Reply

    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
    August 13, 2013 at 8:01 am Reply

    “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
    debby´s last blog post ..Face Palm

  • Sal
    August 13, 2013 at 9:01 am Reply

    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.

  • Jac
    August 13, 2013 at 11:16 am Reply

    “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”
    Jac´s last blog post ..Distracted by Buzz

  • Kylie Addy
    August 13, 2013 at 1:20 pm Reply

    Those who lose dreaming are lost….Aboriginal Proverb

    and

    The road to a friend house is never long….Danish Proverb

  • Colin Huggins
    August 13, 2013 at 6:25 pm Reply

    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.

  • Yvonne
    August 13, 2013 at 10:12 pm Reply

    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.

  • LindaP
    August 14, 2013 at 12:44 am Reply

    “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
    August 14, 2013 at 2:06 am Reply

    “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 🙂

  • Katie
    August 17, 2013 at 8:50 am Reply

    “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
    August 17, 2013 at 12:10 pm Reply

    “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!

  • Michelle
    August 17, 2013 at 3:58 pm Reply

    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

  • Bronte
    August 19, 2013 at 1:05 pm Reply

    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

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