If asked, I would deny that I am a quitter. On reflection, though, I can readily recall four occasions - two jobs; music and lawn bowls.
Job 1: Victorian Producers Co-op (VPC), with whom I was employed for nearly 17 years.
Job 2: Producers and Citizens Co-op - I lasted 12 months.
Music: I was tutored for approximately 18 months.
Lawn Bowls: I have been a member of the Benalla Bowling Club for 65 years, but actually quit bowling 1 years ago.
Job 1: I commenced in February 1950 as a 17 year old school leaver in Benalla. I spent five years in the Benalla complex where I learned the fundamentals of primary production and book-keeping procedures. On feeling that I was not progressing in my employment, I transferred to the St Arnaud branch of the company in 1955. This was a backward step, as I soon found out that for the majority of the time I was typing grocery invoices (the branch had an accompanying grocery store).
In 1958, in what I first thought was a positive move, I transferred to the Wodonga branch of the company. I was soon to learn that there were a minimum of three livestock sales conducted each week. These sales involved me in not only being a booking-clerk and delivery boy, but also invoicing and accounting clerk at the office of an evening. I was continually working up to 60 hours per week. As one might expect, this work-load caused me to suffer nervous debility. A neurologist counselled me to "study accountancy and work for yourself". As a result I transferred to the Head Office of the company and became assistant branch auditor. On the request of my then, now Benalla Branch manager, I was, after some two years, returned to Benalla to resume my initial role as a branch accountant. After some five years I felt that I was not achieving, and I quit!
Job 2: Having been encouraged to do so, I transferred to an associated insurance company. I won't spend time on detailing this job as I soon found that I was totally unsuited to this profession. In absolute frustration, and without another job to go to, I quit after a term of 12 months.
Music: When my children were young we encouraged them to learn to play the organ and piano. I had personally regretted that I had not had the opportunity to do so myself. I told of this regret to the tutor, and even though I was 50 years of age, she enticed me to commence learning to play the organ. And so for 18 months she included me in her tutorage. At year's end there was a concert given for parents of all the students. I was included as a student, and yes! I made a complete balls-up! So muchso, that I have never sat at a music stool since. I quit!
Lawn Bowls: I commenced bowling in 1958 at the age of 26 years. To my surprise I found that I was quite proficient in this sport. I played in the Ovens and Murray A-grade divsion from my frst year until approximately 1984, and then in the B-grad division until I broke my pelvis in 2014. I used this mishap as an excuse, but must admit that my expertise had been slipping and I was on the verge of retirement anyhow. I quit bowling at this opportunity.
And so, these are an acknowledgement of the occasions on which I have been guilty of QUITTING!!
Ray O'Shannessy
June 2023
Job 1: Victorian Producers Co-op (VPC), with whom I was employed for nearly 17 years.
Job 2: Producers and Citizens Co-op - I lasted 12 months.
Music: I was tutored for approximately 18 months.
Lawn Bowls: I have been a member of the Benalla Bowling Club for 65 years, but actually quit bowling 1 years ago.
Job 1: I commenced in February 1950 as a 17 year old school leaver in Benalla. I spent five years in the Benalla complex where I learned the fundamentals of primary production and book-keeping procedures. On feeling that I was not progressing in my employment, I transferred to the St Arnaud branch of the company in 1955. This was a backward step, as I soon found out that for the majority of the time I was typing grocery invoices (the branch had an accompanying grocery store).
In 1958, in what I first thought was a positive move, I transferred to the Wodonga branch of the company. I was soon to learn that there were a minimum of three livestock sales conducted each week. These sales involved me in not only being a booking-clerk and delivery boy, but also invoicing and accounting clerk at the office of an evening. I was continually working up to 60 hours per week. As one might expect, this work-load caused me to suffer nervous debility. A neurologist counselled me to "study accountancy and work for yourself". As a result I transferred to the Head Office of the company and became assistant branch auditor. On the request of my then, now Benalla Branch manager, I was, after some two years, returned to Benalla to resume my initial role as a branch accountant. After some five years I felt that I was not achieving, and I quit!
Job 2: Having been encouraged to do so, I transferred to an associated insurance company. I won't spend time on detailing this job as I soon found that I was totally unsuited to this profession. In absolute frustration, and without another job to go to, I quit after a term of 12 months.
Music: When my children were young we encouraged them to learn to play the organ and piano. I had personally regretted that I had not had the opportunity to do so myself. I told of this regret to the tutor, and even though I was 50 years of age, she enticed me to commence learning to play the organ. And so for 18 months she included me in her tutorage. At year's end there was a concert given for parents of all the students. I was included as a student, and yes! I made a complete balls-up! So muchso, that I have never sat at a music stool since. I quit!
Lawn Bowls: I commenced bowling in 1958 at the age of 26 years. To my surprise I found that I was quite proficient in this sport. I played in the Ovens and Murray A-grade divsion from my frst year until approximately 1984, and then in the B-grad division until I broke my pelvis in 2014. I used this mishap as an excuse, but must admit that my expertise had been slipping and I was on the verge of retirement anyhow. I quit bowling at this opportunity.
And so, these are an acknowledgement of the occasions on which I have been guilty of QUITTING!!
Ray O'Shannessy
June 2023
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