Humble Heroes: Recent Episodes
Dr John Irvine
Humble Heroes is really my tribute to the many awesome kids, parents, grandparents, celebrities and even pets in your life and mine that have shown us an extra dimension in living. So much news is bad news that tries to drag us down and elevate our fear response. Here’s the chance to turn the tables and celebrate good stuff.
Maybe you have someone in your life like my Aunty Barb – just a wonderful role-model in handling hard times, never preachy, just had that extra dimension. No matter what went wrong, Aunty Barb would find a good side to it, never panicked, it was all God’s will.
Here’s one example I remember well. In her later years when Barbara wasn’t as nimble or capable as she was in her earlier school librarian days, she decided to go back to England to see her brothers and sisters. As part of that exercise it meant catching a train from London to York with a couple of her brothers. During the trip Aunty Barb excused herself as she had to “go through”, her quaintly polite way of saying she needed to go to the toilet. After 55 minutes “going through” her brothers became concerned so they called on the guard to go and check on her. At first the guard couldn’t get the door open despite Aunty Barb’s faltering invitation to enter, but with mechanical help he managed to prise the door open. There was Aunty Barb sitting on the floor next to the toilet – she had fallen, passed out, woke up to find herself in this odd predicament but then relaxed knowing that God would send some nice person to help her out! No matter what the change, deterioration, frustration or loss of capacity in her life it was just taken in Aunty Barb’s stride on her way to Heaven!
I haven’t found change that easy to handle and I don’t have Aunty Barb’s blind faith but I’ve loved life and loved the many cases and kids I’ve met - I’ve honestly drawn inspiration from them. If they can do it, so can I! These stories are my attempt to pay homage and respect to ordinary battlers achieving awesome outcomes with an extra dimension.
The stories are not all serious – laughter is an important tool in mental health and many of my memories are about characters that just make me giggle when I think of them. Maybe you have a humble hero in your life who you’d like to acknowledge and celebrate. Well here’s your chance to submit stories. Look for the Submit your story tab above and share your story about your humble hero.
It’s my hope that together we can share heaps of humble heroes and that they can be an inspiration for each other. What a legacy that would be!
Patrick talks to us about coping with a setback and his passion to see all school children given the opportunity to enjoy music
Natalie was the lady featured in an earlier podcast whose kids wouldn’t even allow her to have a breakdown in peace – now Natalie decides the kids are probably her best option
Even as a 12 year old nearly 30 years ago, this boy was warning us about climate change long before it became fashionable
Matthew and his retired major dad have a mutual problem with listening – both come up with ingenious solutions
Peter writes to me as a teacher and letting off some steam about the plight of boys in our high schools
This segment is really a salute to my old friend Elmo, who apart from his incredible common sense had a wicked sense of humour
Some kids are super sensitive and have wild imagination – sometimes it takes good imagination to beat bad imagination
Chris couldn’t stop stealing – he grew out of it and is now a fireman with a mechanic’s trade behind him – now he’s lost… his 5 year old is stealing and grandparents show little sympathy
A wonderful letter from a long term foster mum gives me the chance to salute all the humble heroes fostering our future
Belinda was only young when she dies but the legacy she left behind staggered both kids and her teacher
Nathan was a very effeminate kid and his football father was really struggling with Nathan’s dolls - but with love on both sides things work out, Nathan has his own hair salon, funded by dad and they’re now the best of mates
Steve was well and truly in the fast lane until a heart attack stopped him in his tracks and he tried 180 degree turn about
Kaylene had ms and couldn’t keep up with the kids – she was scared they’d be taken away but a new scheme of in-home care came to her rescue
It’s easy to think of famous families having it all – Bronwen shows us how to create the good times and overcome the pain of parting with your kids
Rachel was super bright but the weight of peer, parent and professional expectation brought her unstuck big time
There’s usually a way through most kids’ problems, even a severe case of school phobia – Andrew’s gift reminds me that sometimes the way through can be quite unusual
Humans aren’t the only ones with strange child rearing and parenting attitudes
Animal antics: A lesson in child rearing
David’s dad was a baker, David was fair so his classmates called him “dough boy” – but David learns a new way to beat the bullying
In this story Surgeon Hunter shows me his use of personal experience to reassure clients that they don’t have a problem
Janine had it all heading for the Winter Olympics when she had a life threatening accident. In this extract from ‘Never Tell Me Never’ Janine demonstrates the information of faith hope and determination in achieving our goal
A listener sends in the remarkable story of how Ivan the marathon runner in the recent Olympics sacrificed a gold medal in the name of the honor and self respect
Freddy hated Delicious apples but dad was determined he must have them – 20 years later, Freddy has now forgiven his dad, but dad is having trouble forgiving himself!
Doctors need to be much more sensitive in the power imbalance between doctor and patient, as I learn the hard way!
Trevor goes the extra mile in trying to win over his step-son … and has to become a superhero to do it
Sharyn sends in a clipping of a story I wrote in 1997 for the Brisbane News and which she has had hanging on her fridge ever since for times of crisis
This episode is a tribute to the unconditional love of mothers and a huge thank you on behalf of the rest of us
In this episode, the south Park creation of Mr Hanky is used to great effect to solve Karl’s problems in going to the toilet
Lisa is suffering from a different form of PTSD – Post Teen Stress Disorder and is still living proof that if you hang in there, love wins through
In this episode Elizabeth shows so much compassion and love for children with a severe disability, I end up marrying her
Jimmy Coroneos: A lesson in the influence of a passionate teacher- A listener writes in about the imp-act one teacher had on the lives of so many kids he taught.
Disenfranchised dad: A lesson in learning that good outcomes often take time- Kim reluctantly accepts my advice not to involve his kids in his battle for access and to give it time for pain to pass
Kirilee: A lesson that reminds us to enjoy the moment- Kirilee shares the poem called “Slow Dance” by David Weatherspoon to remind us all that we must enjoy w2ho and what we’ve got while we can
Step dad steps up: A lesson in putting in hard yards for those you love- Step dad Alan takes on Trixie after a two year court battle to protect the bond he has with Peter
Noel’s story: A lesson on the importance of risk taking- Noel was a gifted pianist and a great entertainer who taught me so much about having a go and chancing my arm.
A dog’s revenge: A lesson that dogs do have feelings too!- Border collie Cassie struggles to cope with hyperactive Amy
John Howard: a lesson in values – our ex PM commitment to values shows why he was respected on both sides of parliament
Damyon: a lesson in doing hard yards- Damyon was a crim but his love for his step-sons inspires him to turn a corner
Teacher Influence: a lesson in not overloading our teachers with our responsibilities– just how much are we shifting responsibility for our kids onto teachers – and how important are they in the lives of our children
Tarana: a lesson in sutainablility?– the buzz word in schools now is Sustainability but a few years back a Smalls School teacher gave Dr John a different insight
Death of a parent: a lesson in the importance of grieving – sometimes untreated and concealed grief can emerge as a problem in the ones we’re trying to protect
Dr Jenny’s Jab: a lesson in perseverance – In this segment the frustration we have all experienced with unfeeling bureaucracy is captured in this wonderful letter from Dr Jenny
Barbara: a lesson in ingenuity – Barbara teaches us a lesson in grandma’s ingenuity to beat her granddaughter’s hair-pulling problem
Mother’s love a lesson in the importance of an attitude of gratitude – Dr John traces the power of a mother’s love over three generations with her attitude of gratitude
Breda a lesson in the traps of half truths– Breda’s faith and trust in Dr John leads him down a dangerous path of half-truths
The no put-down school: A lesson in leadership- A school principal gives us all a lesson in getting kids, parents and teachers on side to combat bullying
AJ: a lesson in the importance of family support- AJ and his ADHD were causing his parents a great deal of grief but they each learned how best to support their much loved son – and mum’s poem has a lesson for all of us
The Kayak kid and Dr Tony: A lesson in going beyond professional barriers and giving where it was needed- Chris was an unmotivated sad boy living with his great grandmother – but Dr Tony stepped in to provide a marine connection to lift his spirits and give him some direction
Rob and Carolyn: A lesson about an unforgettable lesson grandparental love-Two loving grandparents break their hearts and a promise to their dying daughter to let go of their granddaughter after a court ruling
Timmy’s legacy: Often the hard earned lessons last the longest: My own son Timmy, posthumously teaches me the importance of looking after parents
Brodie was called the klepto kid at school because he was forever stealing – I found that out the hard way but sometimes with enough love anchoring kids, they can pull through as Brodie demonstrated
Andy learns a lesson- Assami, one of the most remarkable exchange students I have ever had the privilege to meet, works through really tough stuff to learn a lesson in love and the limits to personal responsibility when things go wrong
Well known politician, Kim, shows me what parental attention can do to help her son thrive in the difficult world of politics
Stan: A lesson in reparations- A friend and colleague, teaches us his unique way of turning a neighbourhood problem into a win-win
Greg: a Wiggles lesson in coping as a busy parent- Greg, one of the original famous Wiggles team, shows us how he coped as a super hero but just a humble dad
Bryce Courtney: a lesson in turning a negative to a positive – Author Bryce Courtney shares the story of struggle to be a good dad to his son, Damon, who died of medically acquired AIDS
Scott: a lesson in multi-tracking and multi-support – Radio personality, Scott, impresses Dr John with his multi-tasking but it’s Scott’s multi-pronged support for the local community that earns his place as a Humble Hero
Charlotte: a lesson in resilience – It’s not easy to maintain your self-respect when you’re failing at school but Charlotte finds her niche and nails it and offers a word or two of advice to other kids
Elena’s eczema: a lesson in using imagination in child therapy – Elena was dropping out of school and the teachers couldn’t work out why but Rue, one of the Worrywoo characters, comes to her rescue
Jacqui: a lesson in the power of passion and persistence – Jacqui, a struggling student with an undiagnosed learning difficulty, shows us all how far you can get in life with passion and persistence
Nada: a lesson in love – Nada literally provides a labour of love as a surrogate mum, twice over, for her own daughter
Jeannie Little: a lesson in coming through tough times – Jeannie Little, known as a talented if zany entertainer, talks so humbly about her struggles in childhood and as a parent
Aunty Edna: A lesson in Love- Jim pays tribute to his Aunty Edna who showed him another level in love for family
In this episode, Young Brian, who was having weird nightmares about dad, does a brilliant job of forensic analysis and solves his own problem
Raising teenagers, particularly as a sole parent, isn’t easy. In this episode Alicia finds a way of coping with rebellious Jamie
It’s not just humans that are heroes. In this segment Bart, an abandoned Cairn terrier teaches us how to cope with the loss of a pet
Phillip earns his place in the Story Tellers Hall Of Fame with some quick thinking to save Santa’s reputation
Craig’s parents split up and dad re- partnered. Craig and his brother saw less now of their much loved dad who was preoccupied securing his new relationship. Just through his art, Craig found a way to win back dad.