4 years ago I was sharing a room with a twenty something year old Salvo computer nerd for a whole week, while we delivered relief to residents of Airlie Beach after the devastation of cyclone Debbie. Who knew the friendship would last and Ryan would end up being my podcast tech buddy
Back in March 2017 a terrible cyclone devastated the
north Queensland town of Airlie beach, causing extensive damage and loss of
life. At times like this the salvos
spring into action and personnel from all over the country are called upon to
help out. I put my hand up and was flown
to the area for a one week consignment to help distribute aid to the affected
residents.
I was to stay in a little 2 bedroom unit in Airlie
beach and found out that I would be sharing with a fellow by the name of Ryan Hook,
an IT worker with the salvos who also volunteered to get involved. I had never met Ryan and we were both aware
of the risks involved in spending an entire week at close quarters with a
complete stranger. Ryan is a back end computer
technician in his twenties and is a big guy who wears lary colorful clothes. I am a 50 something blue polo shirt wearer
with all the technical prowess of a small carrot and at first, it seemed
possible that this would be a painfully awkward week together.
But nothing could be further from the truth. We hit it off straight away. Ryan introduced me to the colorful and hilariously
grotesque world of B grade horror movies and I have rarely laughed as much in my
life. He ended up tweaking his computer
so we could challenge each other in the game I played when I got my first
computer back in 1991, Civilization. I hadn’t
played this in years!
We loved going to the shops together and buying
whatever we liked as our wives were hundreds of miles away and we could splurge
without consequence. My treat was wicked
sister creamed Rice.
Apart from the bromance and the delights of complete
shopping freedom, we had a powerful time serving the community. We distributed financial aid most days but
also found time to visit the front lines where the damage was still painfully obvious. Boats
upside down in car parks, smashed trees and ruined homes were everywhere.
Ryan had a great camera and took some professional grade
photos to compliment some of the stories I shared that ended up being part of
the salvos reporting on the disaster. We
had dozens of impacting encounters with the people about their experience of
this devastating cyclone and were able to make a significant contribution to
the recovery effort. People were so
grateful and it was a rich classic Salvo “Hope where it is need most” experience
to share with Ryan.
When we got back to normal life, Ryan and his lovely wife
Imogen, who is a keen runner, joined me
in some park runs and even a half marathon in Canberra. Whenever I visit Redfern office I stop and
say g’day to Ryan. He is hard to miss in
his Hawaiian Shirt and there is always a healthy supply of snacks at his
desk.
Later in 2017 Ryan came with me and around 15 other
guys to Fraser Island for the annual Salvo Fraser Island fishing trip. He was the official photographer for this
trip and captured some sensational shots.
Again we loved hanging out together and sharing in a Salvo project that
had a great impact on the lives of vulnerable people.
These days Ryan is my go to person for podcast tech
support. I ring him when I have an issue
and he has an amazing way of thinking through problems that has taught me so
much. He trouble shoots with me and has
been instrumental in the progress of the podcast, In fact having Ryan’s support gave me the confidence
to have a go, as I knew nothing about podcasting and needed a buddy to back me
up. In many ways Ryan’s work is always in the
back ground. He works on websites and
programs and makes sure they are coded properly. Arty people make them look good. Ryan makes them actually work.
Ryan will probably never make it to the front page of
the Others magazine or be celebrated as salvo of the century or anything, but
his quiet humble contributions to my life, both as a friend and as a fellow
Salvo have been brilliant. I love this
guy and appreciate him so much.
Classic Ryan was the time I visited him one day at the
office and as I was leaving for the car he presented me with a large tub of
wicked sister creamed rice with a plastic spoon and a serviette. He had thought of everything! I ate that tub of rice with a smile as wide as
the sky and a grateful if not somewhat sluggish feeling in the deepest part of
my being that I am so lucky to have a friend like Ryan.
Bless ya,
Bryce
No comments:
Post a Comment