DONALD BINKS

Donald Binks was born in Sydney, Australia on the 16th September, nontoon fonty-tont and moved to Melbourne shortly thereafter. The reason for all this was because his father didn't want all the relatives getting in the way and interfering with Donald's mother during her confinement.

Donald's first school was the Convent of the Good Shepherd in Middle Park, but he was moved into the State School system later on. This was probably due to his father thinking it would work out cheaper in the long run.

In the 1950's Donald's parents were back and forth between Europe and Australia and thus he was rewarded with the experience of travel from a very early age which probably accounts for a slightly English accent which kicks in now and again.

He worked in his parents' wedding reception businesses at a very young age and formally entered the workforce when he was 16. His father took him into a Bank and left him there. The child endowment had run out.

Donald learned a great deal about accounting and finance in "the Bank" and moved into jobs where he could gain from his experience. He started in low clerical positions and through sheer determination moved himself up to the loftier ranks (and more pay). He is a Fellow and Honourary Life Member of The Australasian Institute of Banking & Finance which has now morphed into the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Donald has a quirky sense of humour and an avid interest in the arts. He has collected old 78 r.p.m. gramophone records to actually listen to - not use as frisbies. He was a member of the Victorian State Opera for many years until it was unfortunately disbanded. He can also bore you stupid on his "arts" subjects - silent pictures and cinema organs. He is not overly political but has a keen sense of history especially of the twentieth century and has a lingering fondness of the British Empire.

Donald is proud of his achievements which he lists as follows:- being a human being, a member of the public, part of an audience, a pedestrian, shopper, listener, viewer, commuter, motorist, passenger, complainant, defendant, accuser, hedonist, voyeur, procrastinator, collector, storer, assistant, manager, onlooker, observer, nonentity, passer-by, queuee, rider, player, pianist, organist, consultant, worker, actor, singer, toper, sweeper, cleaner, waiter, diner, patient, snorer, writer, walker, talker, drinker, taster, tester, tickler, artist, scribbler, dabbler, punter, attendee, lackey, student, lecturer, lecherer, speaker, debater, creator, animator, borrower, lender, lessee, customer, sleeper, dreamer, interviewer, interviewee, guest, host etc., etc.,

Donald has lived most of his life in Melbourne, with a couple of breaks - one in London and one on the Gold Coast (Queensland). He especially loved living in Richmond some 14 years before moving to the country and has formed some very long and valued friendships. He says that country life will be a challenge but something he has been looking forward to.

Donald spends his time engaged in 'special projects' at Schaanwald. He also does some freelance bookkeeping - "to keep his hand in". He has restored a few items, broken others and is intent on mastering DIY. He also tries to cope with the ever increasing insanity of the world and writes to people (he doesn't much care for the telephone). He spends at least an hour a day - which he calls his "Idiot Hour"- where he deals with Electric Companies, Government Instrumentalities and other such conglomerates who these days seem to employ people whose brains would fit into the beak of a canary. He also writes on this website. He says that giving up smoking is easy - he has done it a thousand times, but is currently off the evil fags since 2003. He is fond of a convivial libation, especially at a dinner where he is apt to waffle on discussing numerous subjects most of which he knows nothing about. Recently he has converted part of his home into bed and breakfast accommodation which apart from affording him the chance to meet interesting people, will give him something to do and keep him relatively out of harm's way.

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