5. Renovation Poetry with John Conran
Manage episode 365397358 series 3482240
In 2020, BlueScope repeated its successful competition for a VIP tour of The Block, giving one lucky employee the opportunity to visit the property displayed on the Australian television show. The winner was John Conran from Port Kembla, who stunned the judges with a poetic entry. In this episode, we speak with John about his competition victory and career with BlueScope.
(There is a little surprise for those who listen until the end.)
Chapters
- Introduction: 0:00
- Interview with John Conran: 1:31
- Conclusion: 12:04
- A Little Extra...: 13:05
Links
- The Block (Australian TV series)
- My Country by Dorothea Mackellar (the classic inspiration for John's poem)
- The plate mill at Port Kembla
- John and his mechanical metallurgy book
- Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd booklet examples
- John's IEEE tie
- John's blue tie from the slab and plate division
- Some of the uttered Australian vernacular includes:
- reno = renovation;
- verandah = a roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor; and
- tradie = tradesperson (e.g. electrician, plumber, carpenter).
John's Winning Poem
The love of paint and plaster
Of wood with shady grains,
Of ordered tools and workshops
Is running in our veins.
Strong love of crisp-white finish,
Grey trim and soft downlights
I know, but should I dare it,
Renos are otherwise.
I love a stripped out kitchen,
Devoid of asbestos sheet,
Of holes in walls and gaps in floors,
Where rodents come to eat.
I love her little secrets,
Under the cupboard floors,
Old papers from the sixties
Keep out the draughts I'm sure!
The bright bare ring-barked cables,
Behind thick plaster wall,
The borer-drilled floorboards,
A broom will swish it all.
Stuck tangle of the brushes
Left long in turpentine.
Rainforest deck verandah,
With oil it will be fine.
Pain of my brain, my reno!
The budget never slows,
The mess
Connect with Us
Credits
- Edited by Martin Feld
- Recorded by Craig Nealon
Capítulos
1. Introduction (00:00:00)
2. Interview with John Conran (00:01:31)
3. Conclusion (00:12:04)
4. A Little Extra... (00:13:05)
51 episódios