Coopers was the name affectionately given to the church that I attended in my youth. In the status of congregation numbers it only ranked middle order in the denomination – but in the status of fellowship and fun it ranked #1. So, as you can imagine, the annual denomination sports day was a day GOD made especially for us. Now this day was full of stories by I only have time to tell you this one at the moment. Folks, what we lacked in numbers and stature we made up for in sheer enthusiasm and, oh yes, just a little bit of guile. Our two biggest rivals for bodies on the park were the TAB and Mt. Gravatt. The TAB were the gentle giants and would happily give up their position as competitor to be cheer squad. To do so they needed another challenger to be found to take on the giant that was Mt. Gravatt. Now, as that wonderful old Biblical story goes, a David did arise this particular day at Kalanger Park to take up this giant challenge. Only difference was – this David was my big brother. He would not have missed this day for anything and joined Bancroft, Tom, Pip as team leader for the day. You know, for a loving and peaceful denomination, it was just amazing how agro and macho the day’s play soon became. Maybe it had just a little to do with the winning tactics of a small band of boys from that low ranked place called Coopers. Well, play to your strengths was the immediate thought that entered the Mt. Gravatt leaders head. So, the first event scheduled was a tug-of-war contest. I tell you true, we were out numbered and out muscled. David summed it up very quickly and so began the first round as the back anchor but positioned in close proximately to the woodlands. On the PULL signal, David tied his rope end to the tree and so effortlessly delivered the first victory for the band of Coopers lightweights. Now folks, they may be religious but they were not dumb. David was disqualified from taking any more part in this event but sportingly our team remained in the competition. Round two – we were up against the mighty Mt. Gravatt. This time we were without David’s body weight, but luckily, not without his guile. He ran to his car and rummaged through the boot and soon returned with a long object stuck up his shirt. He whispered the instructions as he set me up in his favoured anchor position. He tied the rope securely around my waist and then stood by as coach waiting for the signal to pull. Everything looked set both teams took the strain you could just see that the huge Mt Gravatt pack was ready to flick us back over their heads like flyweight lures on a trout fisherman’s line. PULL!! I spun around as planned and faced the opposite direction. I grabbed the longest screwdriver I have ever seen from under David’s shirt and planted it deep into that Kalanga Park and there it stayed. Soon after, my hips and legs were airborne but, my hands held on securely to that territorial stake. WE HELD THEM!! Their disbelief at not achieving a quick and comprehensive victory soon ushered in doubts which caused some concern which weakened their resolve which lost them the match. WE WON! David had beaten a giant and the screwdriver disappeared from view just like the rock in the giants head of old.
