Photo: Supplied.
Name: Russell Dinte.
Suburb: Thornlands.
What’s your job? Since 1988, I have been retired. I realised very quickly that in order leave these earthly environs at a respectable age and mind still capable of rational thought, I needed to keep my physical self reasonably active and my mind constantly challenged. Volunteer work satisfied these requirements, and so for the past 36 years, I have been offering my services to the community in whatever constructive opportunity presented itself. Currently I am a member of two car clubs: I am the President of the Queensland American Ford V8 Car Club, and am responsible for the audio/PA equipment of the Bayside Car Club, however the job that keeps me ‘challenged’ is my role as IT Manager at the Redland Museum. I also look after the sound and lighting for Theatre Redlands – at this rate I should receive a letter from the King before I depart!
Do you have any fun/interesting stories about your job? If my time in the Army is considered a job (it’s more a duty), then there is one instance that occurred in Vietnam. Whilst not funny at the time, it has certainly engendered many laughs at our reunions. I was in Service Corps driving a truck, but for one error of judgment, lost my driving license for three months. Lying on my bed all day drinking beer and listening to music was not an option, so I was given the twice-daily job of burning out the ‘dunnies’. The toilets were merely a BIG hole with six to eight seats sitting on a framework above – they were definitely communal! The procedure was to pour a fair quantity of dieseline into the hole and set it alight. This burnt for an hour or so, and it was amusing to watch some poor soul having to sit on a very hot metal toilet seat. (You will need to use your imagination for this part.). One day I accidently poured petrol into the hole instead of dieseline and threw in the lighted taper. The resulting explosion blew many of the metal seats into the air and distributed a good deal of the contents from the hole around the area – my license was soon reinstated.
What’s your favourite local take-away? Thornlands Seafood and Takeaway.
Best local activity: Going on club runs with the Bayside Car Club.
What was the last book you read? Rosco. Ross McGlashan has built an incredible rocket-powered car in Western Australia, and his dream is to set a world land speed record of 1,600Kph (1,000Mph) – I wish him luck.
What was the last TV show or movie you watched? I don’t watch much TV, but I do find Escape to the Country is easy to watch when I need to wind down.
Is there anything you’d like to see happen in the local area? Actually, I’d like nothing to happen, I loved this area the way it was with its country atmosphere when we moved here in 1966.
Is there a local business/community group/club you’d like to give a shout-out to? I would have to nominate the Redland Museum for being voted Champion of the Redlands Business Excellence Award on more than one occasion.
