Jim:
An Australian Hero
The Story
of James Percy Collett
as told to
Maria Ngo
Maria Ngo
Description
This
is a story of gum trees, cobbled streets and long cups of tea shared between
good friends.
It
is a story that spans over a century. It encompasses rural Victorian life in
the early period of Australian settlement to life in the suburbs of Melbourne
in the present day.
This
stirring tale captures the freedom of romping through native bushland and of
sleeping under the stars. It is also a tale of waking up in a mice-ridden
cellar and studying by the stub of a candle’s glow.
Jim’s
biography moves rapidly from one poignant account to another – a miraculous
deliverance from addictive smoking, two world wars, life as a ganger on the
railway and then as a Missioner to the ‘lowest of the low’ in Melbourne city.
He lived for nearly twenty years among drunks, thieves, murderers and other
hurting and damaged souls ravaged by alcohol abuse.
James
Collett drew the best out of each person he knew. He was ‘Jim’, ‘Mr C’, ‘Uncle
Jim,’ ‘Dad’ and ‘Grandpa’. By whichever name he was fondly and respectfully
called, his legacy lives on. Jim’s biography will inspire and change you. You
will not be able to look at your world and life in the same way again.
This is a story of gum trees, cobbled streets and long cups of tea shared between good friends.
It is a story that spans over a century. It encompasses rural Victorian life in the early period of Australian settlement to life in the suburbs of Melbourne in the present day.
This stirring tale captures the freedom of romping through native bushland and of sleeping under the stars. It is also a tale of waking up in a mice-ridden cellar and studying by the stub of a candle’s glow.
Jim’s biography moves rapidly from one poignant account to another – a miraculous deliverance from addictive smoking, two world wars, life as a ganger on the railway and then as a Missioner to the ‘lowest of the low’ in Melbourne city. He lived for nearly twenty years among drunks, thieves, murderers and other hurting and damaged souls ravaged by alcohol abuse.
James Collett drew the best out of each person he knew. He was ‘Jim’, ‘Mr C’, ‘Uncle Jim,’ ‘Dad’ and ‘Grandpa’. By whichever name he was fondly and respectfully called, his legacy lives on. Jim’s biography will inspire and change you. You will not be able to look at your world and life in the same way again.
Reviews
I have just finished your book and thoroughly enjoyed it and
felt blessed and enriched by your account of this man's life.
I also found myself impressed by the long-term relationship
of care and communication that you and your family developed with Jim – what a
wonderful and mutually enriching time that must have been!
I liked the way you interspersed Jim's story with the
personal letters and your own real-time reflections – this technique gave a
kind of reality and validity to the story.
I hope that lots of people read your work and are blessed by
it.
Ray Tiller, Owner,
Equipping Christian Schools
Jim Collett’s life which spans more than a century from his birth in 1902 with descriptions as a rural labourer appear far-fetched and removed from our comfortable, well-nourished lives today.
His matter-of-fact descriptions of growing up in a large
poor family in a rural town, his rudimentary schooling with few resources or
books, the need to leave school early and find work far from home were in fact
the norm for large numbers of his generation.
Today’s parents and young people would be shocked by the freedom
young people had to roam the countryside with no supervision.
Jim’s life resonates with some of the anecdotes told to me
of their earlier life, by my parents and their friends who also grew up in the
country.
Jim learnt the hard way that not all employers were humane
or honest – yet his story bears no resentment. Jim’s gentle, trusting nature
shines through.
Jim’s recollections of life as a railway ganger records
something of the lives of the men who hammered out the rail networks of our
State before the advent of good roads and B-double trucks.
In the background, we glimpse the lives of Jim’s mother and
wife, the hardships they faced in feeding and clothing their children and in
caring for their health before antibiotics.
When I started work in the city in the early 1960s, men,
such as those to whom Jim ministered as a missioner of Melbourne City Mission,
were often seen around the streets and lanes.
Rena Pritchard,
an editor for a small publishing company,
grew up in rural Victoria,
the daughter of an itinerant school teacher
an editor for a small publishing company,
grew up in rural Victoria,
the daughter of an itinerant school teacher
World leaders often go down in history – some further down
than others. Jim Collett goes in the opposite direction. From an impoverished
deprived start in life he goes on to soar ever higher, a helping hero to
countless thousands. It happened because he met God. Through Jim, history
becomes His story. God transformed Jim and through him, many others. By reading
this book God may do the same for you.
Dr Stuart Robinson, author and Founding Pastor,
Crossway, Melbourne
The story of James Percy Collett is a must read for those
who want to understand what makes a great Aussie. This book covers 98% of the
20th Century in Australia and provides keen insights into how one man made it
through the hard times, and then helped countless others go past him. Everyone
will see something of themselves in this story.
George Buchanan, Director of Ministries
Christian Community Churches Victoria and Tasmania (CCCVaT)
In an age of short cuts, deceptions and death, Jim’s life is
a clarion call to once again find the way, the truth and the life. I recommend
this to all who are seeking to walk the narrow way of radical discipleship. You
are not alone – the path has been beaten down by heroes such as Jim. His
commitment to and suffering for Christ put many of our temporary inconveniences
to shame and provide us with some much needed perspective.
Jon Owen, Urban Neighbours of Hope,
author of Muddy Spirituality
I have ... thoroughly totally enjoyed it. It was a very
emotional journey as it brought back so many memories. You captured Dad's
personality perfectly, it was as if he were here talking of all his
experiences. Bless you for that, he certainly would have loved reading it too, I
can honestly say my family members also enjoyed it tremendously, having tissues
at the ready ... and recommending it to others as well.
Dorothy Pitt,
Daughter of Jim Collett
… enthralled … couldn’t put
it down.
Frances Holland,
former KYB (Know Your Bible) leader
I enjoyed Jim's story very much – what an amazing life he
lived! The stories of the hard times in his early years and his incredible
ministry at the Melbourne City Mission were fascinating.
It was an interesting writing style to make it sound as if
it was a conversation with Jim …
I have actually loaned the book to my Mum – I know the
stories of the poor circumstances and difficult childhood will resonate with
her.
Jenny Wraight, Children and Family Ministries Coordinator
CCCVaT (Christian Community Churches of Victoria and Tasmania)
… enjoyed it very much ... a very detailed account of what
life was like during those shocking years in the Wimmera and Mallee region
during the first half of the twentieth century. I have read nothing else that
describes those years so dramatically.
Jim’s life was not one that calls up a lot of attention, but
the world – and Melbourne in particular – are the better because of the life of
Jim.
Arthur Tonkin,
former Manager of Methodist Book Depot Theological Department
I arrived in Melbourne in 1961 as a twelve year old. The social structures were changing. At this time Jim was the Missioner at the Melbourne City Mission, therefore I can relate to the era well.
My father-in-law, Frank Paydon, (dec), was of Jim’s era. He would often talk about his life and the working conditions where he worked, albeit in the Melbourne Metro area.
Between Jim’s and my father-in-law’s recollections I have an understanding of how difficult life was in the early 1900’s.
When I started to read about Jim, I intended to take my time over a couple of weeks. Once started, I hardly put the book down! It is such an inspirational account of a man’s life who lived to be over 100 years.
David Nisbet
A 69 year old inspired reader
What this book can do for you ...
Give you an insight into the untold story of many many
Australians for whom ‘poverty’ was the norm in early-mid 20th
century Australia where, Drought, Depression and War cast its pall over the
nation.
Help young people who live in developed nations today gain
an appreciation for what they enjoy (but take for granted) in their ‘lucky
country’.
Give you a close-encounter into the struggles of those whose
lives have been ruined by gambling, alcohol and other addictions and have been
driven to live on the streets.
Give you hope, strength and courage if you are engaged in
social work or ministry with the marginalised and those who live on the fringes
of society for whom mere survival is a daily concern.
And if you have parents or grandparents who lived in
Australia during the pre-war and post-war years (in especially rural
Australia), this book will also help you understand them better.
About the author
Maria Ngo lives in a small Melbourne suburb teeming with
cherry blossom trees with her husband Lionel, children Melanie and Bryan, and
their tri-coloured collie Maxi. She loves travel, nature, photography and zumba.
To purchase copies of this book
Your favourite book seller, Google Books, Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and
Xlibris.com.au
Xlibris Corporation
1-800-618-969
www.Xlibris.com.au
ISBN
9781479760718 (hardback)
9781479760701 (paperback)
9781479760725 (e-book)
356 pp
I arrived in Melbourne in 1961 as a twelve year old. The social structures were changing. At this time Jim was the Missioner at the Melbourne City Mission, therefore I can relate to the era well.
ReplyDeleteMy father-in-law, Frank Paydon, (dec), was of Jim’s era. He would often talk about his life and the working conditions where he worked, albeit in the Melbourne Metro area.
Between Jim’s and my father-in-law’s recollections I have an understanding of how difficult life was in the early 1900’s.
When I started to read about Jim, I intended to take my time over a couple of weeks. Once started, I hardly put the book down! It is such an inspirational account of a man’s life who lived to be over 100 years.
David Nisbet
A 69 year old inspired reader.