I was only 7 years old when my grandfather Ron Simmons died of prostate cancer. And in that time he taught me vital lessons that will stick with me until I meet him again.  

Although my memories are hazy, I’ll do my best to introduce you to him and why he is such an important figure and a few lessons we can all learn from him.

My Grandpa

Before he gave life to my mum, he fought in WW2. He was trained paratrooper who fought the Japanese by jumping out of airplanes into hostile territory.

Basically, he’s awesome, and has the medals to prove it. He and his wife never spoke about WW2 and what he did over there because the memories were too painful.

That isn’t important. What is important is he put his life on the line so I could have mine and for that I’m thankful. After WW2 and at the end of the great depression, he, and my grandma settled down and gave birth to my mother.  

What He Did For A Living

This is where my memory gets hazy and I’m not sure of the timeline, but both my grandparents travelled around Central Australia before and after I was born running hotels.

Grandad would tend to the bar and grandma was in charge of the kitchen and was a mean dessert cook. Her desserts were fantastic and something my brothers and sisters always looked forward to when we visited them.

But I’m getting off track.

While tending bars, he dealt with the original Australians. These people were forced from their land and killed by the English after Australia was discovered and colonized in 1788. They didn’t trust the white man and a lot of white Australians didn’t really understand or trust them either.

Note- Please understand I’m taking a generalized view.

However, my granddad wasn’t one of those people. Because he dealt with the Aboriginals on a daily basis, often when they were drinking and vulnerable, he gained their trust and this trust went both ways.

Granddad Was Good With His Hands

He built his house with his own hands. and he got help from his Aboriginal friends. He trusted them enough with his own home, and it was nothing to do with their skin color. My grandfather trusted them because they were friends and were good with their hands.

Because of this there was Indigenous art hanging in the house which I would ask questions about. Getting exposed to this at an early age helps me be less weary and more accepting of Australia’s original inhabitants.

When my parents bought their first house, with financial help from my grandparents, he built my brothers and sisters a

  • Sandpit
  • A playground with a slide and a swing
  • Cubby House shaped as a Pyramid with all the trimmings

As you can imagine, there was hours of fun spent on all three, thanks to my grandfather.

Father’s Day Got Me Thinking…..

One of my fondest memories of my grandfather was when he squeezed me, and my brother into his little V Dub and brought us down to the local bar where everyone knew him.

He propped me and my brother on a bar stool at the bar and he ordered us both a lemonade. I remember the look of pride he has on his face as he showed off his grand-kids to his friends. It’s something I’ll never forget.

Plus, on his deathbed, he requested to be at home, with his bed facing out into the backyard to admire his work.  When my family came to visit, he’d prop me up on his bed and he’d tell me about all the stuff he was going to build me.

He didn’t talk or shed a tear to me about what was happening to him because he knew I didn’t understand. However, he taught me a few lessons which I’m beginning to realize now.

The Lessons

Thanks for reading this far and I’ll finally get to the point of writing this post.

If you and I were a bit more like my grandfather, building friendships that crossed boundaries, sacrificing for his country, putting others before himself and being a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, the world would be in a better place.

Ron Simmons continues to be an example on how I should live my life. To be a better father, better husband, and a better friend. He still serves as a reminder even though he left this earth over 40 years ago.

Wrapping Up

This wasn’t easy to write and tears were shed. It’s my hope you got something out of this, something to think about and apply to your own life. Happy belated Father’s Day.

12 Comments

  1. Rhonda

    Thanks for the lovely story..glad he was in your life!

    • Balance Guy Training

      Me too. Thanks Rhonda and thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

  2. bill

    Parallels my fathers WWII experience and life after the war here in the US. Good stuff.

    • Balance Guy Training

      Thanks Bill and thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

  3. donna

    “If you and I were a bit more like my grandfather, building friendships that crossed boundaries, sacrificing for his country, putting others before himself and being a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, that the world would be in a better place now.”
    Truly spoken!
    What a great, heartfelt remembrance of your grandfather. I appreciate your sharing that story!

    • Balance Guy Training

      Thanks Donna and thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

  4. Duane and Marilyn

    Thanks for sharing about your Grandfather; it is awesome. Now we know YOU better, reading what you wrote from your heart. You are right; what the world needs is more love and understanding for others.

    • Balance Guy Training

      I’m honored you took the time to read and leave a comment. Thank you. I hope you guys are hanging in there.

  5. Sarah Mclean

    Thanks brother. We miss you alot.

  6. About Me - Balance Guy Training

    […] My Grandma remarked after they bought me and my dog back “What if they took him?” […]

  7. Patience: Who’s Got Time For That? - Balance Guy Training

    […] child, and your parents almost always told you to show patience? Mum, when is it dinner time? 6 pm, Shane, and for the love of God, show some patience. Who can be patient when they’re hungry? Dad, […]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *