Fred Brophy: The Last of the Showmen I first met Fred Brophy when the Variety NT Bash passed through Birdsville many years ago. That year the Bash ended at the Birdsville Cup, a horse race that just like the lesser known Melbourne Cup stops the nation, well that piece of the nation anyway. Fred was up on the boards, pounding the drum and calling for all contenders to step up and face one of his seasoned boxers in what was to be a show of grit, sweat, some blood and a few tears. These bouts, as serious as the boxers play the role are pure entertainment, where ambition will sometimes suffer through a lack of ability, but hell; what better display of the Australian spirit, Aussies having a go against the odds. Fred is the professional Showman and in the modern day, the last of the knuckle men. He has walked the boards a million times, spruiking, teasing, challenging and tormenting the assembled crowd at his feet. It is all about putting on a show, and a great show at that. Hopefuls of all ages line up to take on the crop of Fred’s charges or gladiators of the ring as Fred fondly refers to them, there’s been the Cowboy, the Masked Marvel and “Chopsticks” just to name a few. Some challengers go the distance, some fall a little short but at the end of every stoush there is a certain hero status awarded to those who rise to Fred’s call. All of a sudden this normal Joe Blow from the crowd becomes a “someone”, there are slaps on the back from total strangers and even a few shouts over the bar of the pub. Stories grow and legends are born. A long time ago Fred realised that his chosen profession, following the outback shows and racing circuits didn’t contribute to a weekly wage and where being on the road most of the year tends not to lead to the security of a superannuation plan and a few dollars put aside for his retirement. Fred decided to put his small nest egg into the one basket….the small Queensland town of Cracow. Fred and his wife, Sandi over the years have brought up nearly all the real estate that comes up for sale in Cracow. They don’t just own the hotel, in fact Fred and Sandi own nearly the whole town. And this is where I have ran into Fred once again, him behind the bar and me on the paying side. I have had the pleasure to have a couple of beers at the Cracow hotel, a couple of times with Fred as the host and a few times when he has been out on his beloved outback roads, encouraging a few would be “champs” to step up and pull on the gloves. I believe Fred Brophy will never retire, someday the boxing tent will be put up and not pulled down, the crowds will gather at his feet, the pounding of the drum will continue to call out to all challengers and up to the boards, the last of the showmen will continue to shine on, a true blue icon in his own right and part of the very fabric that is simply; Australia. Images used with the approval of Fred Brophy (Unsponsored)
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 05:46:18 +0000
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