Ian "Watto" Watson has been a family friend for over 25 years. In 1986 he gifted me the book Maximized Manhood by Edwin Louis Cole. A book that challenged me to consider the type of man I was growing up to be - but Cole is a writer from the United States and Aussie blokes are a different breed altogether from our mates across the ocean. Finally, an Aussie bloke, has written in a way most Aussie blokes can relate to and understand.
When I was growing up, "Watto" was the other Dad in my life. You know the blokes. They say the same things as your Dad says to you, but you listen to them, not your Dad. I have been advised, cajoled, listened to, coached and most importantly of all- encouraged; by the truck driving, AFL loving, founder of Shed Happens- "Watto".
"Watto's" leading catchphrase in his book Every Bloke's a Champion. Even You (Watto Books www.ianwatto.com), is "I've never seen a bloke go backwards with encouragement." It has been an honour to have had many years of encouragement from "Watto" and now others have the privilege to have their own lecture from "Watto" in 231 pages of pure "Watto".
Yes, this book is written in the way "Watto" speaks- direct, to the point, but in the language the "average punter" will understand.
As the back cover blurb summarises the common state of the Aussie bloke today, we gain insight into "Watto's" passion to set free the modern Australian male:
Finances, fatherhood, divorce, depression, anger, broken dreams. The modern male has a lot to contend with. But Watto says every bloke's a champion, even you- and he means it. His straightforward words-from- the-heart help men achieve the turbocharged life they've dreamed of but never thought they could have.
"Watto" travels Australia talking to, challenging and encouraging men to be the men they were called to be at Shed Happens (www.shednight.com to find a Shed Happens near you), but this book confronts many of the issues "Watto" had to face as a young man and into his twilight years.
From losing a mother and sister tragically, to his local AFL football days of anger, his time in National Service and the Public Service, to the circumstances surrounding his founding of a successful truck driver training school on the north side of Brisbane and in his later years, his battle with prostate cancer.
If you are an Aussie bloke who needs to confront years of hatred, anger, broken dreams, problems with your mother or father, broken trust, the battle in the man of lust v love- then this is the book for you.
"Watto's" desire is to see you get rid of the rocks around your heart and allow "The Bloke Upstairs", whose wisdom is found in the pages of "The Work Manual",to change your life.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36 verse 26 NIV).
Russell Modlin teaches English and Physical Education at a Christian School on the Sunshine Coast. He is married to Belinda and they have three children.
Russell Modlin's archive of previous article can be found at www.pressserviceinternational.org/russell-modlin.html