Economic freedom and the old school tie

At the school reunion, which I initially tried desperately to get out of because it sounded too pretentious (middle-aged blokes reminiscing about their privileged formative years wasn’t exactly my cup of tea) but was persuaded collectively to attend by many sincere and well intended old friends, I got to answer the question “why?”.

Why is my Class of ’77 doing exceedingly well in life while my class mates through Cunnamulla Junior High School, in the main, continue to experience challenging times?

The social capital paradigm provided me with answers based on a group’s practical capacity to identify and maintain its complex network of associates operating directly and indirectly with them.

Bonding is often the category where most of my Cunnamulla class mates would get a tick because they have fairly close family links and enjoy relatively amiable relationships with people they know in their small community, especially in times of crisis: floods and drought.

Bridging is a little more difficult to achieve as many Indigenous people lose contact with many of their white class mates as they drift apart after school years while chasing different career paths: some inherit family businesses while others get the nod for scarce jobs in their small country town through family connections.

Linking is nearly impossible to gain a tick on, as many of my mob are looked upon by those in authority as not being a big vote issue (at election time) or are not seen as significant economic contributors to their “white” community.

I’m not sure whether my good fortune on occasions could be put down to the old school tie connections or simply a coincidence.

Take my only success in my domestic legal campaign over the E.S. “Nigger” Brown Stand as a case in point. My barrister was in my class of ’77 and the presiding Federal Court Judge was an Ashgrove old boy.

Then take the time I applied to get a home loan from the Commonwealth Bank and was approved on the spot and given special treatment - something that I just didn’t expect - and yes again the bank manager was an Ashgrove old boy.

There have been other notable instances of good fortune that I suspect have arisen through a connection with my old school tie.

At the reunion dinner, after the Past Students Eucharistic Celebration in the Chapel of Our Lady and St Marcellin, in the spectacular function centre overlooking The John Eales Oval, business cards were being handed out like confetti with offers of the best legal advice, stock market pointers, discounts on European cars and so on.

This socialising process of business card distribution is the raw ingredient that enhances ones chances of leap-frogging the field to achieve a goal; social or economic, with all active players knowing that favours gained through the old school tie connection will be reciprocated, when called upon, in the future.