Sports

From Olympic Coach & Glory to Greater Things

From then on with his new career path established. I stepped back from further involvement. Lawrie became a regular guest on TV and radio shows promoting children’s water safety. Using his own initiative he managed to attract Government interest in sponsorship of an educational program he had developed. Named “Kids Alive Do the Five.” the program took public awareness about children and the water safety issues to new heights.

His corporate motivational speaking career had also skyrocketed which suggested some of the “Lawrence of Australia” brochures must have survived the waste paper bins.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
During the early days Lawrie used to call at my home to discuss different ideas.On one very forgettable occasion he declared he would like to try singing and then release a record of songs he had written. “Oh great!” I said. “You want to be the next Slim Dusty do you?” (A famous Australian country and western singer).

Fortunately that matter went nowhere, though it did waste a bit of time with Lawrie belting out tunes in recording studios. We tried more than one. Lawrie said he thought their equipment was the problem.(with a twinkle in his eye) I remember entering one studio and Lawrie, trying to look serious asked the studio producer. “Hey mate, how many records do I have to sell to go Platinum?” 
 
On another occasion he arrived at my place looking very excited.

“John guess what! Toyota  Australia have told me they want me to do six talks. One in every State of Australia.”

“Great!” I said, “How do you feel about that?”

”Very happy in one way, he said. But I’m also worried”.

“Why? For heaven’s sake, I asked.

“Mate, they want me to talk about marketing. Me talk about marketing? I haven’t got a clue about that sort of stuff.”

“Actually Lawrie, I said. You’re the ideal person to talk about marketing at this point in time”. 

“You must be crazy, John!” he said. 

“Lawrie think about it. One of the biggest sales ever, has been made on behalf of Australia and you, more than anyone I know are better placed to explain to a corporate audience how it happened.  It’s currently the hottest marketing story in Australia, you can tell it, and the Toyota people will love it!”

“Mate, what are you talking about?” he said.

“Lawrie, can you think of any sale more important to Australia from a tourism and export perspective than Sydney winning the right to host the 2000 Olympic Games?”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
“I see your point, but what can I do? I don’t know much about what went on at that level!”

“That may be so Lawrie. But you can find out all you need to know by contacting the key players responsible for Sydney getting the nod. You could phone Rod McGeoch the Sydney lawyer who used up five passports over two years, travelling the world, shaking hands, and eating all sorts of exotic foods, many of which apparently upset him terribly. Rod McGeoch’s efforts were outstanding. Heroic even”.

“Mate, I don’t know him,” Lawrie commented.

Lawrie, that wont matter, I replied. He will know who you are. Just pick up the phone and say, “Rod, it’s Lawrie Lawrence here, I want to tell all Australia what a great job you did in helping Australia win the Games for Sydney. Rod will be delighted to receive your call and he deserves great credit.                                                                                             

Then call Sallyanne Atkinson. Ask Sallyanne for the interesting bits of how she went about the bid that laid the foundation for Sydney’s win. That was Brisbane’s bid when she was the Lord Mayor. She will be happy to oblige. I’ll bet on it. She’s an ex journalist herself. While you are at it, see if you can find out from Sallyanne how Melbourne ran its bid after Brisbane. Sallyanne also helped with that”.

Lawrie grinned. “John, thanks mate, that’s really great!  It’s  fantastic, that’s a real load off my mind.” Lawrie told me later that the Toyota people thought his marketing presentation was great too. I was pleased for him. He was more than capable of coaching in this new lane.

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