The good old days of 'handshake deals'

While some people genuinely seem to enjoy change, I know others that are rather vocal in expressing their disdain at the very mention of the word! But change is inevitable. Like it or not, our bodies will change, just for starters. You just don’t notice it as quickly in your more youthful years.

Earlier generations lived through change that moved at a snail’s pace, compared to what we live with today. Yep, like it or not, our world has hugely changed and continues to.

I acknowledge some of it is good and beneficial, but there’s plenty that’s not.

In the rural community I was raised in, we never locked our vehicles, or our house. Our fuel was not kept under lock and key. I don’t recommend you do that today in our “changed-for-the-better” world! I have no memories of any of our neighbours being burgled, or ever having stuff stolen from them. So… where are you at with this stuff today that gets called ‘progress’? Progress? Yeah, right!

With my Dad, as with previous generations, business was often settled with a handshake. It meant much more back then than signatures and ‘contracts’ seem to mean today.

I was told a story very recently, which really impressed me. I like to be as accurate as possible with stories from yesteryear, so I followed it up and spoke with one of the people involved.

Read More:

• 'A man just can't sit around'
• Help is available, you're not alone
• 'We need a heart change'

A property purchase was finalised and then settled with a handshake. The seller was an elderly lady; she was a genuine ‘Old Timer’ he told me. Two or three days later, someone came to her and offered her more money for her property than the handshake deal agreed on. But she was very adamant, it was already sold. She knew what a handshake meant, he said. That old-school honour, respect and trust, sealed with a handshake, stood the test.

I like that, it’s my kind of story. And it’s a story that needs to be retold.

We have great Aussie friends, mates they call us, who we have known for decades. They lived in the Northern Territory for many years. They were actually living up in Darwin when Cyclone Tracy wrecked the place, Christmas Eve of ’74.

They knew a wealthy ‘cattle baron’ from a huge cattle station up there. They told us he did all his business with a handshake. Yep, multi-millions of dollars went through those handshakes. And no bigbucks lawyers were ever needed in an attempt to unravel the ‘contracts’.

So for sure many changes have been good and beneficial. There have been advances and breakthroughs, and no doubt there will continue to be. Our farming sector is truly a world leader now in many such areas and should be supported in that.

But as I have illustrated above, we have also lost our way somewhat when it comes to our principles and values. As a culture, the number of people we can truly trust now has shrunk considerably over just a few decades. Sadly, that’s the truth!

And survey after survey consistently show our politicians to be among the least trusted in our nation. Think about that for a moment.

Any people who allow the least trusted among them to write the rules around free speech, and then police them, then indeed, dumb and silent as sheep to the slaughter, they will be led.

And yes, the One I trust the most has never let me down! Keep well and God bless.

To contact Colin: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.