Roger Moroney: Not a reference in sight

When Roger Moroney applied for his jobs there was not a CV in sight.

Life is filled with things called "pivotal" moments.

Memorable moments.

Moments that leave a mark on the memory.

Moments that can spark directions in which your life is going to lead.

And two of them emerge in the early years.

First day at school and first day on the first job you take on … to make enough money to pay board to mum and dad and start saving for … something.

And of that first day at school, for many folk the very first teacher they have engraves his or her personality into their memory.

And most people I bring this up with always seem to remember the name of their very first teacher, despite the decades which have rolled by.

My first day at school was guided by a most wonderful young lady who made me happy to be there, and happy to learn.

And my first day on my first job was equally memorable, for being a complete shambles.

The thing about starting one's life at school is that you don't have to produce a CV or letters from a couple of "referees" which must be attached to your application.

Naa, just take a lunchbox and a sunhat and she's all on.

But jobs today?

Volumes of paperwork required.

However, before I ramble on any further let me now declare that I do not have, nor ever had, a CV … or references from anybody about my ability to stuff something up.

Never … so I'd be end of the queue if I went hunting for a work gig these days.

Back in around April of 1971 I called it quits at high school.

I was 16 and someone mentioned they were looking for a junior storeman at a place called The Stevenson Trading Company so I rolled up and the boss bloke just nodded and said "you can start tomorrow".

I lasted one day.

Roger Moroney

No kidding … walked in at 8am and was handed a broom and told I would be the sweeper and cleaner for a few weeks before being given any packing roles.

So at afternoon tea break I told the boss I was going home and wouldn't be back.

He just shrugged.

But within a week dad heard of another warehouse place which might be looking for "a young fella" and I got the job.

Straight into packing orders and unloading trucks and whatever was required … loved it, and after eight months I'd saved enough to buy my first motorcycle.

I still have a pay envelope (handwritten) from September 1971 which declares I had earned $37.76 for that week.

I stuck around for about a year then decided to step up the fashion pace … got a job in an insurance company as a file sorter/dogsbody/junior cadet and got to wear a tie!

One of those elastic strap ones as I had no idea how to tie the real thing.

Again, no CV or references required.

I answered the ad, spoke to the manager and he simply said "we'll give you a shot at it".

Then, after a year, and in my 18th year, I took off to a local wool store for what was well-paid seasonable work because I wanted to venture to London before I turned 20.

Great days with some great, tough and funny workmates … and after 11 months of scouring around England and Europe I returned there … and stayed for eight years.

I was into motorcycling in a big way then and wrote to the local paper suggesting I could write a fortnightly road test for them, as I knew the local dealers and they were happy to loan me a bike … as it became a free half-page ad for them.

The editor said yep, and two years later invited me to take on a general reporting role as I seemed to know a verb from a noun.

So, in late '84, after a short meeting with the ed, I embarked on the reporting road … for 36 years.

With not a reference or referee to be found.