October 16, 2012
If you don’t have a go, you’ll never know and you might regret it … Is it better to regret not doing it or doing it and failing? But you never really fail. You may not meet your expectations but you will never fail. You have gained that experience.”‘
These were some of the words of advice former Member for Nanango Dorothy Pratt had for Year 11 students at the Quota Club of Kingaroy’s annual student breakfast.
The students, from Nanango State High School and St Mary’s Catholic College, enjoyed breakfast at the Kingaroy Coffee Lounge last Thursday morning as guests of the club.
Every year the Quota Club invites students who are considering their future career choices to listen to local speaker with a story of inspiration.
Dorothy was elected to State Parliament in 1998 and retired at this year’s election.
She spoke of how her childhood – and especially her father – had shaped her character and determination.
“I was tormented and abused as a child … father would take a whip to us,” she said.
“But every negative in your life is a bonus because it is giving you a skill that you can use later in life.”
Her father gave her determination and persistence.
To “escape”, she dropped out of school and went nursing. She married at the age of 16 years and 11 months. A few months later she had a baby …
Dorothy worked in a truckstop, then in a Chinese restaurant and became a “jill of all trades”.
“I met lots and lots of people and they all taught me something,” she said.
“Every individual you meet in life has something to offer you.”
The skills she picked up eventually led her to running her own cafe.
“On the one hand I hated my father and on the other I love him because he gave me what I have today.”
Dorothy said she had been a very shy, introverted type of person.
“Then one day I was asked would I like to be the representative for this area. I was so shy, I couldn’t say no.
“I was too afraid to say no to anything. Because I didn’t have the courage to say ‘no’ – again, because of my father – it gave me everything I have today.
“I have been privileged to have had the job. I was not highly educated but I’ve learned a lot … the School of Hard Knocks, I think.
“My grandmother unwittingly planted a seed in my brain which was a lie … it was ‘when opportunity knocks, grab it’. But opportunity knocks every single minute of every single day. It may be talking to someone or not talking to someone, helping someone or some woman walking into your shop …”
Dorothy urged the students to remember that everyone they spoke could be a potential employer in the future.
“You don’t know when your big break will come,” she said.
Dorothy said that for the first 4 1/2 years that she was in State Parliament she hated every bit of it.
“I loved being out in the community talking to people but in Parliament, I hated it.
“The Government has their plans, the Opposition has their plans and both try to squeeze the independents and minor parties.
“You have to play a game of chess constantly … you have to constantly use your brain – which I never thought I had. I was blonde! From a young age I was told I had been told I was a dumb blonde, and that plays on your mind.”
Dorothy told the students that they were spoiled for choice in their career options but she was sure that whatever that chose, they would not be doing that job in 25 years’ time:
“Life is like a tiger, massive and full of energy. Grab that tiger by the tail and you’ll never know where you end up!”
