Pinnacle PeteBy Leon Christiansen

Pinnacle Pete
By Leon Christiansen

Here’s a tale of Pinnacle Pete
A farmer, a father, a pilot, a husband
A son, a brother, and a mate
Nobody could have predicted such a sad fate

You see, it was earlier events that set this scene
A powerful and positive man
Not wanting to let down his team

A new purchase from Dalby stock or sale
Leaving a brain injury
With no recollection to tell the tale

Five more years of battling this turmoil
Endless rehab
A loss of identity
And social support causing him to recoil

With dry times
Three sons to set up on the land
And a sense of pride
He felt the world better without him
And Lord knows he really tried

That December morning, darkness took over him
As he drove that paddock
The gun loaded to make the lights go dim

His family’s world turned inside out
The pain he left behind
Not intended, no doubt.

You see men, I know life gets tough
And I can understand you feeling you’ve had enough
Rest assured, though – this is a temporary phase
And I’m here to give you hope that there’ll be better days

Pinnacle Pete’s brain no longer functioned the same
And after what he’d been through, I held no blame
But if he knew the devastation it caused
I’m sure he would have stopped a bit longer and paused

Life has plenty of challenges
And ends soon enough on its own
So when things get too rough
Pick up that bloody phone

I can vouch we’d rather help you through your pain
Than host your funeral too soon , what a shame.

Oh, this life has its twists and turns
And that’s why I’m on a mission to help others learn
The stories we tell ourselves are mostly rubbish
And I have a dream where I see us all flourish

Pinnacle Pete, your memory will forever remain
As I’m your son
And here to help others release their shame and blame

I’m here to give love, hope, and inspiration
So band together with me
And let’s change this whole bloody nation