Here was a crisis. Dad was out of action (with an injury) and could be for some weeks. It was the busiest time of the year and the neighbours were all hard pressed to keep up with their own work.
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The milking was in full swing and the oats, to be cut for hay, were ripening fast.
Dad had just started into the crop with the reaper and binder before he fell ill.
"We'll have to get young Jim home, he could do it," said Dad. "He had a go at driving the binder last time and handled it all right for a few rounds."
Mother demurred against this. "We should not take him away from high school," she said. "He has been doing so well."
But Dad could see no other way and so Jim came home - on his bike, tired and sore after pedalling the 22 miles of raw gravel road.
His meagre baggage and books would be sent up with the mailman.
Young Jim with the stoicism of his upbringing and the determination of his mind got the binder going and kept it going for a week until the crop was cut.
By then the last school term was almost over and it was too late for Jim to resume high school before the Christmas holidays. But Mum decided he should go to Goulburn and talk to Headmaster Blumer.
As was her usual custom, Mum went to do her shopping at Knowlman's and was waiting at the Manchester counter when Johnny Knowlman the friendly proprietor came along.
"And what have you been up to young man?" he asked Jim.
Unlike many kids of the country, Jim was in no way shy and told him brightly "Well I've just finished driving the binder to cut our crop."
"Driving the binder?" Johnny looked at him disbelievingly.
"Yes," said Mum "his father was laid up with a poisoned arm and we had to bring Jim home from high school to do the harvesting."
Johnny was impressed. "And are you going to be a farmer then?" he asked.
"Aw I dunno," said Jim shyly. "I really want to be a journalist."
"Well," said Johnny Knowlman "would you like to write something for me - for The Corner Voice?"
The Corner Voice was a little in-house magazine that Knowlman published each month with news of the store and its wares, spiced up with odd items about customers and happenings of the district.
"Yes Sir," said Jim with enthusiasm. "I'd like to write a story for The Corner Voice."
And so for the first time in what became a career in journalism Jim saw a story under his own by-line. It filled him with pride and fired his imagination and ambition. Despite future setbacks and disappointments to come, he had his start.
HOW I DROVE THE BINDER, By James Mahoney (14)
That was the catalyst, the trigger that really put him on the inky way.
