Although its face is cracked and its surface scratched, this artefact still bears authority. Despite the fact it no longer marks the passing of time with the same accuracy, it faithfully continues to honour its manufacture. In its prime, it patrolled the wooden boards of the Toowoomba railway platforms and determined when its trains should embark upon their purpose.
It is my maternal, great-grandfather’s timepiece, and was bequeathed to me by my grandfather shortly before his death. With it, came his last important lesson for me.
More than money and fame, time is power. Those that control time, influence how people’s lives play out. Regardless of whether that occurs in professional or recreational spaces, those who regulate “when”, control the fortunes of those around them. The weight of this metal clock constantly reminds me of the burden that comes with this responsibility.
In a world hastened by the advent of new technologies, it is difficult for most of us to “keep up” with the passage of time. But we cannot afford to miss the opportunities that appear when we experience time under our own head of steam. I cannot imagine how different my life would be if I had not invested time in that first, lingering kiss with my fiancé on the foreshore. It continues to reward me in my every day.
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