Dave’s Stories
Dave’s Stories
Just like that slightly tipsy uncle who corners you at family gatherings, I’ve got a head full of stories I’m itching to share. Over the years, I’ve collected experiences, adventures, and the occasional misadventure that I think are worth telling.
Now, if you’ve ever heard me tell a story in person, you’ll know they can sometimes take the scenic route, plenty of side tracks, a few detours, and maybe even an unscheduled stop or two. That’s part of the fun, but it also means they can go on for a while.
So, for your sake (and mine), I’ve trimmed them down here. Think of these as the highlight reels: the essence of each story without quite as many rabbit holes. They’re shorter, sharper, and hopefully just as entertaining. And if you ever want the full uncut version, tangents, rambling, and all, you’ll just have to grab me in person.
Some of the stories
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Daverunner origin story
In March 2020 the COVID pandemic caused severe lockdowns in Melbourne, Australia, where I live. I couldn’t continue working as a Real Estate Salesperson any longer, as I wasn’t permitted to leave the local area much at all. In April 2020 I started working at Onlife, which had at that time just released a mobile…
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John Birmingham and the Dave Hooper Trilogy
John Birmingham is a famed Australian author. His most popular work, “He Died With a Felafel in His Hand” consists of a collection of colourful anecdotes about living in share houses in Brisbane and other cities in Australia with variously dubious housemates. The title refers to a deceased heroin addict found in one such house. The book was subsequently adapted into…
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Dave and The Tennis Centre
Because this story admits to an element of fraudulent conduct, let us instead treat it as a work of fiction. A very specific, very detailed work of fiction that just happens to line up exactly with my life. In late 1987, my good friend Johnny and his girlfriend at the time, Meg, saw an ad…
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Dave and the Magic Mushie Guy
Back in 1986, I lived in a fibro shack in Olinda with my mate Tom. Our hobbies were simple: smoking bongs, blasting music, drinking bourbon, and playing an inordinate amount of pool. The pool table had belonged to Tom’s dad, and after his dad passed away, Tom inherited it. He couldn’t bear to part with…
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Dave and the Sheep
When you’re young, broke, and think you’re bulletproof, you’ll live anywhere. For me and my mate Tom in 1986, “anywhere” was a fibro shack in Olinda. The walls were thin, the corners mouldy, and the carpet smelled like it had absorbed every bong ever smoked in the postcode. Perfect for two blokes in their late…
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The Dust Storm
This isn’t an amazing story, but it’s just a moment of my life that has stuck with me, so it gets a place here. February 8th, 1983 I was a year 9 student at Camberwell Grammar School. That afternoon I was in the library, which had an elevated view back towards the city. It was…