50 YEARS AGO Mike Watterson, then manager of Norco at the Bay, received a knock on his door at 52 Carlyle Street.
It was a clean cut young blond fellow who introduced himself as Dave Rout (now Dave James on Facebook) and he was looking for a job.
He was sent to see Mike by another Bay local, Alan Henderson, who was boxing under Reg Layton in Brisbane and also a friend of Mike’s.
Dave, coming from a very difficult background in Sydney, had relocated to Brisbane and was contuing his boxing career, also with Reg Layton.
As Mike says, “We struck an immediate chord as we had both attended the PBC at Wooloomooloo under the same trainer (Bernie Hall) but in different years.
“Naturally Dave got a position at Norco on the spot, but unexpectedly couldn’t start on the following Monday as he was in the North Coast boxing team to go to Sydney that week.
When at Norco, Dave took up Tech College courses to improve himself and passed in Meat Inspection and Industrial Supervision.
He rose through the ranks to a supervisory role and on leaving Norco moved to Coffs harbour, to begin a very successful career as a entertainer under the name Dave James.
Althouhg he was a talented boxer, Dave always maintained he was a lover not a fighter, as demonstrated in the Top Pub one night.
A fight had broken out at the bar and the owner, legendary Shirley Redman, in her high pitched voice yelled, “Dave, stop that fight!”
Dave calmly responded – “Shirley, I am not on your pay roll”.
For the record, as a boxer Dave had 34 bouts for 30 wins.
These days Dave is a very popular Trivia Quiz host and also runs Karaoke Nights at many Northern Rivers and South East Queensland club and pub venues.
Rumour has it Dave also has an exciting Trivia Game app about to be released as well.
Dave’s real life success story started 50 years ago in the Bay, and life for Dave looks like it’s just getting better and better.