Like every man of his day he maintained his own house, because no one else would. And capability, unlike a service, does not come back when you need it. The city only feels exempt because the tradesman does turn up and the tap does get fixed – until he doesn’t. Modern Australia is a miracle, and the miracle was built by resourceful people with no other option. Risk-takers and doers, resourceful under pressure, at our best when the situation demanded everything.