Australian WMO Member Visits Clarksville, TN

On October 13th, 2003, Bob Tinker left his home in Australia for a trip around the world. This was extraordinary in that Bob Tinker was making this trip alone, using a manual wheelchair, but certainly not an event that was uncommon for him because he has been traveling un-accompanied for several years, promoting awareness and education worldwide. His enthusiasm is remarkable with endeavors encouraging creativity and unity in society related to sport. Bob has been an International Member of Wheel Me On since 1998. In 1996, he attended the Paralympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia as an athlete competing in Lawn Bowls. Prior to reaching Atlanta, Bob spent ten days in Orange County, Los Angeles, with training for the paralympics. In 1999, his second trip to America was to attend the International Paralympic Committee General Assembly of Nations held in Salt Lake City, Utah. We missed the opportunity to see him in Salt Lake City by less than a month. In 2001, he attempted to tag up with the Caravan for Disability Awareness to Washington, DC, but his schedule would not permit the happening. During his third visit to the United States of America, he announced his one stop in the United States would be to catch up with Wheel Me On in Clarksville, Tennessee, during this trip around the world. The chronicle of his travel in Clarksville is an article worth sharing!

Julia Hollenbeck

Prior to arriving in Nashville, Bob spent two weeks in Malaysia conducting courses in the classification of athletes with a disability, technical courses in organizing and conducting world championships, and coaching blind athletes. He also attended the Asian Paralympic Region Congress as a panelist and presenter. Then he traveled to South Africa for meetings with their Paralympic organization, and continued work on new sporting equipment which he is developing. After that, he took a flight to Amsterdam, and then on to Turin, Italy, for the International Paralympic Committee General Assembly of Nations.

Bob Tinker is a Sports Council Member of the International Paralympic Committee, (IPC) and Chairman of the IPC Bowls Executive Committee. His work for IPC includes a range of tasks from coaching to presentations at seminars and conferences, all which are related to sport for people with a disability. He is the Founder and Chairman of Disability Services Organization, which employs people with a disability to operate a call center for a major national company. People with disabilities operate the service from their own home using a computer and cell phone. In addition to this, Bob is a Board Member of the Independent Living Center, which supplies equipment such as wheelchairs, advice, training, and therapy services for people with disabilities in Australia. He is also a Board Member of the Disability Information Resource Center, which supplies information services, and has an informational library service for disability issues. He is the past President of the Physical Disability Council of South Australia, (1999-2003), and continues to be involved in many areas of administration for the disability sector. Apart from administrative duties, Bob Tinker is involved with a Sailability program at Port Adelaide Sailing Club, in Australia. This is a program for people with disabilities using Access Dinghies, which is a purposely-designed craft adapted for people with disabilities. He is a Board Member of the Port Adelaide Sailing Club.

This all being stated, the question was, "How was Wheel Me On going to host his stay in Clarksville and provide an interesting tour with limited time?" Avoiding "rush-hour" traffic in Nashville brought forth the idea to stop at American Legion Post 88 where he was introduced to a few members, but he did have a slight difficulty in deciding on a beverage. The drive to Clarksville was pleasant even though the sun had set and little could be seen once out of the city of Nashville. Food was uppermost in thought now and a quiet place for dinner edged us to the Harbor Café once in Clarksville. In the middle of dinner the cellular phone rings and SFC Dennis Musgraves asks where we are, as he waits in the office to unload Bob's luggage. "Take your time, I'll be here." He calmly states amid embarrassment. We arrive about thirty minutes later. Dennis greets us in the driveway at the office and unloads the luggage. He quickly gets everything situated in the apartment, visits for a few moments, and promises to be available in the morning before ushering myself to the upper level, after explaining how the intercom works to Bob. In the new day, we begin a series of tours that lead to what is (really) important for a visit to any new territory.

The 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division, Fort Campbell, KY

At precisely 9 AM, SFC Dennis Musgraves telephones to announce he is on his way over to the office, to escort us to the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, which was approximately a 20-minute drive. This was one of the top picks of things to do, per the request of Bob Tinker, who has a daughter serving the Australian Air Force as a Lieutenant, and following a three-month tour of duty in Iraq, just returned to Australia.

Fort Campbell Museum

Typical of a mother proud of her Army son now stationed at Fort Campbell for his third tour of duty, dismay at his "out-of-uniform" appearance quickly changed to pride as he explained the artifacts in the museum to Bob Tinker, presented him with thoughtful souvenirs, and then escorted Bob to other points of interest on the base.

Without a doubt, Bob was impressed with what he saw at the museum, and Fort Campbell Army Base, but lunch at Sportsman's Lodge gave way to a relaxed atmosphere and an opportunity to visit. He especially enjoyed the tranquility of peacefulness he found immediately outside the facility, which he was not expecting.

Our arrival at the Beachaven Vineyards & Winery was perfect. Bob Wardeiner, of Customer Relations came outside to greet us, just as the lift for the van was being hoisted back into place. Unknown to Bob Tinker, the winery was called several days in advance and they were expecting us. Bob Wardeiner walked along the cement sidewalk as we wheeled toward the back of the building, which is actually in the front, when pulling into the driveway. As we visited for a few moments, Ed Cooke, owner of the vineyards and winery, came out to greet us.

Ed Cooke, Owner visits with Bob Tinker

Ed Cooke remembered me from a previous visit when attending their "Jazz on the Lawn" during the summer with Wheel Me On member, Linda Anderson, who frequently sings during their summer Jazz Festivals, which is quite a nice way to spend a relaxed evening in Clarksville.

People gather in a large open space on the lawn, under large shade trees, and at picnic tables. They are encouraged to bring their dinners and enjoy listening to singers and musicians during the evening in a friendly, inviting atmosphere.

After visiting a while, Ed left for his office, then Bob Wardeiner began a fascinating and educational tour of the winery.

As Bob Wardeiner was completing the tour of the winery, Ed Cooke popped in with a disk in his hand. "This is a bottle of wine a hole!" He laughing said. In back of Ed is the door to the secret laboratory where the final challenge of perfection takes place. Peeking inside, strange winding tubes sat perched on a counter amid other chemist supplies (rather reminding of a secret recipe hidden away after being perfected). Serious or not, photographing this room was simply not permitted, but a quick glance inside brought the final question to mind, "What do all of these wines taste like?

We were quickly invited to find out, and taken to the front of the building, where the tranquility of one of the vineyards graced a slopping hill. A large sign along the freeway of I-24 boldly staked the claim to Beachaven Vineyards & Winery, and inside the tasting room were the answers for a perfect dinner complement.

The Beachaven Vineyards & Winery was established in 1986 and is known as the most popular winery in the state of Tennessee, as well as in surrounding states. In comparison to California winery's, it was impressing to find stemmed glasses instead of plastic cups. This in itself is a treat for any accomplished wine taster because not only should the wine be perfect, but the presentation of the serving just as excellent. Following many tours of winery's in the US, this was a first, and Beachaven Winery really did it right.

Wine tasting must be done with care. The clearness of the wine should first be examined, showing clarity, and no trace of particles. The scent or aroma of the wine must not be disturbing, but gentle, to make one's mouth water for a taste. Often, a wine taster will swirl the wine just slightly in the glass to make certain it remains clear before tasting. If the wine meets expectations of the taster, a small sip is taken and held for a few seconds in the mouth before swallowing. Some wine tasters swish it slightly before swallowing first a small amount, and then if the first was worthy, the remaining held is allowed to trickle down one's throat in a pleasant swallow. After the initial taste, the swallow is considered with careful thought being made to the palate and throat, and frequently one may see a taster use their sensitive tongue rubbing their lips for a lasting impression. Typically, a test of a new wine is not made for several moments, allowing the palate to clean naturally.

In the case of Beachaven Vineyards & Winery, it was a very difficult choice after several fine wines were tasted. Bob Tinker was quick to pick up on the enjoyment of a sweet wine, while he preferred a drier wine. Bob Wardeiner seemed to be enjoying this tasting experience between us and Bob Tinker, being quite the Australian gentleman, allowed the lady to make the selection for dinner with SFC Musgraves. A favorite wine, the excellent, "Golden Rose", was decided on. This difficult decision finally made, we headed for SFC Musgraves' new home.

The drive back over to the property Dennis and his wife, Hannah, purchased was again routed through a different area, allowing Bob Tinker to see just a little more of a main boulevard, (Wilma Rudolph), and the unique country side in the evening where he quickly saw a deer. Dennis and Hannah had recently returned to Clarksville and had just barely moved into their new home with their two children. The move was a military transfer from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, for his third tour of duty at Fort Campbell, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division, in Kentucky, during his 21st year of military service. Their new home boldly stood near the center of small acreage, close in to Exit 1 from I-24. Dennis and Hannah's decision was to eventually retire in Clarksville following his military career.

Concern over Bob pushing the slight hill to the main entrance was certainly unnecessary and he was quick to make it clear that he needed no help when offering him a tow with the powerchair. It was a little difficult to keep in mind that this gentleman had excellent upper body strength, and mindful of not underestimating his capabilities. If the truth be known, he could probably have won several in a race!

When reaching the first level, we paused to look at the flowing river beneath a bridge and captured the sign proclaiming the distillery a Historical Site in the State of Tennessee and was actually the Nation's oldest distillery.

Then we wheeled up to the main entrance and entered the captivating museum of Jack Daniels where we registered for a tour. Bob became engrossed reading information about the famous man known as Jack Daniels, who was a small individual barely over five-feet in height. Jack Daniels made it a point to always wear a suit with a vest and tie, and keep a top hat on his head. Rather distinguished looking, he brought fame to Tennessee in 1866, and became well-known by his mere appearance creating an image of a man known by distinction instead of his short height.

Upon entering the main room, one would never guess Jack Daniels' height because a tall statue of him prominently announced his being, and boldly captured this extraordinary individual that forced people to look up. Reading the history about him in the museum and going on the tour provided much more insight, and that is exactly what Bob Tinker did.

While waiting for the tour guide, we read quite a bit of the history leading to this famous beverage that is shipped around the world, and enjoyed the treasures of the museum. Then, a tour guide approached us and took us to a small theater-type room where we enjoyed a short film sharing the story of Bob's favorite relaxing beverage.

On the way, the tour guide and myself exchanged double-takes. We both recognized one another from my last visit with my youngest son, David. He was non-other than Dusty Dickey, the great, great, grand nephew of Jack Daniels. This in itself made the day special because Dusty was a guide who added a lot of humor to this interesting tour, but it was not expected to learn even more than the previous visit, and this made it even better!

There is a lot to say regarding tours of this nature, and a lot to show with photos, but if everything and were shown and told, then it would not be encouraging for others to make the journey.

So rather than spoil it for our Wheelers reading this article, it is best leaving some things not shared, in hopes of creating the desire in others to explore for themselves because this is a tour that should also not be missed.

Whether you enjoy drinking Jack Daniels or not has nothing to do with it. In fact, the county is a "dry area" and free lemonade is served! It is a matter of history and learning about what made the history that continues in our new century.

This tour is completely accessible and there is no excuse not to do the tour if you are in the area and interested in having a pleasant, interesting experience, with the past and present.

Of course, the last stop was at the gift shop where Bob Tinker purchased a special bottle that was not shipped out of the State of Tennessee to take home with him to Australia.

Following our tour of the distillery, we drove over to "Public Square", which was just down the road. Timing was perfect and we quickly located a parking space next to the City Hall building, after first taking a drive around the area. The shops were fascinating to look at, even with deciding not to enter. We had lunch at an accessible restaurant, took a few photos, and decided to head back to Clarksville.

This was probably a smart decision, because traffic began getting pretty thick as we approached Nashville on the day before Thanksgiving. Needless to say, the drive was longer in time, but certainly well worth the adventure.

Shortly arriving back in Clarksville, the three Musgraves began arriving. This was the first time since December 1998 that all three of my sons were with me at the same time. Left to right: Petty Officer David Musgraves (36), SFC Dennis Musgraves, (38), John Musgraves, (40), who resides in Indiana and is involved with art and the martial arts. The three of them were now living within 200-miles of my home for the first time in their adult life. (Incidentally, John was not without a cap for his head for long. The next day, Bob Tinker presented him with one he brought for him from Australia.)

The Customs House Museum and Cultural Center in Clarksville, hosted a reception for Bob Tinker. Dignitary's attending included Mayor Pro Tem Gabriel Segovia of Clarksville, and Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee 2004, Elizabeth Alley, of Nashville. Amy Ritchart from the Leaf Chronicle was there to capture the story along with a photographer, and the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center coordinators, did a fantastic job with set-up for this special day.

Not only was there a table with refreshments including a Barbie Doll wheeler, but Judy Gardner made certain the Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee 2003 State Display board was prominently displayed. Duncan Musgraves, son of Petty Officer David Musgraves, provided US Coast Guard semaphore flags to the museum, (for the children's museum section), to Judy Gardner before the arrival of Bob Tinker.

The room used for the reception contained several tables, all with crisp white tablecloths, and as Bob Tinker entered the room, Neil Diamond's "America" was softly playing.

Shortly after introductions of Bob Tinker to people he had not earlier met, Gabriel Segovia expressed his thoughts about the Wheel Me On organization and welcomed him to Clarksville by saying, "It is an honor to have you here in my hometown". Mr. Segovia asked the Wheel Me On founder and president to introduce Bob Tinker and share information about Bob's advocacy for people with disabilities.

There was much to share about this delightful person who dedicated his time and efforts to a variety of advocacy needs on an international level. We were proud he had made it a point to take the extra time to come to Clarksville where the headquartering office of Wheel Me On was located. Of course, a little humor about his delightful accent, was added and believed to be when the photo of Bob on the left was taken.

On a more serious side, Bob Tinker was excellent in explaining his advocacy role, and Gabriel Segovia listened as intently as everyone else there. Bob also included highlights of his trip around the world and decision to stop in Tennessee for his third visit to the USA to meet up with Wheel Me On. (Lower left photo.)

It was only appropriate for Duncan Musgraves to approach Bob and present him with a plastic ball with the globe of the world on it. "You can flatten it for your suitcase!" Duncan explained. (Middle Photo Below)

Without a doubt, highlights of this surprise reception for Bob Tinker, were his opportunity to meet Gabriel Segovia, and Elizabeth Alley, Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee 2004. (Photo on Right)

Shirley Kenney-Tomasi, Executive Director of the Arts and Heritage Development Council, provided insight, education, and a memorable tour of the museum following the reception.

When adding this all together, there is no doubt, there are many people in the city and state of Tennessee, who are interested in advocacy for people with disabilities, and helping to bring awareness and education to everyone. Without hands-on experience, desire to communicate, and the willingness to persevere, there simply would not be unity.

It is through advocates such as Bob Tinker, who spread unity around the world, by engaging themselves in the public and moving forward. "Leading an Example" will be Elizabeth Alley, as she represents the state as Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee 2004.

Realizing it took several people to highlight the visit of an International Dignitary to Clarksville, Tennessee cannot be ignored. Had it not been for the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center, the event would not have taken place, and we are extremely grateful to everyone, including the participants who are not shown on this page.

As Shirley Tomasi began our tour of the museum, attention was immediately caught by the old finial from the top of the Museum building, which was discovered crumbled following the devastating stage-5 tornado, that struck Clarksville in January 2000. Here, this remarkable find, is prominently displayed as a reminder of what was, could be, but now is.

It accurately described not just the destruction of the tornado, but to many of us, life in general. One day you may be walking; but the next is unknown. What we do when struck with a catastrophic change in our own lives is really up to us.

The Wooten Desk

The Wooton Secretary Desk, owned by Dancey Fort, a lawyer, and later a Montgomery Circuit Court Judge in Clarksville, passed away in 1955. The desk was manufactured by the W.S. Wooton Manufacturing Company, and patented on October 6th, 1874.

Shirley Tomasi stood very proudly next to this beautiful piece of furniture, which for all we know, may well be the only such piece in the state of Tennessee.

Gabriel Segovia & Bob Tinker

There were beautiful quilts made by a very talented artist of every state across the nation and more. None of which could be photographed due to the strict rules of the museum and desire to preserve art in its finest form. Gorgeous paintings graced the walls, and an exquisite gallery of fine porcelain was breath-taking.

The list continues, but then, seeing is believing, and this is a stop for anyone when visiting Clarksville, Tennessee!

Our sincere appreciation to Gabriel Segovia for joining us on this tour with Bob Tinker and to Shirley Tomasi for taking the time to guide us through a new world of education.

As we left the museum, a blast of cold air mixed with tiny snow flakes initiated a telephone call to Don Sharp, who planned on providing a private tour of the L & M Train Depot and Museum to Bob Tinker, and additionally, a tour of Fort Defiance. Unfortunately, the change of weather brought concern, but after speaking with Don Sharp, we were encouraged to make the visit, which was just a few blocks from the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center.

This had to be one of our nicest surprises! Don Sharpe pulled into the parking area at the very same time we arrived along with Petty Officer Musgraves and his family. Upon entering the depot, we discovered Don had come by earlier in the morning to turn on the heat!

This was indeed an extremely kind gesture on his part and brought wonderment of whether he knew more about "wheelers" than what he had been given credit. Typically, people using wheelchairs do not retain body heat because they simply do not have the advantage of movement. It was an unexpected happening to enter the very appreciated warm building for our tour.

Don Sharp brought an abundance of education regarding the L & M Train Depot. His presentation was interesting and rather magnificent. There were so many things to see and learn about, and Don was certainly a man who knew the history behind much of Clarksville and the L & M Train Depot. One of the more interesting things were viewing an early aerial picture of the Clarksville area, which Don was quick at showing the exact position of various streets and the connection of the city from I-24.

Bob Tinker was presented with a beautiful drawing reminiscent of Clarksville by Don, as it was during the time the L & M Train Depot operated at full steam.

Don Sharp was also able to show us how the horrifying tornado of 2000 came across the city. Knowing the headquartering office was located on a resident street hardest hit by the tornado in 2000, it is noteworthy to state, at the time of re-locating the headquarters of Wheel Me On 18-months later, remnants of the storm were visibly gone, and it was only through personal association of learning exactly what had happened to that immediate area.

From L&M Train Depot, a drive in and around the city of Clarksville gave Bob Tinker a good perspective of the area. With the day being cold, it was best to do this sightseeing on larger wheels inside a vehicle, instead of in the open air. Winding around the city blocks to show him growth within the city, following the huge tornado gave an interesting evaluation of the continued endeavors that could now only be seen by proving new against the old.

Like recovering from any catastrophic event in life, Clarksville could easily be compared to human injury, and therapy to recover. Time, healing, and determination, were all factors in making the city whole again. The evidence was in seeing the miracle of buildings escaping, and new buildings built to overcome the disaster.

The traditional tree lighting for Christmas would take place the same evening along the Cumberland River, and after a quick stop at the accessible fishing pier, we headed back to meet the Musgraves who would soon be gathering at the office. Early in the evening, three vehicles caravanned with the rest of the family, back to the Cumberland River, for Clarksville's Christmas Ceremony.

This was a "first" for everyone because the tradition of the tree lighting had not started until after SFC Musgraves' last tour of duty at Fort Campbell (1996), and waiting patiently for his arrival, attending the event was postponed until now. Upon arriving at the Riverwalk, we were able to obtain parking easily with the help of traffic officers. It was great to see and visit with Joeanna Maltais, a Wheel Me On member, and have an opportunity to introduce Bob Tinker to Clarksville's Mayor, Don Trotter. Joeanna joined us at the staging area with her granddaughter.

This year, entertainers depicted traditional dance from around the world and it was not surprising, that thoughts about Bob Tinker's recent travels engulfed our minds. Following the entertainment, the Mayor of Clarksville began striking a symbol with a wood drumstick, (an Asian tradition), as the lights slowly began turning on, and eventually lit the entire length of the Riverwalk. Most people strolled along the river among the beautiful scenes of Christmas lights, but the cold weather and wind prompted an early return to our vehicles. As we slowly drove along the river, Bob exclaimed, "You can actually see the displays much better from up here than down below."

No visit to the State of Tennessee would be complete without a visit to the City of Nashville, and at least a driving tour of some of the notable landmarks. It was a cold sunny day, as we headed for the capitol. Once reaching the state capitol, Bob showed little desire of going on a tour inside, but we made it a point to drive around the perimeter of the building, making frequent stops to allow him to see the complete landscape. Timing appropriate for him to enjoy listening to the Bell Carillon ring at the Northern end, and a good look at the granite map of the state on the Southern end of Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Sadly, the 31-fountains representing the state's rivers was not perking, but he also viewed the Wall of Tennessee History from curbside.

The Ryman Theater

Bob Tinker had earlier said, much of the terrain in Tennessee was reminiscent to that of Southern Australia, and one of his keener interests were apparently now focused on Music City, USA. Following a late lunch, we headed for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and spent a couple of hours enjoying it. Leaving in time for the Ryman Auditorium, which was a good push two blocks away, Bob finally gave in to allowed being towed, which led to hysterical laughter between the two of us.

At the Ryman Theater, "Minnie Pearl" greeted us with the famous, "Howdy" and Bob was introduced. After we were seated, "Minnie Pearl" appeared on stage. She announced Bob Tinker's presence, but could not see him. Patiently, she scanned the audience with her right hand shielding the overhead lights. "Over here!" Someone behind us yelled, then she said, "Oh, there you are, right out there in front of me!" A round of applause and loud cheers filled the theater.

We watched and listened to Country Music entertainers, and the more than 100-year music tradition in the former home of the Grand Ole Opry. This being accomplished, rolling back down to the parking lot was a lot easier than wheeling up.

Neil Brock & Rick Goodwin

We returned to Clarksville. Bob Tinker's last night in town could not be short changed and after a little effort, "Tippers Pub" on Madison Street was located. Though edging close to 11 PM, and wanting Bob to feel the real Clarksville despite his weak attempt of "calling it a night".

Rick Goodwin, Neil Brock, & Bob Tinker

There are actually three Tippers' in Clarksville, but this location was considered best because it was close to our final destination. As it worked out, it was perfect! Two entertainers from "The Sizzling Happy Family" were playing as we entered the room. We were immediately accommodated with "up-front" seating by Andrea and Tony, and Bob ordered his favorite drink: Jack Daniels. (Why did this not surprise me?)

After a few moments, it would have been impossible to not realize Bob was having a great time listening to the music of Neil Brock and Rick Goodwin. With a little humor, they handed one of their guitars to Bob for a classic photo and came up with several hits familiar to "Aussies". Neil as the lead vocal was excellent. Bob Tinker was having such a great time visiting with Tony (our waiter), and Neil and Rick that we did not leave until after one in the morning.

While driving along I-24 East to return Bob Tinker to the airport, he made a statement that really struck home: "You can visit any city or country, and never really get to know what the city is all about, without having the opportunity to mingle with the people." Suddenly, the thought occurred of years long ago past, of many visitors family would offer hospitality, by sharing their lifestyles. The visitors always returned.

Bob Tinker Leaving Nashville, TN

There was only one last thing for a happening that could be quickly accomplished, and that was a very quick stop at an Arby's located near the airport. While MacDonald's are plentiful in Australia, Bob had never heard of an Arby's! A fast exit to the closest location brought reality that MacDonald's was not the only fast food! "Very interesting," Bob exclaimed as he enjoyed his sandwich in the parking lot.

At the airport, he was kidded and told, "Don't wait another five-years to make your next visit."

He smiled, "It will be a lot sooner than that', he promised, "I may not live long enough to wait that long!" He laughingly said. Bob Tinker arrived back in South Australia on December 7th. His tour around the world lasted nearly two full months and his first e-mail stated, "Really enjoyed myself, enjoyed meeting everyone and their company, and would love to return soon, especially to Tippers!"

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