Character Sketch

The Consummate Anti-Hero

Robert H. McCallum is revealed to be a likable rogue.

For many years he would navigate the dichotomy of his dual personality of championing good deeds while struggling with his darker side.

Early Days

Little is known of McCallum’s childhood or his early education.

Though we can only speculate if he was school smart-he was undeniably street smart. Feisty by nature, he was a study in contrast. At times, empathetic and tolerant, at other times, high strung and confrontational, his diaries reveal starkly differing self portraits.

Emotional

The papers are unduly enriched because McCallum was an extremely emotional character. He went beyond simply recording his activities, to document his feelings on any given moment. This typically fluctuated between happy, sad or mad and many realms in between.

His propensity to document his emotional state provides entries that are poignant, amusing and sometime heartrending. Moreover the journals richness of emotion enable the reader to crack into emotional depths rarely seen in non-fiction.

The diarist vents his angst upon sensing a romantic rival is moving in on Marnie Jenkinson, a girl he has a romantic crush on.

Complex

McCallum was enigmatic. During single years he was a frequent visitor of prostitutes, while at the same time, an advocate for women’s rights.

He was a self made man and business wheeler-dealer yet a proponent of socialist politics, and a habitual gambler while simultaneously a fighter for prohibition.

Outspoken

McCallum was highly opinionated. Rarely ambivalent, he commented about fellow passengers, the opera he attended, political issues, and cinema of the period.

In addition, he dutifully recorded his job site conflicts, his sexual activity, and his wife’s many temper tantrums.

Intellectually Curious

McCallum was intellectually curious.

He toured butter, brick and iron factories, visited Government printing offices and sugar works, dabbled in engineering to see how things were made, and attended lectures on the Moon and psychology.

Social

McCallum was extremely social and outgoing. On the odd occasions he was alone, he would lament the situation with comments such as “home alone” or “others all gone out‘.

In addition, his journals offer insight into social realms of friendship and loyalty as certain best friends and relationships endure in his life over many years.

Character Profile

Robert McCallum was a self-made man …a hard-working hard-nosed builder, practical, skilled with his hands, and hardy to deal with harsh outdoor conditions. He was demanding on others, entrepreneurial, and financially prudent.
Cultured …in balance, this was a man with urban tastes, loved going to dances, musicals and attended lectures on varied topics such as land nationalisation and Russia.
Robert McCallum was, by turns, an athlete of diversity, as well as an intellectual, and an inveterate world traveler.
He was an avid theatre-goer …an opinionated critic of the screen, the opera, concerts, and plays. Following a social event he would note if it was “very good” or “damn poor”.
He was also a gambler …card games were habitual and always for money, he was also a regular at the horse track.
As he built schools, cottages, and hotels around the country, he participated in debates on wage rates, property taxes, and trade unions.
Prostitutes …he was also a frequent visitor of brothels which he called “milk houses”. In his younger years, he pursued a promiscuous lifestyle, in contrast to his religious upbringing and involvement in the Presbyterian church.
Successful businessman …he was a director on the Board of a well-known public company, an investor in property, foreign exchange and the share market.
He was a member of the Literary Society and the Builder’s Association.
Politically active …he was deeply involved in local councils, the community and national elections.
He was an empathetic loyal friend … frequently lending a helping hand to friends.
An indulging and exasperated husband, and a loving father.