The death overnight of former National Party powerbroker Sir Robert Sparkes reminds me of a pivotal incident in my awakening to political realities. Back in my days as a reporter for The Queensland Graingrower newspaper, I was assigned to interview a bloke who lived near Dalby at a time when Sir Robert was not just the president of the Nationals but chairman (mayor) of Wambo Shire. Unsure of where my man lived along a very long country road, I asked directions from a local. "You can't miss it," he said. "He lives just opposite Sir Robert Sparkes's spread." "Where's that?" I asked. "Where the bitumen ends," came the reply.