Les Cleveland talks to Neville Glasgow about his life and beliefs.
Cleveland has had a varied career as a soldier, journalist, bush contractor, university academic, songwriter, photographer, author and poet. A major influence on him was his experience as a frontline infantryman in World War II. He speaks about the nervous disorders, heavy drinking, and coping mechanisms of soldiers on the front line. He says that as a soldier he had an amazing amount of personal liberty. He then recounts a tale of training and climbing a few peaks in the Italian Dolomites, followed by an expedition to Mont Blanc.
The war made him more cynical and more aware of death, hazards, and sheer luck. He believes in individual choice, intellectual liberty, and people's ability to rise up from hard circumstances. Then he speaks about his experiences as a bushman. He isn't fond of cities, and his interest in mountaineering drew him to work in the bush. He dropped journalism in order to pursue this.
He then discusses life in New Zealand and the attitudes of New Zealanders. He claims New Zealanders aren't very good at learning from experience. However, he says New Zealanders were at their best during the war, showing admirable dedication both at the front line and at home. He then talks about current politicians, and expresses little faith in their honesty.
Cleveland then shares his thoughts on death, and the possibility of known "termination dates".