IT'S A BIT RICH THE WAY WHEEL OF FORTUNE TURNS

In this week when we pause to consider reconciliation and Sorry Day, I think it is important to concentrate on what brings all Australians together, no matter what their race or colour - the idea of becoming really rich without having to work for it. Which brings us, of course, to the game show. While some people who profess to be only interested in so-called "serious" television might scoff at the value of game shows, I must admit I have always been a huge fan of their work. For starters, politicians would be more interested in answering questions honestly on Lateline if there was the threat Maxine McKew might push them into a giant swimming pool Man-O-Man style. And for anyone who dares to dream the impossible dream of free money, this was a red-letter week. They say there is no such thing as luck but, if that's true, then how do you explain that fact that Stephen Jacobs keeps getting jobs on television - not to mention the tale of Melbourne's miracle truckie, Bill Morgan? For those who have been living on the moon, Bill is the truckie who won a $27,000 car on a scratchie and then, in an amazing coincidence not even Live and Kicking could organise, won a further $250,000 while re-enacting the scene for television. Wow, it's just like being a politician with the casting vote on Telstra or the GST. In fact, the only other person who has earned that sort of money in a short time on television is Jana Wendt, when she hosted Uncensored on the ABC Apparently, the chances of something like that happening to Bill are about 6.1 million to one, or about the same odds as Australia winning the cricket World Cup. This was all made even more juicy by the news that, two years ago, Mr Morgan was in a coma after either having a heart attack or watching Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping. In fact, Mr Morgan admitted the only thing that would have made it better TV fodder was if the excitement of the two wins has triggered another heart attack.