The Layered Lens

Sunday, December 22, 2024, 12:36:54 AM

One of my big issues with Writing is inspiration. Although I know that I should Write more often, I find it difficult to just sit at my laptop and write from scratch. I’m actually, quite hard on myself for being a lazy writer (or Just plane lazy). 

But toning is not one of those nights, sting alone in my Bondi apartment i’m bord with YouTube, and I’m not interested in watching another movie, that I have (illegally) downloaded. I find my mind wandering to one of the times that I was locked up as a teenager. This is the inspiration that I have been waiting for, get off your fat arse and write, Shane.

So, this is what was on my mind tonight. (This morning)

I was remanded to Bidura Children’s Court (Metropolitan Remand Centre) in Glebe. I had only been at Bidura, (this time) for about a month, when I was escorted to the downstairs office the very same office where I was processed, after my court case., at Bidura children’s court. The remand center, was located at the front of the building directly behind the historic, Bidura House (where you went if, you were a trustee, I was only ever at the front house once.)

When I got to the administration office, I was placed in a small holding room with two of three other boys. Only then was I informed of my fate, myself and the other guys, had all aged out of Bidura, and were to be sent to Minda Juvenile Justice Centre, in Lidcombe.

Minda, had a bad reputation as being abusive and tough, from both the workers and other boys. As If this wasn’t scary enough, one of the other guys who was waiting to be prosed, for Minda, started acting out, screaming and throwing a right royal fit. “I’m not fucking going to Minda.” Nevertheless, he’s screaming, kicking, and, crying, didn’t work. The kid was restrained and put on the shuttle bus with the rest of us, for the trip to Lidcombe.  I saw the same guy who through the tantrum, at breakfast the next morning he was as cool as a cucumber, laughing and joking with the other guys at his table. I realized then, it was all just a show.

Minda was situated between Rookwood cemetery, and the RSPCA on Rookwood Rd, Yagoona. Although this was my first time at Minda, it was not my first time at this location. Steven and I both spent time at Minali, located on the same grounds Just behind Minda. (a story for another time perhaps.)

When I finally got to Minda, I quickly realized that all the hype was for nothing. Yes, Minda, looked and felt like an adult prison compared to Bidura, but it was nowhere near as scary or dangerous as Long Bay. (unfortunately, something that I will discover in due time)

Minda was sectioned off, on one side, there were, the girls, and on the other side were the boys. Once a week we all got together to watch a movie, I can distinctly remember watching, Christiane F. for the first time at Minda. (a really powerful movie) but I digress.

I had just turned 16, before being sent to Minda, and at that time I wasn’t really a cigarette smoker. (Sure, I dabble now and then but I wasn’t committed) That would change at Minda, we were allowed to smoke, but cigarettes were rationed only at night while we were all quietly watching TV, the workers or screws, as we called them would walk around handing out smokes.

At first, I refused the cigarettes, I wasn’t a smoker after all, but one of the other guys who saw me pass up the smokes asked me to take one and pass it on to him. So, I did. My mistake, one of the screw Francis, or Francis the talking mule, as I liked to call him, (a nickname that he absolutely hated,) saw me handing over the cigarette, to one of the other boys, I was fucking busted, and the punishment? I was going to have to smoke a full packet. All the boys formed a circle around me, I was handed the first cigarette, well I only got through 3 or 4 before, I turned green and threw up all over myself and some of the other guys who were standing a little close.

To my relief, I didn’t have to smoke the rest of the packet, but I was made to clean up the mess that I had made on the floor.

Luckily, I never experienced any real problems at either Minda, Bidura or any of the many Children’s homes that Steven and I were in. on the contrary, I often had more fun while being locked up than I did at home with Mum and her abusive boyfriends.

I went camping and abseiling in the Blue Mountains while at Bidura, camping while at Minda, and both Steven and I often went on weekend day trips when we were at Minali. Life for me was good in state care. Of course, years later I would learn of the horrific abuses that occurred at some of the institutions that I was in.

By the grace of God, unlike some other kids, I never experienced any abuses in the state-run homes, I was safe for the moment from the abuse and neglect at home, and school.

Although I was sentenced to 12 months at Daruk, Boys Home in Windsor I never ended up going.

I learned about an early-release probation program from one of the other boys.

I applied, and was interviewed for the program, and again by the grace of God, I was accepted, a month later. Just before I was meant to be shipped off to Daruk.

To be continued....