lunchtime, which wasn’t 12:30pm or 1pm in those days, lunch was when you felt hungry. So it was back across the road to the store and annoy Mum or Dad as I was only about four at that time, then it would be up to Tarana schoolhouse where I would meet up with my mate Tiny Cluely during morning playtime or lunch break. I have been told that one day Tiny and I went to the chook house at the Webb property on top of the hill behind the school, grabbed a few live chooks and tossed them down the pit toilets in the school yard. How we were discovered or who had found the chooks I know not, but it did happen and to prevent something else happening again the schoolmaster allowed me to start school when I was four and a half years old. The reason being that when I was’nt getting into trouble with Tiny I was pestering the school master to let me come to school. So he did and I officially started in January 1949, problem solved. At Tarana Dad used to make customer deliveries from the shop in Tarana in his 1930’s something T-Model Ford Ute Regd.No.LX-026 , somehow it’s just the rego number I remember specifically. Sometimes I would go with Dad when he made deliveries to Kate Griffith & Albert at Jerrys Mount where some of Mum’s uncles ( all bachelors ) on the Charlton side of the family, used to walk to the store from Jerrys Mount to get provisions. There was Uncle Ike, Joe, Sidney, Horatio, Alfred & Walter who all lived at the mount and never married ( thanks to big sister Karlene for this info ). Well this was the start of my attachment to motor vehicles I guess and it seemed that during the few months I got a bit impatient so I started a bit of vehicle theft (albeit temporary). First to go was a Co-op Bakery lorry parked out front of the general store, I got in the driver’s seat, let the hand handbrake off and the lorry rolled across the road and into the wire fence between the railway station and the shop. First hand witness’s there report I said “If the bloody fence wasn’t there I’d have been in Bathurst by now”. Bur wait there’s more; some time after this incident another careless local driving a rather large four door sedan left his vehicle at the front of the store, no keys but unlocked, easy pickings; so I gave it another go, off with the handbrake and hang onto the steering wheel. Same ending with that fence getting in the way but no stories from the rescuers as to any comments by yours truly! I am unaware of the direct results of my theft and capture with regard to punishment, grounding wasn’t around in those days, but maybe there is one chance! Karlie! The next step for our family was when Dad had arranged a job with Arcos at the new

Once Dad could see that I was making an effort he chimed in and taught me about the tools I had use and mechanical issues I needed to know, if the cart was to work properly. We did have an annual billy cart race ........ which attracted a crowd of local spectat- ors, about ten local mothers and fathers ......... Peter Gardiner, David Flynn, Billy Wilson, ???? Peppernell, Rodney Arrowsmith, Richard Hunter, Laurie Clements & me, I am unsure whether or not Andrew Blowes (Mt Lambie) came in to town to compete ...... Just beside the railway line out towards Wallerawang an old guy used to have a small eucalyptus plantation - extract the oil (slow process) and then sold it ............ ..............

eighteen dollars expenses ($18.00) and we got right into it, the quicker the better. We found a small flat in the main street, 119 Auburn St, at the rear of Goulburn saddler Bill Dutallis, who was a legend in the area, a great bloke and he gave us an open ended rental until we could find a house. The ground floor consisted of a very small bathroom/laundry at the back, an outside toilet and a very narrow backyard with no grass. The kitchen was very small with very ordinary lighting, about three square metres, with a slow combustion stove like Allana was used to using and she loved it, as it was just like her Mum had. The dining room of about four square metres stood between the kitchen and the stairwell adjacent the rear entrance to the Saddlers shop. Upstairs and above the shop were the two bedrooms. Bill Dutallis had never intended to rent the flat until it had been updated and painted, however, I offered to work on the kitchen and laundry with painting and laying tiles in return, and he agreed. We were both happy with that arrangement but as you can see from the only photo I have taken, out in the back yard, it was not very impressive! Bill had access to the external toilet via an exit door at the bottom of the stairwell at the rear of his shop. This was never a problem for Allana as she would often make morning tea for Bill and being a pretty good horsewoman herself she would often watch him hand craft beautiful saddles from the ground up, with Sue-Ellen always nearby in her bassinet. Photo: Sue-Ellen at front of Saddlers in Goulburn 1968 Rentals were very hard to get at Goulburn in 1967 so we didn’t have much choice, in fact we were lucky to score the rental we did within a day, and, the flat did have some basic furniture which was a bonus for us at that time. Over the next few weeks Allana made lots of shopping trips, which was just outside the front door. While checking out the shops she was offered a part time job, which she wanted to take , but I was back on shift work again and we decided it was better for me to get extra work ( Police were not allowed to have 2nd jobs ), if discovered you could be sacked, but cops had to do something because the wages were so low. My take home pay was about $90.00 per fortnight at the time so there was very little money over to save for a deposit on a home. However; I soon found out how to get work without causing any problems at work. Photo of our back yard! We wanted to buy a house, we had no money in the bank and a young child, so we had to work on it

Photo: Allan & Sue-Ellen window shopping at Goulburn 1968 Hindsight is a great thing but, shopping with very little money to spend, was the only variation for Allana and life must have been very difficult and boring spending so much time alone with Sue-Ellen . Apparently our new doctor at Goulburn had pre - scribed some medication for her but back then women didn’t discuss all their conversations with their doctor at home, unless it was very important . Around 1967-8 new housing commission homes built in Goulburn were available to buy, if you qualified ! We were placed on a housing priority list via our new Bank Loans Manager, who opened a special account for our loan application. Our position in that list depended on how quick we could get the $990.00 deposit in the account, so I got more work. We had to build that bank account up to qualify, and we both agreed, it was going to be tough, but we had to cop it on the chin and do it! Back home one day after working a second job, I found Allana in a very distressed state in the dining room with an empty bottle of pills sitting on the table in front of her. I started to say something but she started shouting at me while pointing at the bottle, then she pushed me away when I went to touch her, I had no idea what was going on, but, it didn’t take long to work out, an overdose! I didn’t know what the tablets were for, apparently she had them for a week or two and I wanted to know what they were and quickly what problem was, but she was hyster - ical and did not make any sense! So I slapped her across the face to get her to wake up to her - self. Why?. Because they did that in the movies to get people back to their senses. Stupid I know , but; I was in panic mode and this was 1968. I would react very differently with the benefit of hindsight, however she never expected that, and neither did I, but it worked, she just stared at me and stopped yelling. The instant reaction should have told me a lot about the situation, but this was my wife, my inexperience left me wanting and I didn’t read anything into the situation. Nothing whatever had occurred previously that would to lead to this. The instructions on tablets were just ordinary, such as ‘take as directed’ or something similar, still I didn’t know what they were; or what

they were for! I had never seen her like this as we didn’t argue, I only helped with Sue-Ellen and I didn’t interfere with anything about being a mother or cooking, etc, life was easier that way. We had very few possessions and we were looking forward to buying our first home and here was my wife acting in a way I have never seen before. Fortunately Bill was working late in the shop, he called the Ambulance, then came back to us and talked to Allana and I as we waited. She seemed to settle down a bit, but would not talk to me , just Bill, so I waited out front for the Ambulance and apparently that was when when Allana rang the Police, to report me for hitting her . Why would she do that, she took the overdose and I was only trying to help her? In my work education and experience I had learnt the primary reason people overdose; is to either commit suicide or get attention! Within minutes the ambulance arrived and the crew were attending to Allana, they did the usual checks to evaluate her condition and took her to Goulburn Base Hospi - tal. Bill’s wife arrived to care for Sue-Ellen ( Bill was Sue-Ellens godfather ) while I followed the Ambulance to casualty, sometime later actually, as Allana didn’t want me around, so I gave her plenty of space. Bill told me about the call after I explained to him what had happened when I got home from working one of my second jobs. I also explained the process and what could happen to Allana at the hospital as Bill was Sue-Ellens godfather, so he certainly was in the family loop. Most of these facts would have been discovered at the hospital, the Police would only have been partly informed as a matter of procedure, but, it was possible Allana could end up in Kenmore Mental Hospital for several weeks. I was anxious to get to the hospital, but I had to wait until they gave me the OK to go up there. Talking with Bill and his wife helped and they suggested that I ‘ give her some time’ which was very appropriate at the time so I talked everything over with them, then Bill told me about the call to the police. I could not understand that! I certainly do understand now, in no uncertain terms, from the information and people I re - searched, medical contacts and family friends , I spoke with. Photo: Kenmore Mental Hospital Main Administration at Goulburn in 1968 . That phone call had placed my job at risk and I was facing the sack , full stop! Details of the call were recorded on the Telephone Pad ( a permanent detailed written record

of all phone calls received ) at the police station. The record could be used as evidence during any formal proceedings against me, so I made sure all details were included, I was concerned about my wife and child, not me, I didn’t do anything wrong, albeit not the way to go, I had no intent to hurt, I just didn’t know any better at that time so there shouldn’t be any problem. As I was to discover, that’s not the way it works! Kenmore Asylum, also known as Kenmore Hospital or Kenmore Psychiatric Hospital is now a heritage-listed decommissioned psychiatric hospital located in Goulburn, but in 1968 it was in full operation and was capable of housing over 700 patients. In 1968 attempting to commit suicide was considered a crime, the law was overdue for change, but it was the law . One of our regular Police tasks was escorting people to Kenmore from across the state, a large number of those had overdosed or attempted to take their own life in some manner. I knew the essentials of the Mental Health Act, all local police did, as we dealt with it regularly, but when it became personal, it was very difficult to deal with, to say the least. Historically epileptics, women with post-natal depression and teenagers with learn - ing difficulties were considered of ''unsound mind'' and many were declared insane under the Lunacy Act. That; was the way it was in those days and this was my wife, the mother of our child and I certainly didn’t want her in Kenmore for any reason or time, I had to keep her out of that institution! I knew from previous experience at the hospital that admission was mostly a forgone conclusion, off to Kenmore for seven to fourteen days for assessment, and possibly longer. After I had explained everything to the doctor in charge at Goulburn Base Hospital they kept her under observation for a few extra hours. The doctor explained he could not give me any details prior to the upcoming sessions at Kenmore, which I already knew, so they finally allowed her to return home with me provided she had adult company while I was at work. There was no concern for the welfare of Sue- Ellen and I was very happy that she wasn’t going direct to Kenmore first. Medical staff at the hospital suggested that we attend a full counselling session at Kenmore for assessment, in lieu of admission, because there was a toddler involved. Whatever Allana had told doctor’s and staff at GBH, which was subject to doctor to patient privilege, had convinced them not to have her admitted to Kenmore, directly. That information was not available to the police investigating the matter, or me , at least until the counselling session, which was also subject to doctor to patient privi - lege . Only Allana and I knew the precise content of the discussions at both hospitals, which included an admission, that is the way it will stay .

system worked, and we kept in contact for many years. Not once, nor at any time did anyone in a position of authority, nor one health official query our living conditions, or my second jobs as being causal, and neither did I . Not a single question or discussion as to why or how this happened, from doctors or clinical staff, nobody pressed the issue, minimal follow-up interviews, etc, so we continued with our lives and the incident was never discussed again until 2021. During the following months our Bank Manager guaranteed our deposit and house loan, as more work came my way, working with local farmers who assured me my bosses would never know. The work was on a local farm 30kms out of Goulburn and several kilometres off the main road. How did I orgaqnise this? Well the Bank managers father was on the land, Kenmore staffers connections, the Catholic orphanage and local farmers with whom I had worked previously made it happen for us, because they knew my work ethic. One night two young offenders broke into the Saddlers and we caught one , I handcuffed him to a vice in the shop and Allana kept an eye on him while I took off after the other bloke. Unfor - tunately one hundred metres into the chase I lost my pyjama pants and the other guy got away, here is a newspaper clipping . After we got our new home in Gerathy Street Allana sometimes worked with the Orphanage by having a few troubled young girls for day visits or stay with us overnight. We had two run - aways from Melbourne on one occasion and both girls sent cards and letters to us over the next couple of years, I still have a letter or card from one, somewhere. Allana’s situation eventually returned to normal with the help of doctors and staff at Kenmore. Sara-Jayne arrived with great interest by staff at Goulburn Base and Kenmore Hospitals in particular, as I dealt with both institutions almost on a daily basis and started many long term friendships. I did get time off and I played golf very early on Sunday mornings after we got our new house. Occasionally I would take one of the girls out with me to play nine holes, I set up a car seat on the golf buggy so they had a good ride, each one was a popular visitor to the golf club, with a free glass of soft drink after golf. I parred the front nine at Tully Park at different times with each of the girls in the car seat, Sara-Jayne was

Mum arrive back home safely. Other stuff from Newtown service: # Beats we had to walk alone, with a torch & no direct contact with station - night beat hobo scare Erskinville gun drawn (never repeated) - # St Peters stolen car incident & capture of crook hiding in back yard shed (Ralph Ezzy made arrest) - # Regular visits to RPA hospital (accidents, assaults ) - first fatal accident City Rd near uni - attend PM where victim had his leg torn off in acco - 4 pros attended & one got crook had to walk out - our first real front line experience - # Aust middleweight box champion (Clive Stewart) - had slot car track near Newtown Rail Stn - in King St - always liked a chat with beat cops at night - # Serious accident St Peters, guy pinned behind wheel in VW Kombi looked like he was dying, so - bystander, firies & tow truck driver got guy out (he became paraplegic) - Learnt importance of building relationship with Ambo, Firies, doctors, tow trucks, rescue squads, security people, casualty staff & body snatchers - # After I moved to traffic about four months later - # Goulburn Kev McMahon & I - left shoes on bridge - took two young locals Kev knew 2km further up gravel rd - walk back & get u shoes - then 6-7km back to town - & tell your father - # Photos from Goulburn - # Allana’s 3 day stay in SA Hospital, fly down - fly back - some of Sandra’s family were living in Adelaide - to visit - # Six weeks SIS course in Sydney - Allana handled money well and got home all $$$’s used & nothing wasted - it was very difficult to get by but she did it - # Three month Dets course in 75 - 12 weeks in Sydney (straight) - # 1 week Allana back to Lithgow for a break B4 dets course - I mind girls at home - # 1 week Allana in Mildura hospital sudden illness only treatment was at Mildura - girls & I drove her down & returned to Hill - drove back to bring her home 7-8 days later -

# My Supreme Court attendances at Goulburn and Sydney, about 6 or 7 times - # Badge day in B/Hill - Union enforced for miners & # 1st cop to investigate underground mine fatality - Union control busted I con- ferred with Coroner and we took out a warrant - at that time BIC (Joe Keenan) powerful union ran everything in BH - to avoid embarrassment the union agreed to help - Joe & I became mates after this - see photos - # 2nd mine fatal involved local sporting hero - local miners widows club renovated home for widow using mine equipment & supplies - because of my direct involvement with accident I was invited to become a working member! - # Major Sydney criminal Michael Medina mini p/van rollover Silver City Hwy on way to Tibooburra for funeral of father - licencee Tibooburra Hotel (confirm) - dog & head hair from NZ prostitute (passenger) - both druggies - major investigation - led to uncover stolen Hol/Torana few km south Wentworth SCHwy - led to major stolen veh ring in Sydney - # Two kids suffocate on Pooncarie property after they fell/climbed into grain bin - and two kids suffocate near Menindee when cave in sand hills collapses - # WRG - plane crash near Pooncarie - Melbourne millionaires - 6 die - 3 days to find plane - etc; # Cattle thieves in Menindee-Pooncarie-Ivanhoe & Wilcannia areas - caught when vehicle (VW Ute) used was ID’d via wheel tracks - tracks had been different several properties - Ray Pickering locked them up - # Wilcannia floods as I drove to Newcastle to join family - 37C and water 40cm deep across Barrier Hwy for several kilometres - very slow going (photos) - no mo- biles, very few vehicles on road - # # Arsenic poisoning Neutron Activation Analysis ACT Chf.Insp John Goulding - Fairfield Infectious Disease Ward Melbourne - Ivanhoe - Wilcannia - BHill Hosps first Arnold George Mitchell - Homicide dets Sydney & Melbourne involved - Don Mc- Cusker, John Cooke, Vic Coroner - never solved but I still have the paperwork - # Menengitis found during port mortem of aboriginal woman from Wilcannia - Dr Phil ????? - me assisting - told me to STOP & get out - very contagious & fatal if direct exposure. # Aboriginal woman Silverton had Leprosy - biblical condition - nobody would go near her, but, that was my job - I conferred with Drs & female Sister from BHHosp and she and I went out, with a selected volunteer Ambo and brought her back to BH - her shanty was burnt totally later that evening - # White Cliffs RFDS flight gave me a ride out to investigate an alleged arson at the pub and and assault at the local hospital clinic - # .....