MY STEPFATHER, James, died at home in June 2003. He was sixty nine. He had been officially diagnosed with Asbestosis some ten years earlier. Actually, he had probably suffered from it much longer but had been told he had a heart complaint. When he collapsed at work for the second time in 1987 he was told to go home and not to come back. Part of his job at the time was insulating pipes with asbestos.
My stepfather, my mother, my two sisters and I, migrated to Australia in 1960 from the U.K. We...
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As children we don’t always perceive the evil intentions of some, seemingly friendly, adults towards us. But it’s equally true that we don’t always recognize genuine concern for our welfare, especially when it’s bestowed upon us by an authoritarian adult.
We can all remember at least one: Perhaps it was a teacher who insisted on sunhats when they were out the fashion. Or maybe it was an angry driver who sprang from his car to enlighten you about the dangers of playing in the road.
There...
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I came to know David through my association with my local scout group. David, in his capacity of group leader, had placed a notice in the local paper inviting boys to become scouts. Having a seven year old son just itching to join something, and two younger sons eager to follow, I was immediately on the phone.
My first meeting with David was when I attended a parent’s meeting. There we were, all crowded into the scout den overflowing with all sorts of scout gear, as this tall, chain smoking,...
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