Harry,
I was at Westbrook three times between April 1965 to December 1966. I escaped ( ran away ) with a mate Warren in June 1966 and we were sentenced to three months in Boggo Road as we were both seventeen at the time. I was released and was sent back to Westbrook where I worked on the truck gang, delivering and picking up supplies in Toowoomba with Mr. Thompson and Mr. Noel Palmlad, both fathers, good men and role-models. The reason we ran away was because it seemed Adventurous to do so. I read your other earlier article in OLO but decided against commenting. I will try to offer a detailed response over the weekend starting now.
First off, most if not all of this stuff you have written about the “Brook” is “ABSOLUTE CRAP” that Denigrates the names and contributions of some good honest local men including farmers,that worked there, and contributed to the future of a lot of youth that needed discipline and mentoring. I am also of obvious Aboriginal heritage. I accepted the $7,000 offered after the Forde Enquiry because at the time I needed money and nothing else. I spoke to, and laughed with numerous others, that went for the $30,000 with some greatly exaggerated and concocted stories, to secure the thirty grand. I could quite easily have done the same but declined to do so in embarrassment. ! I have spoken to about a dozen others about what was in the papers and that were in Westbrook with me and all agree that most if not all of the stuff coming out was simply not true and in fact were lies. I was well known, and most boys in the “Brook” at that time as well as the workers would remember me as I am someone that is hard to forget and I challenge you Harry, to ask about me !

Arthur Bell. aka bully.

Also Harry, I have websites and post on many forums and it is not hard to get a bit of an insight to what sort of person I am and where I am coming from. My main website is www.whitc.info/ and is well know and well read with an average of 40 visits daily.

More to come over the weekend...

Arthur Bell aka bully.

OFFICIAL REPORTS MISLEADING ( I don't know who's view this was or their motivation or agenda )

“In 1966 the Department of Children's Services provided a typical official report on Westbrook:”
I would say that this is, was, a balanced and fair report. The only disagreement by me is,

“the majority of the boys prior to entering the Home have never had any discipline and if they had they might not have been committed to care and admitted to Westbrook”

Many of the boys were from other institutions including, Nudgee Orphanage, Wilston the Salvation Army and others and many lacked, in retrospect, “consistent and fair” discipline.
Westbrook was a whole new experience for them, being staffed, almost exclusively by non-professionals including mostly, local farmers with families, seeking to supplement their incomes.

“Ten boys have absconded or attempted to abscond in the past twelve months and in the majority of these cases the absconding or attempt has been in the early period of residence”

This occurred because most expected a similar environment from whence they came, but after a while, realising this was not the case, settled in quite well.

Arthur Bell. aka bully.

“Ten boys have absconded or attempted to abscond in the past twelve months and in the majority of these cases the absconding or attempt has been in the early period of residence”

This occurred because most expected a similar environment from whence they came, but after a while, realising this was not the case, settled in quite well.

>>>>Another aspect is the behavior of boys at that age in seeking to project ( maybe as a defence ) a toughness by claiming to have been in Magill boys reformatory,Tamworth boys home and Mittagong boys home.

Westbrook was seen to be the equivelnt of and even promoted as such, by “us Queenslanders”. So, many of the boys in the other Qld. institutions were very apprehensive and even afraid of Westbrook and it was used as a threat to pull them into line. ( but after a while, realising this was not the case, settled in quite well )<<<<

Arthur Bell. aka bully.

And Bully:

...What of the alleged homosexual acts in the report? How were the "known" homosexuals treated; (or maybe used as a persuasive force for control by the guards)?

...Was there a standard procedure, (the normal practice of warrants) in place, to use Boggo road jail as a form of punishment for runaways would you say, or were some runaways simply returned to Westbrook?

...An omission in this article appears to be any mention of visitations of relatives and friends. What comment have you on that score?

...What was your opinion of the food "generally" supplied to children?

...I am interested in your "counter-view" to the reports of the inquiries

DISQUIETING RUMOURS
The 1971Westbrook Annual Report stated Stipendiary Magistrate P. D. Peel was appointed to conduct an inquiry into mass escapes, violence, excessive drill, homosexuality and the standard of food.
The inquiry surprisingly revealed 'no serious deficiencies', although a recommendation was made regarding 'prevention of homosexual practices'.

Harry,
most at Westbrook including staff were aware that I was not from a similar environment to most of the other boys. Being of a strong character and a natural leader, though a bit of a rebel. Many of the other boys not only sought my company and even advice and in some cases my protection but they confided in me as well. I was then and still am, a very alert and observant person and a student of human nature. There was “not one thing” happening in Westbrook that I wasn't or wouldn't have been aware of. That is my nature. And to suggest that there was a nest of adult homosexuals in the farming community of Westbrook preying on the inmates of the Training Center, or that the many farmers that were employed there tolerated that situation, is not only Very Terrible, Disgusting and Offensive to many good people that acted as substitute fathers, but it was Not True. There was no homosexuality “at all”.

Dan, I will try to address all issues, health ( copd, chronic fatigue etc. ) permitting.

Arthur Bell. aka bully.

The food was of a good standard with most if not all of the vegetables grown there including the potatoes that we enjoyed as chats with ladles of a hearty stew. Mr. Wesling ( Snoz ) was in charge of the dairy and resided on the property in a house next door to one of the superintendents a Mr. Colberg who's daughter Gloria, was much admired by us boys. The vegetable garden would have been close to a hectare and we all munched out at work. We also drank plenty of the milk where we could. Relatives visited on the weekends and many bought foods including chicken and cakes that was devoured with gusto by very active growing teenage boys. Cakes lollies and biscuits could be left in the admin office to be accessed after breakfast and before marching off to work at about 8.30-9.00am. There was always movies on the weekend and lollies and biscuits could be taken there and shared with less fortunate boys ( no visitors )
Sport was a big thing, with the local community arranging cricket matches and bringing plenty of refreshments for naturally hungry teens. We played plenty of football amongst ourselves and against teams from the surrounding towns. I remember going to play at Dalby, Stanthorp and in Toowoomba. Part of the trips consisted of us boys visiting cafes and even a restaurant to enjoy some lovely food. With a couple of mates I was invited to play for Souths in the local comp. The sports-master was a Mr. Metcalf who arranged the trips, the competition and the food.
A visit by Normie Rowe was a highlight that we enjoyed along with the staff and their families. Not to forget Billy Thorp and the Aztecs.
Arthur Bell. aka bully.

bully:

...In your view, what was the motivation for the inquiries into Westbrook in the first instance: would you consider that compensation payments you noted in your first post, were paid as a bribe for evidence against the institution?

A couple of things before I sign off.
Racism was definitely “never” an issue.
Exercise was as a punishment in the “compound” for a couple of hours or sometimes if one absconded, maybe a week at the most, but the food rations were the same. The “real” punishment was being isolated from normal activities and mates. Mr. Lee and Mr. Ambrose ran the compound. Both good decent men. They threatened with a strap, but very rarely if ever, used it.
The sentences to Westbrook were said to be ( turn ) 18 or otherwise. I was sent to Boggo Road because I was of prison age ( most weren't ) and apprehended by the police and sentenced by a magistrate. It was out of the hands of Westbrook's admin, where normally you would be sent back to the farm. The staff I believe were genuinely compassionate, and concerned about any of us going to prison and cautioned, but “never” threatened us about this.
Also we had a private garden that we could work on in the morning before work. We were encouraged and supported to grew vegetables that we could and did sell to staff to make money for lollies and stuff including tubes of sweetened “condensed” milk.

Arthur Bell. aka bully.

Men that worked at Westbrook.
Superintendents, Sullivan and Colberg. Senior staff, Searl, Bill Earl, Des Laween and Muller.
Others, Bert Moore ran the laundry, Squizy Tailor was a cook, another Laween, Mr.Thompson and Noel Palmlad truck drivers,
Rogers the youngest and newest, a pom.
Nearly all the staff were locals from the Toowoomba area with many farmers that worked at the Training Center as a second job.
It is very disappointing to read the “Crap” from Harry and these people that chose not to be named.
There were a lot of mischief makers at the “Brook” and I could go on for hours about them.
I am listen to 60 minutes and about Boys Town. Westbrook was different to Boys Town in a lot ways.
For a start the youngest in Westbrook would be 14 up to 16 with a couple 17.
Also Westbrook was not run by a Religious Order which I think Boys Town was.
Arthur Bell. Aka bully.

bully;

I am still interested in your opinion why there appears to be a negative spin on Westbrook, when your experience at the time of criticism, (60's) was positive?

Added to that question; why was compensation paid of between $7k to $30k to detainees who could see through the criticism of the institution. I think this is an important question which could throw light on more topical issues of the day, surrounding similar compensation being paid to detainees in prison camps for illegal refugees!