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!