Mar 2001 Volume 82 Number 3
"serving the protectors"
| Mar 2001 Volume 82 Number 3 "serving the protectors" |
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Abuse |
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| By David Marr |
I was sharing a relaxing moment with my ex-neighbour and plumber mate, Gus, the other evening. We were under his pergola having a chat when his teenage lads arrived home in a less-than-friendly mood. While there were no punches thrown, they turned the air blue with the names they tossed at each other.
Gus rolled his eyes. He had heard the words before, but didn’t like them being used around his house. Nonetheless, he had no intention of entering into a teenage dispute. The tone of the lads’ excited argument continued until mum stepped out from the back door. She stood there looking stern with her chin set and arms folded. It was amazing. Floss never said a word, but the intensity between the lads paled in comparison.
“We never said anything 'Warney’ didn’t say”, Simon remarked, “and K.G. and Cornesy reckon it’s all right if you’re stressed – and Mark stresses me.”
Floss replied: “Warney had better not use that language in this house either, or he’d have a decrease in his allowance just like you two.”
In silence, the boys picked up their bags, stepped around their mother and went inside. Floss turned her glare on us and, I have to say – although the whole affair had nothing to do with me – I suddenly felt cold. Gus grunted, picked up his drink and said: “Come into the shed.”
I commented: “I’ve never seen her like that, but I agree – it’s not good to hear language like that about the house. It’s funny how, when anger takes over, abuse becomes destructive and hurtful. I think Cornesy’s wrong if he justifies abuse from being stressed, and K.G. is wrong if he justifies it because it’s been going on for years and is part of the culture.”
“Yeah, well,” Gus replied, “K.G. and Cornsey have just cost the boys half this fortnight’s allowance, so they’ll be stuck home with me Saturday night. I’ll suffer, too.”
At this point, Gus started to get a bit worked up. “Well, like hell I am,” he said. “I’m not having my weekend shot just because of those kids.”
And, with that, Gus stepped outside the shed and uttered a few unkind words to Floss, who was watering her Strelitzia. Mark was sitting nearby, and obviously trying to get into mum’s favour again. Simon, hearing dad’s tirade of abuse, appeared from inside muttering something about dad losing his allowance, too.
The good thing about families is that you don’t have to fight with strangers. I moved out under the pergola again, determined not to miss any of the action.
Suddenly, Floss lost her composure, burst into tears, turned the hose onto everyone and strode inside. The hose gyrated madly, further wetting Gus as he attempted to regain control. Mark turned off the tap and everything was still.
Half drenched, I began to laugh. “Come along blokes, I think Floss needs your help,” I said. Slowly they moved inside. After a while I could hear their voices in what sounded like negotiations.
“The swearing rule stands,” Floss affirmed. As I closed the front gate, Gus called to me: “You’re allowance is cut too. I’ll be down for a visit Saturday evening.”
I hope your allowance hasn’t been cut lately.
Welfare Section 58 David Marr
Senior Police Chaplain.8364 3567 Academy 8 Brenton Daulby Adelaide: Angas Street 158 Bruce Grindlay 8295 2220 Adelaide: Hindley Street 62 Bruce Grindlay 8295 2220 Adelaide Hills Division 54 Adrian Stephens 8398 2510
Office: 8398 2517Ceduna 214 Sybil Peacock 8625 3505 Christies Beach 20 Peter Coote 8381 3039
0412 818 995Clare 202 Michael Dutschke 8842 3681 Communications 172 David Hand 8376 5612 Elizabeth 52 Vacant Far North 210 John Folkman 8672 5011 Firearms/Records Dianna Bartlett 8337 8552 Focus 21 Richard Lawton 8362 4936 Gawler 52 Brian Tscharke 8522 2288 Glenelg 22 Malcolm Thomas 8377 0772 Henley Beach 18 Vacant Holden Hill 44 Rod Dyson 8365 1170 Kadina 71 Vacant Kingston 208 Mount Gambier 208 Brian Ashworth (w) 8723 1353
(h) 8725 2537Murray Bridge 200 Malcolm Bottrill 8532 5536 Naracoorte 208 Bruce Cliff 8737 2457
0417 811 702Norwood 60 Lynton Wade 8362 2227
0418 831 703Nuriootpa 204 Andy Kowald 8562 1011 Port Adelaide 6 Jeff Oake 8341 5930 Port Pirie 206 Steve Ardill 8632 3977 Prosecution Services 176 Vacant Port Augusta PS 210 Mark Thomas 8642 2487
0401 671 850Port Lincoln 214 Vacant Riverland 212 Robin Zadow 8588 1540 Salisbury 53 Vacant South East Terry Natt 8571 1114 Sturt 12 Chris Beal 8278 9578 Tea Tree Gully 48 Bob George 8395 9363 Thebarton Barracks 32 Joe Grealy 8338 3225 Transit Division Wayne Shepherd 8443 4895 Whyalla 218 Tony Redden 8649 3593
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