Russell

I ended up coming here to get counselling. I’m not a person to go and ask for help. My parents were killed when I was eleven and I got fostered out to three different families till I was seventeen and that didn’t go too good either. I’ve been having a lot of problems in my life dealing with it.

I’m a jackeroo by trade. I’ve been harvesting out west – wheat, cotton, cattle work, shearing sheep – anything. While the drought was on I packed up and came here to get myself sorted out. But I will go back. Once I get my problems sorted out I will go back to the same property I came from. They want me there.

I’ve lived in a lot of different humpies out in the bush so I’m a bit lost here. There’s not a lot for me to do. This town’s the biggest place I’ve lived in but it’s a nice little community. It’s a lot different than what I thought. I was really nervous. I didn’t know what the people were like but they’re pretty friendly. It’s convenient to everything I need and I don’t have to drive 100 kilometres to get a hamburger or go to the bank and I can just get up and walk to the river. I was lucky to get this caravan. I’ve done all of the painting on it and fixed the windows.

I’ve got a couple of close friends. I try to choose them carefully. I don’t want any that’ll cause any problems. I don’t drink and I keep to myself mostly.

I’d like to be able to change how everything started as a child. I’d like to have my folks, have my mum and dad. Sit down and have a dinner with them, have a yarn. Have an argument. I know this sounds silly but sometimes I can smell my mother for some reason. Some days I can smell her, I can see her. I know they’re waiting for me. I’m not religious or anything but I do believe there’s something there and I believe they’re standing beside me some days to give me the courage I do need.

That’s about it. I’m pretty much quiet and simple.

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Russell
Russell
Tracey

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Russell

I ended up coming here to get counselling. I’m not a person to go and ask for help. My parents were killed when I was eleven and I got fostered out to three different families till I was seventeen and that didn’t go too good either. I’ve been having a lot of problems in my life dealing...

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