New shoes, new vigour, new hope
By Ian McDougall, volunteer
“Still got the shoes, mate.”
Those were the first words from a grinning Matthew Butler (Book People #7) when he lobbed up to the Street Library table for a chat on Monday (February 6).
He’s always grinning, is Matthew. He got the brand new Rivers shoes from us at the start of December, when he and new doggie friend Alvin plonked down nearby.
A light breeze tinkled the leaves, the sun was out and shining bright and so were the spirits of the Tuesley Park mob.
A couple of Matthew’s mates lobbed at our table and we swapped banter, joshed about and took the mickey out of each other, which had us all hooting and cackling.
No dog today.
“Where’s Alvin,” I asked, “You didn’t eat him, did ya?” (Guffaws from the mob. “Taste good, they reckon.” “I like chewing on the leg bones … yum!”)
“Nah, mate, I got him re-homed; got a bit too much for me.”
We hadn’t seen Matthew for a while. While his disposition was always cheery, his eyes were lacklustre, had a vacant look. Now they’re sparkling.
“Had some personal and family issues, got back in to the drugs and drink,” he said.
“Been through a tough spell, some dark times
“But I got to thinking. I’m 35 shortly, got two kids; time to turn my life around. So I did rehab.”
Matthew is starting a business management course with a private mob at Southport, two days a week 9am-4pm … “rest of week to myself, for study time and catch up with friends”.
Cost a bit for books?
“Nah, books are free, along with an iPad and I get a student allowance … great, eh!”
He’s no stranger to study. He got any Army scholarship in Year 12 then did two years reading science and doing military training before “things got in the way”.
“There’s more, mate,” he beams.
“I got a flat in Southport thank to a lady with a kind heart. Let me live there two weeks for free until I got my deposit together – how good is that!”
As he was leaving he spotted a Concise Oxford Dictionary on our table. “Now that’ll come in handy.”
Indeed, Matthew, indeed.
Matthew was one of two people who, uninvited, expressed views about local homeless food services.
“These (Rosies-type) gatherings are just great,” he said.
“They bring people in similar situations together and we get to know each other trust each other, make friends.
“We share.
“If’ I’ve got a pouch of tobacco I’m happy to pass it around. If someone’s down on their luck one week, there’s always someone who’ll lend him a few dollars to get through or make space for home to sleep for a night or two.
“People I meet here I see each other all over the place.
“That bloke there (points to a ranga-haired man), saw him in Brissie the other day, crossing the bridge on his bike.
“And the Rosies people are beaut, they’re fair dinkum.”
Later, however, another old mate reckoned the Gold Coast is over-serviced with food vans.
He survived a major operation a few years back and is battling alcohol. Lives on a boat but wants to move to Ballina, where his people come from.
“It’s less crowded there,” he says.
“Homeless people flock here because of all the services they can access, and they can get a feed every day of the week, some nights as well.
“Why wouldn’t you come?
“Look about (points to full-figured folk in the food queue, pats belly) … lots of us are certainly doing OK
“That being said, these services do a lot of good. We get to see people we know and make friends and that’s important when you’re struggling.”
Terry aka The Preacher (BP #9) was grateful for a Children’s Bible and Book of Psalms.
Old mate Graham Donahee (BP #9) came along with one of his corny jokes.
Graham is still looking for Night Train, about the life of one of his boxing heroes, Sonny Liston.
“I’ll wait 180 years for it if I have to.”
We hope to find a copy for you before then, mate.
We also found more Pokemon books for Ann (BP #2), who’s still keen on accessing Anime and Manga for her daughter, whose interest in things Japanese has expanded lately.
“She’s doing a Japanese travel course so she’s also after Japanese phrase book,” Ann says.
“I don’t know where she’s headed with all this but it’s good she’s exploring … keeps her occupied and out of trouble hat some teenagers get up to.”
Our lone Indigenous title, Mutant Message for Down Under – a book of Indigenous Wisdom, went so we are on the alert for any more Indigenous or cross-cultural titles.
It was taken by a Noonuccal man, from Stradbroke Island.
“Not long finished the last one I got from you,” he says.
“Bad Boys, Bad Men – bit of an eye opener, eh. There’s always something to learn and maybe pass on to younger people.”
We’re struggling to come up with Wilbur Smith titles that Dal Withers (BP #8) hasn’t read.
We showed him one.
“Seems to have similar characters to River God and its sequel, Quest ... but I’m unsure,” he says.
“I’ve read so many that it’s hard to recall sometimes.
One I am after, though, is Assegai. Come up with that and I’ll be happy.”
And so will we, Dal, so will we.
060212
“Still got the shoes, mate.”
Those were the first words from a grinning Matthew Butler (Book People #7) when he lobbed up to the Street Library table for a chat on Monday (February 6).
He’s always grinning, is Matthew. He got the brand new Rivers shoes from us at the start of December, when he and new doggie friend Alvin plonked down nearby.
A light breeze tinkled the leaves, the sun was out and shining bright and so were the spirits of the Tuesley Park mob.
A couple of Matthew’s mates lobbed at our table and we swapped banter, joshed about and took the mickey out of each other, which had us all hooting and cackling.
No dog today.
“Where’s Alvin,” I asked, “You didn’t eat him, did ya?” (Guffaws from the mob. “Taste good, they reckon.” “I like chewing on the leg bones … yum!”)
“Nah, mate, I got him re-homed; got a bit too much for me.”
We hadn’t seen Matthew for a while. While his disposition was always cheery, his eyes were lacklustre, had a vacant look. Now they’re sparkling.
“Had some personal and family issues, got back in to the drugs and drink,” he said.
“Been through a tough spell, some dark times
“But I got to thinking. I’m 35 shortly, got two kids; time to turn my life around. So I did rehab.”
Matthew is starting a business management course with a private mob at Southport, two days a week 9am-4pm … “rest of week to myself, for study time and catch up with friends”.
Cost a bit for books?
“Nah, books are free, along with an iPad and I get a student allowance … great, eh!”
He’s no stranger to study. He got any Army scholarship in Year 12 then did two years reading science and doing military training before “things got in the way”.
“There’s more, mate,” he beams.
“I got a flat in Southport thank to a lady with a kind heart. Let me live there two weeks for free until I got my deposit together – how good is that!”
As he was leaving he spotted a Concise Oxford Dictionary on our table. “Now that’ll come in handy.”
Indeed, Matthew, indeed.
Matthew was one of two people who, uninvited, expressed views about local homeless food services.
“These (Rosies-type) gatherings are just great,” he said.
“They bring people in similar situations together and we get to know each other trust each other, make friends.
“We share.
“If’ I’ve got a pouch of tobacco I’m happy to pass it around. If someone’s down on their luck one week, there’s always someone who’ll lend him a few dollars to get through or make space for home to sleep for a night or two.
“People I meet here I see each other all over the place.
“That bloke there (points to a ranga-haired man), saw him in Brissie the other day, crossing the bridge on his bike.
“And the Rosies people are beaut, they’re fair dinkum.”
Later, however, another old mate reckoned the Gold Coast is over-serviced with food vans.
He survived a major operation a few years back and is battling alcohol. Lives on a boat but wants to move to Ballina, where his people come from.
“It’s less crowded there,” he says.
“Homeless people flock here because of all the services they can access, and they can get a feed every day of the week, some nights as well.
“Why wouldn’t you come?
“Look about (points to full-figured folk in the food queue, pats belly) … lots of us are certainly doing OK
“That being said, these services do a lot of good. We get to see people we know and make friends and that’s important when you’re struggling.”
Terry aka The Preacher (BP #9) was grateful for a Children’s Bible and Book of Psalms.
Old mate Graham Donahee (BP #9) came along with one of his corny jokes.
Graham is still looking for Night Train, about the life of one of his boxing heroes, Sonny Liston.
“I’ll wait 180 years for it if I have to.”
We hope to find a copy for you before then, mate.
We also found more Pokemon books for Ann (BP #2), who’s still keen on accessing Anime and Manga for her daughter, whose interest in things Japanese has expanded lately.
“She’s doing a Japanese travel course so she’s also after Japanese phrase book,” Ann says.
“I don’t know where she’s headed with all this but it’s good she’s exploring … keeps her occupied and out of trouble hat some teenagers get up to.”
Our lone Indigenous title, Mutant Message for Down Under – a book of Indigenous Wisdom, went so we are on the alert for any more Indigenous or cross-cultural titles.
It was taken by a Noonuccal man, from Stradbroke Island.
“Not long finished the last one I got from you,” he says.
“Bad Boys, Bad Men – bit of an eye opener, eh. There’s always something to learn and maybe pass on to younger people.”
We’re struggling to come up with Wilbur Smith titles that Dal Withers (BP #8) hasn’t read.
We showed him one.
“Seems to have similar characters to River God and its sequel, Quest ... but I’m unsure,” he says.
“I’ve read so many that it’s hard to recall sometimes.
One I am after, though, is Assegai. Come up with that and I’ll be happy.”
And so will we, Dal, so will we.
060212
