JAILBREAK

I have finished ”, Australia’s Most Unforgettable Prison Escapes.   There are some sensational stories of prison escapes within this book from all over Australia.

Having been a Prison Officer in New South Wales, led me to read the stories from that state first, before venturing on to the others.  I was fascinated by every story in the book.  

I was particularly taken by the story titled “WA’s Favourite Bushranger” – Moondyne Joe.   Although he probably was not a bushranger in the strict sense of the word, he was definitely a rogue, an outlaw and an escapologist.

His story led me to learn the poem “The ballad of Moondyne Joe”.   It is great fun to sit around with family, especially your children and grandchildren, and recite a poem from memory.   For your enjoyment I have included the poem.

The Ballad of Moondyne Joe

In the Darling Ranges, many years ago,
There lived a daring outlaw, by the name of ‘Moondyne Joe’
He stole the squatter’s horses, and a sheep or two or three,
The troopers said we’ll catch him, but we know it’s all in vain,
Every time we lock him up he breaks right out again.
‘Cause in he goes, and out he goes, and off again he’ll go,
There’s not a gaol in WA can keep in ‘Moondyne Joe’.

I highly recommend the book “Jailbreak” by Wendy Lewis. It is an interesting, well written and thoroughly researched book, and I give it 4 ¾ stars out of 5.

You can find more details on www.echopbulishing.com.au

Peter T Egge

SEVERIN MUST GO!!

Last week I received a copy of a letter from a good friend and a Prison Officer from yesteryear regarding Lauren Oliver, the Director of Training at Brushfarm Prison Officer Training Academy.

I have written a number of blogs regarding Ms Oliver and her outrageous statements recently concerning the “fat old white guys” as she labeled the Prison Officers from my era.

What Mr. Severin and Ms Oliver have done is underestimated the tenacity and willpower to see issues through to the end as we are never going to give up on these two over paid Public Servants.

I recently received my copy of The Red Tape, dated December 2016 to January 2017.    The Red Tape is the official tabloid for the Public Service Association and although I have not worked inside a Gaol since the late 1980’s, I am still a retired member of the PSA.

I read with interest under Mr. Severin’s watch, and he IS responsible for what occurs within his Department, a Prison Officer at Cessnock Corrective Centre who was suffering from a long term illness, took sick leave.   His position within the Department was an Overseer.   The Officer met all of the criteria under the Department’s sick leave policy.   The article does not indicate what the Officer’s condition was, however I somehow suspect that it may have been stress related.   The Officer, during his leave, completed a marathon event which as I understand it, physical exercise was recommended by his medical practitioner.  

A Line Manager at Cessnock Corrective Centre, and I am not quite sure of the level this person held, rejected and recorded his absence as “not acceptable”.

The PSA contacted the Director of Corrective Services Industries who refused to reverse the Line Manager’s decision.  A dispute was lodged with the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales.   There the Commissioner Newall issued a recommendation stating, “It seems inescapable that whatever view one takes of the reasons underpinning this absence, if a Registered Medical Practitioner tells the Agency with full knowledge of what he is writing, that a man was unfit for work…..”    Mr. Newall went on to say that the employee should be paid the time he spent away from work.

Of course under Mr. Severin’s leadership, the Department declined to accept Mr. Newall’s recommendation and sought to have the matter arbitrated.

The matter was heard before Commissioner Murphy and the PSA argued the employee had run the marathon on a rostered day off and had been advised that exercise would actually assist him in his condition.  Commissioner Murphy ruled in favour of the employee, ordering the Corrective Services to pay the outstanding leave.

This is where Mr. Severin fails in his duties as Commissioner of Department of Corrective Services.   He has allowed his underlings within the Department to fight a sick leave entitlement, of less than $2,000, that the decision was always going to be in favour of the employee and costing the Department around $20,000 to reach this failed ruling, is simply outrageous, has no economic sense at all and can only be described as a waste of good tax payer’s money.

Mr. Severin is a disgrace.   He is a do-gooder, he has ruined the reputations of those gallant Prison Officers of yesteryear, he does not run his Department using economical common sense and I suspect he plays the “Yes Minister” game to his own advantage.

He should resign under his own volition or alternatively the Minister must sack this man before he causes any further damage to the Department with which he is solely responsible.


This I believe
Peter T Egge

Rumour Has It!

I have heard from a number of sources that Peter, (the prisoner’s friend) Severins, Commissioner of NSW Corrective Services, is skating on thin ice.   It is most unlikely that his contract will be renewed if not terminated in the mean time.

It has become more increasingly obvious that his advice continues to embarrass the Minister for Corrective Services.   The nonsense that comes from within the Department to the Minister, and subsequently the Premier, is beyond comprehension and without any real substance or purpose.

Mr. Severins must believe that the “old school” Prison Officers of yesteryear, are prepared to sit back and allow that disgraceful episode from Ms. Lauren Oliver to pass us by.

Let me assure Mr. Severins and the Minister, that this is not the case.   They can both look forward to this continuing until a satisfactory result occurs in fact I can guarantee that shortly, there will be a concerted effort to obtain a satisfactory result in relation to Ms. Oliver and Mr. Severins.

This morning on Chanel 7, there was an article from a young Prison Officer desperately trying to obtain recognition from those very brave Prison Officers who, at the risk of their own peril, rescued some Prison Officers locked in a cell within 13 Wing in the Metropolitan Remand Centre at the Long Bay Prison Complex in 1986.   It was a highly volatile and dangerous riot situation that the rescuing officers confronted.

I am reliably informed that Mr. Severins shook his head and said, “That was in the past so we’re not interested in it now” (paraphrasing).

If it were a prisoner that had carried out these outstanding brave acts, there is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Severins would have rushed to ensure the prisoner was recognised for his bravery.

Mr. Severins is a disgrace and embarrassment to the Prison industry.   He does not have an original thought in his head.    All of the programs he has put into place were tried in the 1970s and 1980s, many of which were a failure during that period.

If Mr. Severins and the New South Wales Government listened to the people whom they represent and who pay their wages, they would find the people no longer want their prisoners mollycoddled and millions of dollars squandered on useless and unsuccessful programs that have little or no value.    What the people want now is for their prisoners to be treated humanely but not living in luxury, especially when many of their citizens who we often find have fought for this country, are homeless, struggling to survive.

This I believe

Peter T Egge

Jailbreak

​I received a short email from Wendy Lewis who tells me that her new book, "Jailbreak" has now  been released for sale.

I am most excited about the release of this book and very much looking forward to getting my hands on it and once I do, I will give you all a book review.

Peter Egge

Significant lapse in security

In the Sunday Telegraph, dated 4th September 2016, I am reliably informed that there was an article concerning the most significant lapse in security I have heard not involving a murder or an escape.


The article alleges that and Overseer took a convicted prisoner into the Central Industrial Prison's Armoury for the purposes of painting the Armoury.


The Central Industrial Prison was built between 1901 and 1909,   Since its completion there has never been a prisoner allowed to go anywhere near the armoury for sound, security reasons.


The prisoners now have first hand knowledge of the layout of the Armoury, where it is situated, and what it contains.


I am also led to believe that a Senior Assistant Superintendent has resigned over this incident.


In my day, it was the Superintendent who was responsible for what occurred in his Gaol, not a Senior Assistant Superintendent.


This incident has caused me major concerns over the recruitment and training of Prison Officers in recent years.   It is now time for another Royal Commission into the Department of Corrective Services.   It is currently failing the public.


My father-n-law, Colin McCarthy, had a very relevant saying, “Common sense is the yardstick by which I measure everything”.   It appears common sense has long been lacking in the New South Wales Department of Corrective Services.


This I believe.


Peter T. Egge

LIES BEGET LIES

When I was five years old, my father instilled in me the importance of always being truthful, and would use the following example as a means of illustrating his point. “If you tell one lie, you have to tell ten more to cover the first”.


What has happened within the Department of Corrective Services is actually the proof of my father's theory.   Director of Brush Farm Training Acadamy Lauren Oliver, the Director of Media & Communications Mr. Michael Duffy, and the Commission of Corrective Services Mr. Peter Severin have been telling one lie after another in an effort to cover up the calculated indiscretion and the disgraceful conduct on Ms. Oliver's part, when she quoted in the Sunday Telegraph dated 26th June 2016, “Those old fat white guys wouldn't last very long these days”.   She further stated, “That's the old culture, our staff is fighting so hard against that”.   And worst still she inferred that we, (the old Prison Officers), could not deescalate a situation and went on to state that modern guards have to be good communicators and be fit enough to respond to an emergency, inferring that we were not.


As you may already know, following these outrageous statements against those very honorable Prison Officers of yesteryear, the Department issued a communication blaming the reporter Jordan Baker, and denied that Ms. Oliver had used those terms.   They also indicated that Ms. Oliver was not put forward as a representative of the Department.


I have been informed recently that an ex Prison Officer made direct contact with the reporter, Jordan Baker, in regard to his reporting of this claim.  Jordan Baker categorically stated that the entire story had been authorised by Mr. Severin, the Commissioner of Corrective Services and the words quoted directly from Ms. Oliver were actually stated to Jordan no less than six or seven times.    In addition Ms. Oliver was put up to the reporter as being the representative of the Department.


I am also aware that an ex Officer has directly complained to the Minister's Office.   It seems that these famous three, Mr. Severin, Mr. Duffy and Ms. Oliver, have turned this situation into a “YES MINISTER”, liking it to the television series, either deliberately or negligently, misleading or lying to the Minister of Corrective Services, a Member of Parliament.  If deliberately, or misleading a Minister of the Crown is not an offense, it most certainly should be.


This whole matter could have been sorted out very simply and amicably  had Ms. Oliver given a simple statement, apologising for her in-discretion, and accepting full responsibility for her wrongful remarks.


These three high ranking officials, Mr. Severin, Mr. Duffy and Ms. Oliver, are blatant lairs.   They expect from their subordinate staff the highest of integrity, yet they are unable to reach credible standards themselves.


I call on the Minister of Corrective Services to dismiss these three, as their integrity is of a standard that he, the Minister, could have no faith or confidence in their ability to communicate truthfully with him when such an occasion arises.


This matter will not go away.  

This I believe

Peter T. Egge


I most cordially invite, Mr. Severin, Mr. Duffy and Ms. Oliver the right of reply, or indeed to offer their apology to those like me who were so hurt by the stinging, flippant, uneducated remarks and the lies that have followed.

Ken Horton RIP

I was saddened to hear of the loss of Ken Horton recently.


Ken started duties with the Department of Corrective Services shortly after I commenced, however he was about ten years older than me.   We had many conversations together, both involving our employment as well as our personal lives.   He was a great Prison Officer and was very well respected.    I have never heard a bad word spoken about Ken, most probably because he was an exceptionally nice man and a diligent officer.   I enjoyed his company and the time I spent working with him.  


He will be sadly missed by all those who knew him and I am sorry that I had not been in contact with him for many years.


Peter T. Egge

The Ananda Marga – Anderson, Alister and Dunn – Hilton Bombing

The Hilton bombing occurred on 13th February 1978.   It was the first Commonwealth Heads of Government Regional Meeting (CHOGRM).    The bomb was planted in a rubbish bin directly outside the main entrance to the Hilton Hotel in Sydney.   The bomb exploded when the bin was emptied into a garbage truck at 12.40 hours, killing two garbage collectors, Alec Carter and William Favell, a police officer Paul Birmistriw succumbed to his horrific injuries and died later, while 11 other people suffered serious injury.  There were 12 foreign leaders staying at the Hilton Hotel at the time of the explosion.


The Ananda Marga sect were targeted and blamed for this blatant act of terrorism and three of its members were arrested, namely Timothy Anderson, Ross Dunn and Paul Alister.   All three were convicted and sent to prison.   My understanding is they were later pardoned and received compensation for false imprisonment.

In this country, once pardoned, they are entitled to be considered innocent of the crimes they had been charged with.  It seems to me the evidence was deemed unreliable, yet the case is very similar to that of Lindy Chamberlain, she has been pardoned and exonerated of all crimes, therefore is entitled to the presumption of innocence, yet debate still remains today surrounding her innocence by a small minority of people who were so convinced of her guilt at the time of her trial, that they refuse to accept the court’s eventual finding, and so it is to some extent the same for Anderson, Dunn and Alister.

I do not hide the fact that I did not like them, they were always agitating for something, vegetarian meals and supplements, including a variety of nuts and other special vegetarian foods and green tea.  One of their principles and commitments to the sect was that they were vegetarian.  There was always an ample supply of vegetables on the food barrow, they just needn’t have taken the meat, after all they were in prison for goodness sake.   There are pensioners who have worked hard all their lives who could not afford to live in luxury like these prisoners were beginning to.

On one occasion Anderson, Dunn and Alister were housed in 13 Wing in the Metropolitan Remand Centre, at the Long Bay Prison complex. On the “D” watch (14.00 to 22.00 hours), were two very experienced officers Sandie Storie and John Royce, both of whom I knew and had a lot of respect for.   Around 18.00 hours Mr Royce received information the prisoners on the middle landing were going to refuse to go to their cells at lock in time (21.30 hours).   Mr Royce informed Principal Prison Officer Mr Dyson of the pending trouble in the wing.

Mr Dyson instructed Mr Royce of the procedure he was to carry out.  

Should the prisoners refuse to go to their cells at lock in time, Mr Storie was to issue a direct order to the prisoners to go to their cells.

If they refused Mr Storie’s direct order, he (Mr Royce) was to issue a direct order to the prisoners to go to their cells.

Should the prisoners refuse both officers’ direct orders, Mr Dyson was to be notified immediately.

The prisoners refused the direct orders from Mr. Storie and Mr. Royce.

To find out what happens next in this tense standoff, read my book “Cutting the Bars – Volume 3”, page 70.

NO APOLOGY AS YET FROM MS. OLIVER

My understanding is that the Department of Corrective Services was inundated with complaints about the news article in the Daily Telegraph dated 26th June 2016, as outlined in my previous blog, titled:

“DIRECTOR LAUREN OLIVER - A disgrace to her uniform and dishonourable conduct towards the memory of thousands of hard working, honest prison officers from yesteryear.

The Director of Media and Communications, Mr. Michael Duffy, issued a limited apology the following day to those Officers who had complained.   To the best of my knowledge, this limited apology was not published in the Daily Telegraph.

The apology reads:
There has been criticism by staff of a feature story in yesterday’s Sunday Telegraph about Corrective Services NSW. I apologise to everyone who was offended by the way this turned out.
The article was intended to focus on training and recruits, to assist with our recruitment program. The journalist interviewed some recruits and Lauren Oliver, the Director of the Brush Farm Academy.

Ms Oliver gave an interview that was entirely positive about the staff of CSNSW and the work they do. Her use of the terms “old fat white guys” and “old culture” was in response to the use of similar terms by the journalist, in a question about stereotypes of custodial officers seen in films and on television.

The newspaper decided to turn some of Ms Oliver’s general comments into a major part of the story, and to run a large picture of her. We had no control over those decisions. Newspapers do not show articles to subjects before publication.

We did not present Ms Oliver as a spokesperson for custodial corrections, and she did not agree to do the interview on that basis.

Dealing with the media always involves an element of unpredictability. In this case I got it wrong.

Michael Duffy
Director, Media & Communications

I appreciate the fact that Mr Duffy has accepted responsibility and has apologised, however he is not the person who quoted those hurtful and inaccurate aspersions towards Prison Officers from the past.

I am still waiting for an apology from the person who was quoted, and that is clearly Ms. Lauren Oliver.   She cannot escape the responsibility of her remarks.   She must apologise unequivocally to those many honest, hard working and responsible Prison Officers from yesteryear.

If Ms. Oliver is unable to find it in her heart to accept responsibility for those words that she is quoted as saying, (please read my previous blog), she should resign her position as Director of Brush Farm Prison Officer Training Academy.

In lieu of her apology or resignation, I call on the Commissioner of Corrective Services Mr. Peter Severins, to take extreme disciplinary action against her for her insulting and discriminatory remarks.

I am aware that the Department of Corrective Services Media Section have full knowledge of my blogs.   This matter will not go away and I will keep all my readers up to date with any progress or lack thereof through this web page.

This I believe.

Peter T. Egge

DIRECTOR LAUREN OLIVER

A disgrace to her uniform and dishonourable conduct towards the memory of thousands of hard working, honest prison officers from yesteryear

I do not know Ms Lauren Oliver, the Director of Brush Farm Training Academy.  To the best of my knowledge, I have never met her, nor do I particularly want to.   You can imagine my dismay when I received an email from a good friend that contained an article from the Sunday Telegraph dated 26th June 2016, page 40, written by Jordan Baker.   The article focus, as I see it, was on Prison Officer Recruitment and Training.   Ms Oliver referred to Prison Officers from years gone by as, “Those old fat white guys wouldn’t last very long these days”.   She continued on, “That’s the old culture, our staff is fighting so hard against that”.    Further she inferred we could not de-escalate a situation and went on to state, “Modern guards have to be good communicator’s, and fit enough to respond to an emergency”, surmising my generation of Prison Officers could not.

I found her quoted statement’s instantly racist, offensive, degrading and completely ill informed, in fact she is totally wrong.   She has also dramatically reduced the status of her own trainee’s by referring to them as “Guards”.   When I trained Prison Officers in 1978 and 1979 I trained “Prison Officers” not “Guards”.

This lady has no understanding of the history of prisons in New South Wales.   Prison is the oldest occupation in Australia.   Just to enlighten Ms Oliver, in January 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip landed on the Kurnell Peninsula following a gruelling eight months at sea with a fleet of 11 ships with 1,030 people on board of which three quarters were convicts.   He was Admiral of the fleet and his flag ship was HMS Sirius.   It is not for me or Ms Oliver to be critical of how the convicts were treated in the late 1700s; it was the way prisoners were treated in those days by law, other than to say the system was very hard, nor is it ok for Ms Oliver to criticise my fellow prison officers of my generation of the 1970s and the early 1980s, other than to say “It was a hard place for hard men”.

The way we carried out our duties was strictly by way of the Prisons act, Regulations and Prison Rules, in other words we were legally bound in the operation of our duty.   We were all very proud of the way we conducted ourselves and still are, and rightfully so.  I reached the rank of Senior Assistant Superintendent and was among the very first of the Executive Prison Officers to be Commissioned by the Governor of New South Wales in 1984.

As for her reference to, “those old fat white guys”; is Ms Oliver aware that Australia had a White Australia Policy up until 1973 and in 1975 the Whitlam Government introduced the Racial Discrimination Act.   All of this did not stop the Department of Corrective Services from hiring a number of European, Indian and of course Australian Aboriginal Officers, in fact she may remember one, the previous Commissioner of Corrective Services in New South Wales, Mr Ronald George Woodham.   The last time I looked, terms such as, “Those fat white guys” were in breach of the Anti Discrimination Act.

Ms Oliver and her softly softly, touchy feely way of dealing with crims is a complete failure.   As a result, the whole modern penal system is nothing short of a joke.

The Australian population in 1976 was around 14,000,000

The Australian population in 2016 is around     24,000,000

An increase of about 71%

The NSW prison population in 1976 was around       4,000

The NSW prison population in 2016 is around         11,000

An increase of about 275%

How does Ms Oliver explain the following simple facts?   If the Australian population has only increased 71% in forty years and the number of criminals under her care has increased a massive 275% in the same forty years, the current prison system is long overdue to have an enquiry into its failure, and perhaps the recruitment and training methods of Ms Oliver.

The Government’s resources which are funded by the tax payer are being wasted on “Bull Shit” programs.  Ms Oliver proudly proclaimed she was going to be training 1400 “Guards” this year.  Well hell Ms Oliver, in 1976 there were only 1500 prison officer’s in the whole of New South Wales.

I would suggest Ms Oliver that you think before you open your mouth, and consider those hard working, honest and brave prison officers whose good name and reputation you have deliberately chosen to besmirch.

I would also suggest you read my books “It’s All in the Fall”, “Cutting the Bars-Volume 1”, “Cutting the Bars-Volume 2”, and “Cutting the Bars-Volume 3”, to enlighten yourself as to what the prisons were really like and what the officers had to contend with in the 1970s and 1980s.   I may suggest that it is you Ms Lauren Oliver that would not last very long at all in those days.

This I believe

PETER T EGGE
I most cordially invite Ms Oliver the right of reply, or indeed to offer her apology to those like me who were so hurt by her stinging, flippant, uneducated remarks.

ROGER ROGERSON AND GLEN MACNAMARA

Yesterday 15th June 2016, a jury made up of 12 men and women, being the two accused peers, found ex-Police Detectives Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara, guilty of crimes associated with the murder of Jamie Gao.


I was somewhat taken aback by Detective Inspector Russell Oxford boasting how he had put many hours of work into gaining the conviction of these two ex-corrupt Police Officers.  To my mind, it was a celebratory speech by the Detective Inspector.   I have seen this type of behaviour from plain clothed Police Officers previously, including celebrations partaking in alcohol.   It is all about the conviction and the possibility of promotions thereafter.   I have no doubt that it will not be long and we will be hearing Detective Inspector Russell Oxford has been promoted to Superintendent.   A victory speech is unbecoming of a person at the illustrious rank of Detective Inspector.   The Police Commissioner should not condone that type of behaviour, regardless of the work that has obviously been put in by his team.  

Also last night, there was a 60 Minutes special on Roger Rogerson in particular.   Please bear in mind that Rogerson and McNamara at this point of time have been found guilty of the offenses associated with the murder of Jamie Gao.   Neither man has been sentenced and it is certainly not my intention to influence the judicial system in any way whatsoever.   These two convicted prisoners will also be entitled to the Appeal’s process, regardless of the sentence they receive.  

Have no doubt how I feel towards these two men.   If all the allegations are true and at the end of the Appeal’s process they remain convicted prisoners, I will have no sympathy whatsoever towards them.   I hope that if this is the case, they die in Gaol and be buried face down in an unmarked grave.

Former under cover Police Officer Mick Drury was the focal point of the 60 Minutes program last night.   He came across to me as a genuine and humble person who had lost everything, including his wife and family, as a result of being shot through his kitchen window while his family were in the home.   Mr. Drury alleged that Roger Rogerson was the driver of the car in which the assailant, Christopher Dale Flannery (Mr. Rent-a-kill), fired the shots from close range, directly outside his kitchen window.   As Mr. Drury told his story from the kitchen in which the incident occurred, he had to stop on at least one occasion, as he quivered, tears came to his eyes and he left the room, after which he apologised to this very experienced investigative reporter, Liz Hayes, who was also in tears, as he recalled in the moments after being shot, seeing his life flash before him, and just wanting to kiss his two little girls, having no idea if he would see them again, (paraphrasing).   I have never met Mr. Drury, however I have great sympathy towards him.  It was following his shooting that I have always insisted in my own home that all curtains and blinds are to be closed when the lights go on.

The entire episode from 60 Minutes was quite damaging towards ex-Detective Sergeant Roger Rogerson as he had previously been charged and found not guilty of offences relating to those put forward during the show.   He had however, been charged, convicted and imprisoned of offenses relating to two hidden bank accounts, kept under false names, one of which was so blatant that it was under the name of Dick Tracey (the famous cartoon detective). These two bank accounts contained an amount of in excess of one hundred thousand dollars.

Roger Rogerson in the early 70’s was well known by the New South Wales public and the criminal element in particular.   He was at that stage, touted to become a future Police Commissioner.   It is a dreadful outcome that such a high profile, well respected Police Officer became so corrupt that some 40 years later, he is found guilty of murder and what makes it worse, he was not the only corrupt Police Officer forcing the New South Wales Government to hold a Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Force.   I am still seeing signs of corrupt behaviour from plain clothed Police Officers in New South Wales.   Perhaps it is time for another Royal Commission as the first one failed to completely root out that dreadful stain on society, corruption within the Police Force.

You can read more about Roger Rogerson in my latest book Cutting the Bars – Volume 3, including how he won the coveted Peter Mitchell Award for the recapture of convicted escaped criminal, Garry John Purdey in 1980, and his involvement in the investigation of the murdered schoolgirl in the septic tank, leading to the conviction of Bruce Kenneth Mackenzie.   (Interestingly, Mick Drury won the same award the following year.) 

Detective Sergeant Roger Rogerson

In the 1970’s and early 1980’s, Detective Sergeant Roger Rogerson was without doubt was one of the best known and well respected Police Officers in the New South Wales Police Force.

He was a member of the Police Armed Holdup Squad and was often called in to assist with other major crime.  He was during this period touted to be a future New South Wales Police Commissioner.

D.S. Rogerson was heavily involved in two cases that I have written about in my new book Cutting the Bars – Volume 3, the first being the re-capture of prison escapee Gary Purdey who was my head sweeper in 3 wing in the Central Industrial Prison during 1975/6.   He was later transferred to Goulburn prison where he escaped in early 1980 from the low security section which is situated outside of the maximum security main walls with three other prisoners, Peter Haggart, Larry Foley and Ian Lochran.   For his part in the recapture of Garry Purdey, DS Rogerson was awarded the coveted Peter Mitchell Award.

The second case that I have written about that he was involved in was the infamous case of the murdered girl, Maureen Bradley, who was found in a septic tank.

I have read DS Rogerson’s accounts involving both cases and his side of the stories do not correlate with all other research I have carried out from reputable sources in relation to the facts surrounding these events.

Amazingly Detective Sergeant Roger Rogerson crossed the forbidden line and was later charged and imprisoned involving crimes unrelated to these events.

There is an old saying, ‘when you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas’, and that is how I perceive the situation involving Roger Rogerson.

Sketch courtesy of Robert A Wood

New South Wales Commissioner of Corrective Services - Peter Severin

I do not know Mr. Severin, I have never met him.   From the media reports I have read, I believe he is a crim lover and an historical vandal who does not have an original thought in his head.

I have been told that he is from South Africa and at some stage was involved with the South Australian Prison System although I have not confirmed those facts.

My reasoning for my accusations in the first paragraph is as follows:

It was announced last week that up to 40 prisoners will be taken on picnics and shopping sprees etc with volunteers.  Dr Vinson, when he was in the same position of Commissioner of Corrective Services, tried these types of programs in the early 80’s and they were a failure then.   The only difference being, Dr Vinson had properly trained Prison Officers to escort the prisoners, not untrained, “cheap labour” volunteers.

The whole system is open to corruption or at best the perception of corruption.   Who is going to select the 40 prisoners?   That person will definitely be open to approaches of corruption by prisoners or their families and friends, who will be borderline candidates for selection.   What about other prisoners who meet the criteria and are not selected and the discontentment that will create.

As far as the volunteers are concerned, they will be of the “bleeding heart” variety and their connection with criminals will create severe problems within their own families.   This is not new.   Once again, in Dr. Vinson’s time, volunteers were involved in prisoner programs and more than one volunteer’s family had been broken up as a result.

My own female cousin had left her husband after volunteering in a program at Parramatta Gaol and became involved with a very dangerous armed robber.   Not long after the prisoner’s release, he severed the relationship with her.   These situations always result in an unhappy ending.

There is no evidence to support these programs have any effect on the rehabilitation of prisoners, in fact without scientific evidence, I believe these types of programs make gaol a more attractive proposition to commit an offence as there is no deterrent in being sent to prison.

I most strongly believe that the silent majority of the public do not want their prisoners treated with kid gloves, fattened on T bone steaks and kept in conditions better than most aged pensioners.   They do however want their prisoners to be treated humanely with adequate diets, be offered programs scientifically approved to assist rehabilitation where possible and retribution with sound outcomes for the victims and families.

Mr. Severin also announced in the last few weeks the sale and closure of the Long Bay Prison Complex.   The Long Bay Prison Complex dates back to 1901 and carries with it a large slice of Australian history of more than 115 years.   There is nothing new concerning greedy developers seeking the valuable land that the Long Bay Prison Complex sits on.   That has been going on since before I became a Prison Officer in 1971.   No doubt the acquisition of the Complex has been an easy decision for the Department and the New South Wales Government following decades of mismanagement of public taxes in their efforts to keep abreast of the never ending requirement to maintain infrastructure in the sprawling Sydney area to which they have all failed.

New South Wales was the first penal settlement in Australia when Captain Arthur Phillip set foot on land in 1788 with the first ships loaded with convicts from mother England.   The last convict ship, the Hougoumont, left Britain in 1867 and arrived in Western Australia on 10th January 1868.   In all, about 164,000 convicts were transported to the Australian colonies between 1788 and 1868 on board 806 ships.

Selling the Long Bay Prison Complex can be described as nothing less than disgraceful and historical vandalism.   All those involved in the decision to sell such an historical complex should hang their heads in shame until the day they die.   To my mind the Commissioner Mr Severin is a do-gooder and panders only to the crim lovers and the bleeding heart brigade.   He should resign from this most distinguished position or be sacked by the New South Wales Government.

Let’s turn the clock back and make gaols a place to be feared and not a holiday haven, and in doing so prevent people with borderline criminal persuasions and to remain law abiding citizens that the public demand.

This I believe
Peter T Egge

You can read more about my thoughts on these matters and true stories to back them up in all my books, especially my latest being Cutting the Bars – Volume 3.

My new book is now out

Volume three of Cutting The Bars is now out and is $3 

To get your copy,  - Click Here

Good News

Cutting the Bars - Volume 3 should be ready for release some time over the next few weeks.   It is full of exciting, true stories involving real Prison Officers and real criminals.   You will be able to read the true backgrounds behind each one.   There are some great photographs and also great sketches by the very talented Robert A. Wood.

I believe this to be my best book yet, but unfortunately it will be my last based on the New South Wales Prison system in the 1970's and 1980's.

If you haven't caught up with Volumes 1 and 2 of Cutting the Bars, may I suggest that you download a copy to read prior to the release of Volume 3.

Hope everyone enjoys them.
Peter T Egge

RIOT IN THE CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL PRISON, LONG BAY, ON 23RD AUGUST 1978

On 23rd August 1978, Stan Morgan was the Acting Superintendent in the Central Industrial Prison at Long Bay Gaol.   It is fair to say that he was an old man nearing retirement.  He lacked general duties experience having spent most of his career driving trucks for the stores at Parramatta Gaol.

The executive staff received information that the prisoners were going to riot.   Frank (Karate Jack) Hutchen was Deputy Superintendent and had organised the implementation of an evacuation plan, should this occur.

When the prisoners began to riot, Mr. Morgan hesitated when it came to making decisions and failed to take corrective action, preferring to wait for the Commission, Dr. Tony Vincent, to arrive in order to take control.

In doing so Mr. Morgan began to show signs of experiencing a heart attack to which Mr. Hutchen suggested he go home, leaving him to take control.

Read my book "Cutting the Bars - Volume 1" to find out the dramatic ending to this story.

EXTRACT FROM MY BOOK

“IT’S ALL IN THE FALL”

THE MORGUE – GRUESOME TRAINING

It fell to me to take the trainees to the Morgue and the Coroner’s Court every four weeks. I always enjoyed the outing as I continually learned so much about the human body and I always found it educational and fascinating. The professor would carry out an autopsy and give a running commentary as he proceeded with his necessary work. I had come to know him quite well and sometimes, to break the tension, he would say, “Mr Egge, would you like to carry out the autopsy today? “You know as much as I do now”.  I would just smile and say “No thank you Professor, I’m not suitably dressed for it today”.  All the students would look at me quizzically, not knowing whether I could actually perform an autopsy or not.

It was a great idea to take the young Officers to the morgue.  All Prison Officers have to deal with deaths in custody sooner or later during their career. I found it amazing the number of people that have never seen a dead body.  I know that up until I joined the Department of Corrective Services I too had never seen a deceased person. I was always pleased to see that all bodies in the morgue were treated with the utmost respect.

PETER TURTON - JP

Mr Turton applied to become a Justice of the Peace. He had to be sworn in so I arranged to have the Coroner swear him in.  Mr Turton came in the bus with the trainees and me.  We observed an autopsy first.  During the autopsy the professor was showing us that the lady had died from pneumonia and squeezed some puss out of the ladies lungs which landed in Mr Turton’s eye.  Everyone was scrambling to help Mr Turton however I could hardly stand up with laughter.

I took the class and Mr Turton into the Coroner’s Court. The Coroner gave a great speech saying his job was always about death and sadness and what a good change for him to swear Mr Turton in as a Justice of the Peace. The Coroner asked every person in the court to be up standing as Mr Turton took the oath.  All my trainees stood to attention with their caps under their arm, it was simply brilliant.

I LOVED A GOOD JOKE

At lunch time two trainee Officers came into my office and said, “We heard you like a good joke Mr Egge”. I replied “Well that depends”. They continued on, “We have a piece of liver from the cafeteria and we are going to put it under an Officer’s hat, could you say they are missing some body parts from the morgue?” I loved this idea as they told me who the Officer was and where he was sitting”.

After lunch I walked into the class room with my war face on and said, “I have just received a phone call from the Morgue and it appears that somebody from this room has stolen body parts.  “Whoever it is please step forward now”.v Naturally there was no reply. I raised my voice and said, “Be a man step forward now and all that will happen to you is you will get the sack, if you don’t step forward now I will call the Police and you will be charged and sent to gaol where you will be fucked by ten men every day.

By now I was really playing the part.  As expected no one had stepped forward so I began to look around the class room for evidence, turning their hats over as I walked around.  As I came to the Officer concerned, I flipped his hat over and said “What’s this?” The look on the Officer’s face was priceless.  He was so shocked he simply couldn’t speak.  He thought he was getting the sack and going to gaol all in one fowl swoop. I couldn’t in all conscience keep the poor beggar holding on for long.

EMAILS:

“CUTTING THE BARS – VOLUME 2”

I am beginning to receive emails with feedback in regards to Cutting the Bars – Volume 2.   Although it has only been available for a short time, the feedback so far is very positive.   I would like to share with you one in particular from a young lady who has emailed me previously in regards to my first book, “It’s all in the Fall”.


Hello Peter,

I just wanted to drop you a quick email to say how much I enjoyed your last 2 books. Very insightful and at the same time disturbing.


I strongly think that everyone should read these books so that people can get their heads out of the sand in regards to the evil that some people are. I certainly encourage people to read your books.


I don't see how people in jail really have room for complaint, if you didn't break the law you wouldn't be there.. it is quite a simple lesson that seems to allude many people!


Anyway – thank you again for your time in putting these together and I look forward to the next in 2016.

Thank you for all the emails I have received.   I do reply to each of them personally.    Feel free to email me at   petertegge@gmail.com


Peter Egge

CRUMP AND BAKER – AUSTRALIAS WORST THRILL KILLERS

EXTRACT FROM MY BOOK 

“CUTTING THE BARS – VOLUME 2”

My Brother’s Story
I was discussing this case with my brother Phillip recently, when he told me this little story concerning Kevin Gary Crump and Allan Baker.

Laurie Rawlings was the Night Senior on the “C” watch, (afternoon shift), in the Metropolitan Reception Prison (MRP), after Crump and Baker had been arrested and were attending trial.    Mr Rawlings was a really nice bloke, always smiling and loved a bit of fun and Gaol gossip, as did I.   He was one of the real characters of the Long Bay prison complex and a Night Senior with whom most of the prison officers enjoyed working.   He was a down to earth, all round very decent type of bloke.

My brother Phillip was relatively new to the job and was working on the circle with the “heavy”, whose name he could not recall, however for the sake of the story we will call him Mr Neville, (just a classic case of seeing the face but can’t remember the name).  Crump and Baker had returned from court and were escorted back to 9 Wing where they were to pick up their meal and be locked in their cell for the night.   In the early 1970’s, 9 Wing was strictly for “protection prisoners” and “non associates”, a terminology used mainly for transsexuals.   Crump and Baker’s meals had already been saturated with spit from the wing sweepers which was a common occurrence for prisoners who had committed heinous crimes against women or children, most especially child sex offenders who were commonly referred to as “rock spiders”.   Before the meals could be issued, Mr Rawlings said, “These meals are too hot for these prisoners”, and promptly picked them up and put them out in the rain for a few minutes.

Crump and Baker were handed their meals and placed in their cells.  Mr Neville and my brother Phillip went to the cell where Mr Neville ordered Crump and Baker to, “Get up and face the back wall”.   Phillip told me, “Mr Neville spat on Crump and Baker and so did I.   “As we walked out of the wing, Mr Neville turned to me and said ‘I’ve never spat on a man before in my life’.   Phillip replied to Mr Neville, “Neither have I, so don’t worry about it”.

You may well be entitled to ask what would make three normally very decent men do what they did to these two prisoners, risking the chance of disciplinary action being taken against them.   Had they done the same in today’s prison system, their actions would most certainly result in instant dismissal.

This type of behaviour from officers and prisoners alike towards Crump and Baker was not an isolated incident, remembering it was the early 1970’s.   Although I do not condone what these three officers did, or any others who may have carried out similar actions, I fully understand their motivation.  Kevin Crump and Allan Baker committed the worst crimes against a human being that I have ever heard of, and I believe the most insidious crimes ever carried out in Australian history.  These two men must be kept in the highest security conditions the state of New South Wales can offer, and never be release from gaol, regardless of any circumstances that may arise in the future.  They must die in prison and should be buried face down, in an unmarked grave.

To find out the entire confronting story of these two “butchers”, who in my mind committed Australia’s worst crime against another human being in the country’s criminal history, read pages 19 to 29 of “Cutting the Bars – Volume 2”.