Dr. Vinson had the most unenviable job of replacing who I believe was the best New South Wales Commissioner of Corrective Services in living memory, Mr. Walter McGeechan. Mr. McGeechan was politically disposed of following the Royal Commission into New South Wales Prisons which culminated in 1978.
It came about following the horrific prison riot in Her Majesty’s Gaol Bathurst on 3rd and 4th February 1974. The prison system at that time was dramatically underfunded and under supported by the New South Wales Parliament and in an effort to cover that lack of necessary recourses, Parliament appointed Justice J F Nagle to investigate the New South Wales prisons with Royal Commission powers.
As a result, Mr. McGeechan was unceremoniously dumped. Noel Day was placed in charge temporarily until Dr. Tony Vinson was officially appointed to the position.
It was a thankless job that Dr. Vinson was given. His objective was to introduce change as per the recommendations of the Nagel Royal Commission. It is human nature to reject change and it is fair to say that the majority of Prison Officers, me included, opposed the multitude of changes that he was endeavouring to impose on the prison system.
However, there is no doubting the difficulty he endured and the dedication to his objectives that Dr. Vinson faced. He was seen by many Prison Officers as a “do-gooder” and a “crim-lover”. He was by profession an educator. The majority of the recommendations of the Royal Commission were in favour of the prisoners and very few were in favour of the Prison Officers, therefore creating a dilemma for Dr. Vinson and a degree of unrest amongst many Prison Officers. This made Dr. Vinson an extremely unpopular Commissioner within the Prison Officer ranks, second only to the current Commission Mr. Severin.
In 1980, I was studying the four year Certificate in Personnel Administration. My brother Phillip was studying a four year Certificate in Business Management. Both qualifications were highly sought after in both the private and public sector. I had made application to spend five days working in the personnel section within the Department of Corrective Services and my brother Phillip had also made application to spend five days working alongside Dr. Vinson. Our applications were supported by the Superintendent of Cessnock Corrective Centre, George Cornford. Dr. Vinson approved both applications and the experience we gained was a huge learning curve for both of us.
The prison unrest and riots did not cease as a result of the change in Commissioner. There was a major riot at the historic Her Majesty’s Gaol Parramatta during Dr. Vinson’s regime. You can read all about the riot at Parramatta Gaol that occurred in 1980 and Dr. Vinson’s involvement, in my new book Australia’s Best Prison Stories.
Dr. Vinson passed away at the age of 81 on 17th February of this year. I hope Dr. Vinson finds true peace in his life thereafter.
This I believe.
Peter T Egge
It came about following the horrific prison riot in Her Majesty’s Gaol Bathurst on 3rd and 4th February 1974. The prison system at that time was dramatically underfunded and under supported by the New South Wales Parliament and in an effort to cover that lack of necessary recourses, Parliament appointed Justice J F Nagle to investigate the New South Wales prisons with Royal Commission powers.
As a result, Mr. McGeechan was unceremoniously dumped. Noel Day was placed in charge temporarily until Dr. Tony Vinson was officially appointed to the position.
It was a thankless job that Dr. Vinson was given. His objective was to introduce change as per the recommendations of the Nagel Royal Commission. It is human nature to reject change and it is fair to say that the majority of Prison Officers, me included, opposed the multitude of changes that he was endeavouring to impose on the prison system.
However, there is no doubting the difficulty he endured and the dedication to his objectives that Dr. Vinson faced. He was seen by many Prison Officers as a “do-gooder” and a “crim-lover”. He was by profession an educator. The majority of the recommendations of the Royal Commission were in favour of the prisoners and very few were in favour of the Prison Officers, therefore creating a dilemma for Dr. Vinson and a degree of unrest amongst many Prison Officers. This made Dr. Vinson an extremely unpopular Commissioner within the Prison Officer ranks, second only to the current Commission Mr. Severin.
In 1980, I was studying the four year Certificate in Personnel Administration. My brother Phillip was studying a four year Certificate in Business Management. Both qualifications were highly sought after in both the private and public sector. I had made application to spend five days working in the personnel section within the Department of Corrective Services and my brother Phillip had also made application to spend five days working alongside Dr. Vinson. Our applications were supported by the Superintendent of Cessnock Corrective Centre, George Cornford. Dr. Vinson approved both applications and the experience we gained was a huge learning curve for both of us.
The prison unrest and riots did not cease as a result of the change in Commissioner. There was a major riot at the historic Her Majesty’s Gaol Parramatta during Dr. Vinson’s regime. You can read all about the riot at Parramatta Gaol that occurred in 1980 and Dr. Vinson’s involvement, in my new book Australia’s Best Prison Stories.
Dr. Vinson passed away at the age of 81 on 17th February of this year. I hope Dr. Vinson finds true peace in his life thereafter.
This I believe.
Peter T Egge
