Bibliograph

Brutalised, institutional abuse in Australia, by Warren 'Rocky' Porter

Type

Label

Brutalised, institutional abuse in Australia, by Warren 'Rocky' Porter

Language

eng

Illustrations

illustrationsfacsimilesportraits

Index

no index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Brutalised

Responsibility statement

by Warren 'Rocky' Porter

Sub title

institutional abuse in Australia

Summary

Brutalised is Warren 'Rocky' Porter's shocking memoir of a childhood lost. From a preschooler until the age of 18. Warren spent his life in institutions, places that should have provided care and education but instead ministered torture, abuse and appalling neglect. At the tender age of four, Warren was sent to WR Black in Queensland, an instituion for homeless girls, where he wore girl's clothing and beatings and unjust punishment were a daily occurence. Then he was sent to Blackheath, another presbyterian home for boys. His next stop was the Salvation Army Boys Home at Indooroopilly, where the violence and abuse increased. At the age of 12, Warren Porter was sent to the Salvation Army Farm Home for Boys at Riverview in Ipswich, where boys were raped, beaten and forced to work like men, in concentration camp conditions. If he thought things could not get worse, he was wrong, because he was soon sent to the notorious Westbrook Reformatory Boy's School in Toowoomba, with the reputation of the most brutal place of its kind. In 2014, Foxtel's Crime and Investigation Network ran a two-part documentary on this 'hell-hole', exposing Westbrook's history of violent criminal abuse. The fact that Westbrook was considered a 'school' was ironic, as Warren never received any education, instead he was starved, beaten and tortured. Warren also spent time in Mt Penang Detention Centre and Boggo Road Gaol, despite having commited no crimes. Warren Porter is now in his 70's and lives in South Australia. He did not tell his wife and children about his past until 2006, unable to revisit the hellish memories. It is a credit to Warren Porter that he has now told his story, he speaks for many boys and young men who could not, because they died young from suicide or as a result of the abuse they suffered

Classification