Down and Out in Adelaide – It’s Just Not On
THREE nights in the cold and rain have convinced Anthony Jucha that Adelaide’s homeless community is doing it too tough.
Mr Jucha, a lawyer, went to the city’s west parklands on Friday night to spend the long weekend with people sleeping rough. He wanted to see how people coped under such trying conditions. What he found at his campsite near the West Tce cemetery was dozens of people who had too little to eat and few opportunities to improve their lives.
He was also angry at what he saw as the heavy-handed tactics of police and council workers.
“I was warmly accepted and [...]
Blitz on Parkland Homes
HOMELESS people camped in the Adelaide Parklands say city council workers took away their tents and blankets during the wild weather of the past fortnight.
People scattered through isolated pockets of the parklands are now using tarpaulins as shelter against the winter rains.
Several are settled among gum trees behind former netball courts next to West Tce Cemetery.
Aaron Mundy, 29, who has been camping in the parklands on and off for the past seven years, said council patrols were taking possessions while people were away finding food or showers.
“They come by during the day and take our tents, blankets, pillows, even cups [...]
Lawyer Lives on the Streets to Highlight Homeless Hardship
An Adelaide lawyer is spending the long weekend living on the streets in a bid to highlight the plight of homeless people in Adelaide.
Anthony Jucha says he is angry at the way homeless people get shunted from one spot to another but thought it important to get a more informed understanding of the issue.
He says it has been a difficult experience.
“I’ve done two nights out, I’ve got one to go,” he said. “It’s a long weekend, so Friday, Saturday, Sunday night. It’s pretty cold but it’s a drop in the ocean. I mean, I’ve met people who have been out [...]
Writing »
Gonzo Journalism – Aboriginal Tent Embassy
The few times I’ve been to Canberra, I’ve felt drawn to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. Australians are an obedient lot and, once in a while, it’s nice to see some ‘un-Australian’ breaking of rules.
So this year, on Australia Day, I decided to leave my de facto and baby at home – for my first night away since our boy’s birth – and camp at the Tent Embassy for its 40th anniversary celebration. For the first time in almost a year, I might get a decent night’s sleep.
I arrived to see TV crews leaving and an angry speaker on stage. I [...]
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Satire – Golden Gavel 2010
My speech in the NSW Young Lawyer’s Golden Gavel public speaking competition in 2010.
Competitors are assigned a topic at random less than 24 hours before the event. My topic was ‘Barristers – without solicitors they’re really just fluff and stuffing’. 500+ lawyers watch the event.
This was the last year I am ‘young’ enough to compete so I went for broke and tried to put on a real show. I also took the opportunity to made fun of: the President of Young Lawyers, the President of the Lawyer Society and the Honourable Justice Bergin Chief Judge in Equity of [...]
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Guerilla Law – complaints about police
I set up my ‘free legal advice’ stall in Glebe. Two young men sat down and said they were sick of being hassled by the police. I told them that the best thing to do would be to avoid the police in question. I also told them how to make a complaint about the police.
I recorded the conversation and it was broadcast on 2SER’s law show ‘Radio Atticus’. You can listen below:
See Radio Atticus at 2SER for the full show.
Media »
Satire – engineers beat lawyers
As the team of lawyers were quick to point out, 11 of the 27 prime ministers of this country have practised law. So how did a team of engineers convince an audience that they, rather than lawyers, would make better politicians, when even Gillard and Abbott both have law degrees?
Try this argument from the engineers’ second speaker, Andrew Pratley: “Australia had only one choice at the election, and that was to elect a lawyer. And what did we do? We rejected them both.”
The inaugural debate between Young Engineers Australia Sydney Division and the Law Society of NSW Young Lawyers was [...]
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Satire – What Makes a Man Bare All?
Anthony’s 2004 Adelaide Fringe debut takes us on a journey that bares all. With musical support from Gary and Rob (and constant interruptions by Michael Hicks), the show features such unusual explorations as:
• why spotted ties send the wrong message
• the rejection letter poem
• the army, cocaine, grenades and me
• why thinking about work can actually increase arousal
• losing your virginity; beware the dark blue ring
• hard up at the puppetry of the penis auditions
• the brighter side of breaking your penis
• a long weekend sleeping out with the homeless
If there is a place in hell for you [...]
