Into The World-Module C
Growing up, life’s journey, transition, change, catalysts; Developing relationships ( family,
friends , intimate), self esteem, responsibility, dealing with consequences, broadening
perspectives, understanding and empathy
The Story of Tom Brennan,
1. Into the world- learning from experience/ situations, growth- personal, physical and
emotional, transition of home and school/change, catalyst of Daniel’s anger and eventual
crash/ incarceration; Developing relationships ( family- parents, siblings, extended family,
friends-new and old , intimate-Chrissy), self esteem- growth from traumatic event and its
guilt, confusion and depression, responsibility- for one’s actions and living beyond the
impact of others actions, dealing with consequences- depression, blame, guilt, broadening
perspectives- being able to move on
2. recognise the change in others and developing a sense of self, understanding and empathy
emerges for all as the year progresses= renewed objectivity, respect, consideration,
appreciation and tolerance THROUGH CHARACTERS CHANGING beliefs, values, knowledge ,
perspective, experiences, ideals, outlook and thinking
3. ThemesA) Responsibility to self and others
B) Choices- be law abiding, a friend, fulfil one’s obligations
C) Consequences- Positive-growth, insight, maturation, self awareness
Negative- loss, regret, guilt, depression and alienation
4. Characterisation- told from a teenage perspective, innocent, yet very complex view point
that allows the reader to appreciate the impact the crash has on all members of not only the
immediate family members but their extended family, the victims and the community as
well; giving a diverse and holistic overview.
5. Language featuresA) First person narrative
B) Subjective, reflective tone
C) Emotive language
D) Colloquial terms
E) Clichés and Aussie-isms
F) Dialogue
G) Flashbacks
H) Depression motifs
I) Repetition of silences
6. Plot structure- 2 distinct sections// Prologue- Chapter 10 AND Chapter 11- Chapter 19
A) orientation/ prologue
B) Complications highlighted through flashbacks
C) Climax- the game against St John’s
D) Resolution- all moving on; still progressing
QUOTES and important symbolism
PART ONE PROLOGUE TO CHAPTER TEN
Prologue
The story begins at the end in a retrospective tone, unlined with a sense of shame and distain about
the situation about to unfold for Tom Brennan and his family. Even from the outset is intertwined
with a motif of silence
Chapter 1
The main characters are introduced; The grandma-the matriarch, the narrator Tom, sister- Kylie, the
catalyst and brother- Daniel, mum, dad and uncle Brendan
Flashbacks- of the “usual” Australia Day celebrations to show the complete paradox with their
“reality and horror”
Bias subjective commentary of their now life and home, to which the Brennans are slow and
reluctant to adjust to
Bitter overtones- weather motifs and vivid descriptions add to the depressive “hellish” atmosphere
Many images of hurt and individual internal suffering
Language in the dialogue is stilted and awkward. It is simplistic in its style and reflective with a
negative tone. It is tainted with resentment and disgust at their new existence
Much silence is repeated throughout
Chapter 2
Hyperbole and exaggeration with colloquial terms that express frustration and hopelessness
The “cave” is symbolic of their oppressive home and state of mind
Reflective, emotive, colloquial commentary of past situations
Kylie’s bitterness towards football, its implications ( and unity) and guilt for their present situation
of having to move away
Contrasting views of Daniel by the siblings- Tom and Kylie – haunting, ghost, bad aura, he is the
reason for all that has occurred...... but is he?
Total dismissal of life’s expectations “there was no hope Tom is totally closed off from what is
around him. Opportunity and a positive future, because he believes, at this point “there was
nothing”
Rhetorical self questioning and Silence provokes panic, fear and shame as Kylie “didn’t answer”
Flashback- tells of the prelude to the event that changed all their lives- emotive, very personal use of
colloquial language, detailing important background information
“five months “ is a time indicator
Lies “ it’s cool” shows Tom is still hurting
Location and a sense of distance is given between the towns “nearly six hours south east”
25-Resentful tone “ I hate it all” New town and the move
26-Change is beginning “ It was all ending in reality” showing Tom’s intrepid move back into the
world
Chapter 3
29- the new school
33- Daniel’s girlfriend and his jealousy, catalyst for his behaviour ? First hint
34- Repetition of the community’s thoughts on Daniel’s character
38- Flashback of the party “ well piissed”, “really drunk”, “he’s a loser”
48- Kylie’s “ a bit uptight”
Mother’s silence concerns Tom
49- “ She (mum) didn’t see me”
Chapter 4
50- A)St Marguerite- ironic twist and the Brennan’s reality B) past joys ruined by grandfather-n who
is very similar to Daniel in his selfishness and lack of consideration of others “ the most awesome
tree house and gran’s chook pens... flattened to make room
51 A) Symbolism of Cain and Abel- Biblical rivalry of two brothers B) reflective statement, with tone
of regret and resentment “ Pa lost the family business betting on the horses.. Fin was the one who
really loved horse.. Pa.. only took ever Daniel” C) Realisation of the permanency of change “
Knowing more tan anything I’d ever known, ..things would never be the same”
52-Urgency in the Dialogue “ Dan’s stacked it ( screaming)..they’re.. I can’t.. fucken hurry”
52/53- “ I hated the past, and yet I hated the present.. more”
55- visual description of mother/ son relationship- Tom becomes more understanding of mother’s
overwhelming depression
56- Silence
57- A)“ only a week ago... I was so numb.. in the end it got too much..days ..had no beginning or
end.. one merged into the next and the next..” B) Kylie and Tom’s reaction to having to move
58- A) “ no one is to know.. No one” B) Impact of the letter + Daniel, Dad, Kylie and Becky
59- Metaphor- “ I wanted to eat the words, make them my sustenance for the emptiness growing in
my guts”
60/61- Aunt Kathy and Fin- their deteriorating condition
63- Kylie’s new friend , Brianna Henderson
63/64- Nan’s insensitivity
64- Silence
Chapter 5
Daniel is spoken about throughout66- the chick- Chrissy
66/67- “the Grandpa” deception
68- “ How’d we end up here” “Apparently dan’s in a bad way” “No one tells me anything”
70- flashback- “That dark look..his eyes flashed .. looked evil and freakish.. “I’m going to kill you”.. I
believed him... held me under.. I can remember my head wanting to explode and how SILENT it was”
71- A) flashbash- Fin 3 days after the accident-“ They didn’t think he was going to make it... all we
could do was stand around, stunned and silent” B) “he’d never be the real Fin, the Fin I knew” C)
“paraplegic” and St Osmond
73- the reality of spinal injuries and the rules
75- Aunt Kathy’s overview and Tom’s reaction “ tense... go back to my room.. the darknes of the
cave”
76- the crash flashback and the irony of Daniel’s escape from injury.
Chapter 6
77- A)“ I wanted to go to wherever home was now, and stare into space” B)” another great
weekend, the gaol run or the hospital run”
78- Flashback of those injured and dead in the car and Daniel “ Running into the silence of death”
79- A) Daniel’s lack of responsibility and others reactions to the accident “ Fuck! Fuck! No! No!”,
“ the piercing silence of death”
80- “ We only had his face to guide us....’I ,I can’t feel nothing...nothing’ “
81- Realisation-“The relief of Daniel being ok”
83-Rhetorical questioning- “ Why was is back to tip toeing and pretending?”
83/85- Mum’s depression, Tom’s reaction and his mother’s love
85- Kylie’s change and her openness about the situation- here Tom contrasts there different
responses with dealing and coping with it
88- Rory
90- Significance of the Wattle Shield Cup
91- “We were close and...private”
“ It was torture... I shut down”
92- The pool and friends
93- “zapping me out of my paranoia” “for once I felt free and light”
94- “ we were too busy splashing and dunking each other”
95- “ I felt movement in my shorts.. Chrissy.. Jonny’s sister..”
on me”
“ the black curtain descending down
Chapter 7
96- Tom’s time alone
97/99 Conversation with old mate Matt, changes in the former town and Tom’s reaction in an
incredibly evocative reflective train of thought“ I curled myself into a little ball, hid my head in my
knees and let the darkness suck me deep into its belly”
100- “ I can’t eat anything... of to bed”
101- “alone” “Sunday’s.. 28th of August..”
102- A community view-Luke’s dad response
103- Flashback of Daniel’s bail and its conditions
104- Flashback of returning to the community ( Monday) “ I was shit scared of opening that door and
walking into the town”
105- to mother’s reluctance to see Daniel in his true light and have him, and her take responsibility
through her inane questioning of Tom- instead of nurturing him through this episode “ So you are
sure it was Daniel who was driving.. Are you sure?”
106- “ I can’t believe you’re asking me this... It’s the truth” “Flashback “ That week our house was in
chaos”
107- The town of Mumbilli was bleeding... the only thing we had was a guilty plea... one of the worst
things was watching them(parents) seeing the hurt, shame and fear...( the plea) shows an
acceptance of responsibility, an honesty of character.. sentence may be a little shorter “ ( which in
fact was NOT Daniel at this point)
108- Kylie’s view of Daniel through her dialogue OF A PRIOR EVENT “ That he was so drunk and
aggro... smashing bottles.. beat Claire up.. Daniel sat there.. he didn’t move”
108/109- the Hearing “ life is worth something, and Daniel took two away”
Chapter 8
111- Kylie’s physical change “ black shit on her eyes”
112- the ascent “ Daniel’s whine- symbolic of his lack of responsibility and selfishness
113- Daniel –“ If it’s this hard to get to heaven I’d rather go to hell” of Tom “I’ve never seen you so
stationary. You’re looking bloody awful”
114- ( football) “It’s a chance, Tommy” “playing football would never be the same” “pep you up a
bit.. It’s in your blood” “ i could feel the emptiness pumping away in my veins “
115-“ Dinner...Here it was answered with silence”
116-Tom’s insight- Kylie was up to something
Chapter 9
117/118- The list becomes Tom’s map, his reaction “It pissed me off” “I needed to get away ... I
don’t want to play this isn’t my life anymore”
118/119 “ nearly every afternoon .....Daniel and I’d practice... it felt like an understanding between
us... we could feel it in our blood”
119- “ I was awarded best and fairest for the third year in a row” “I was picked... in the firsts...the
youngest ever”
120- “ the legend of the Brennan Brothers” “back to school.. the teachers and most of the kids
were okay”
Realisation “ I just couldn’t believe this’d happened .. to me, my
family...happen to other people, not the Brennans”
121- “my brain was seriously AWOL... never ( talked) to the oldies ... they were too busy with
Daniel” “ Talbot estimated ... as long as eight years nothing less than three” “ (Daniel)he didn’t
sleep , eat, hardly spoke, never smiled... He cried buckets”
121/124- Nicole’s family letter is the family’s low point
123- Daniel was an accident waiting to happen”
124- Tom reminiscing about their life before “ club on Friday.. Saturday... Sports day... coaching...
chatting to everyone... Sunday was mass... few people over for lunch” Realisation of the present “..
that all stopped”
124/125 The community’s reaction to the Brennans
125- Claire’s fate “ Claire didn’t even stay and sit her finals... overseas... jobs as a nanny.. one more
loss”
126- Sentencing day- “There aren’t words to sayhow black and empty that pain felt. It was deeper
than the darkest hole. It had no beginning and no end... the panic was suffocating... he looked shit
scared”
127/129- the judge’s sentencing and prison term- ending in silence
Chapter 10
130/131- Mother’s profile nd Tom’s reaction to her turmoil “ It wasn’t just her breath that smelt, it
was her body..nightie.. hair”
131/132- The mother’s focus “ work on getting him ( Daniel) through... that’s the most important
thing.. tell him I’m always thinking of him”
133 Silence “ I didn’t want to spill my guts” Tom’s anticipation of seeing Daniel in prison “ exactly
what was I going to find
134/136- Westleigh Prison “ Everything about this place felt hot and sticky, like a good clean was in
order... greasy smell”
138- Daniel’s likeness to his mother
139- “ silence ...more silence”
everything (repeated)
the apology from Daniel to Tom and his realisation “ I fucked up
140- Brendan does NOT have a choice but to stay
142- Dan at a Peer Support Facility- external help
Tom begins to run
144- “ Daniel was depressed with a big ‘D’” The program will provide Dan with...
145- Daniel and his grandfather’s relationship
146- Tom’s demeanour begins to improve as seen in his body language but his depression still has a
hold on him “ whistled..hungry.. ( but his body was ) telling me not to get too comfortable”
146/148- The strudel incident- and Kylie’s rampage, Tom realises that there is a need for friends and
humility “ I don’t think I had ever felt smaller than I did at that moment” Critical turning point in
Tom’s journey towards a new life
Chapter 11
150- Aunt Kath (leen)’s new existence “ carer” Tom’s inability to empathise with Fin’s reality in
stark realistic terms- “ I’d rather stick pins in my eyeballs would have been better than sitting around
with Fin and his mates” which ironically contrasted to visiting Daniel “ there was still hope”
152/153- Silence and Aunt Kath’s frustration at her sister’s inability to keep “living” for her entire
family
153/155- Daniel’s call and the family’S reaction- showing the entire scope.
156- Palm Sunday Mass- and Tom’s realisation he is surrounded by friends
158- Daniel’s “pressie” idea
161/162- The developing relationship with Chrissy
164- Feature article and Tom’s response “ the whack come hard and fast and I wasn’t prepared”
Chapter 12
165- “ set me back a few paces... once probably not that long ago... but here I was ... each
memory...pain like a sledge hammer slicing through my heart... but it was a good hurt”
166- “ if ( Daniel) had to face the future , than so did I ( Tom)”
167- Grandma’s tenderness and her acknowledgement of Tom’s eating and renewed training and
fitness Kylie’s presentation CLUE
168/170- The match overview, how the new team lacks “ killer instinct”
170/172- the telling, by Kylie, of their “disgrace” the student body begins with Brianna’s body
language,” the pointing and whispering” leads to Tom’s “ knot getting tighter and tighter”, “silence”
between friends then the confirmation in the dialogue “ Kylie had a bit of a story to tell..(about)
domestic terrorism” Tom’s knot “snapped”
173- Tom’s initial reaction “ She had no fucken right” Mates response “ Wasn’t your fault ... We’re
your mates” but despite this support Tom feels “that he “can’t do this.. I was suffocating inside my
own body”
174- Tom’s retaliation on Kylie “ You stupid cow...She’s not taking us down with her”
175/176-“ She was freaked out.. only tough on the outside.. she’s angry”
176- Tom’s reoccurring depressing “ a tiredness like I’d been beaten up till I surrendered”
177- The difference between small town and large town mentality “ Coghill’s not Mumbilli... you
(Tom) weren’t going to survive there” Brendan’s insight
178- “absolutely bloody nothing (‘s going to happen, at school tomorrow).. and it didn’t”
180-Flashback of Daniel past melt down and fight at the football resulting in the broken window
but “ no suspension”
181- Daniel’s improvement “ Daniel was in better form and that counted for a lot”
182- Tom’s growing awareness of his own improvement “ I guess I was getting impatient... that was
a good sign... I was finding my ticket out of the past”
Chapter 13
183/185- The heightening relationship with Chrissy “ I felt lighter... I had no longer had the burden of
carrying a secret... consequences... there were none...” Tom’s new understanding “hadn’t we all
been hurt by the random acts of others?” Kylie, mum and dad consequences
186- The repeated Cain and Abel symbolism
187 and 192-4- Finn’s birthday and Tom’s growing acceptance BUT unfortunately not Fin’s
188/191- Kylie and Tom’s reconciliation- a return to a former tenderness and friendship “ I was sick
of being mad... I wanted to get on with it.. It’s not so bad here.. Just different”
195- Claire and her trip to Lourdes- the symbolism
196- “ I felt happy to be back.. (but) Daniel had hit the wall again... the olds would visit Daniel
everyday”
Chapter 14
197- “.. Blackness of nothing... leaving an empty shell”
198- “ No one talks about Daniel” Tom’s summation
199- Jonny’s coaching tactics and involving Tom in leading the team
201/202- The humorous shower scene and Tom’s “nice bum”
203- Daniel’s past appeal to the girls
204- the family begins to communicate more
206/211- the footy camp- they had “team unity... but not technique...”
Dad’s speech “a
chance...they deserve a far go.. I know you’re better than this” “ I (Tom) accepted his challenge and
turned it up .. ( and his true realisation) They were top blokes... winning ... wasn’t enough”
Chapter 15
213-Daniel’s STILL poor view of sportsmanship “ It’s all about winning, isn’t it?” and Tom’s answer “
That pressure’s always there... we did it to ourselves”
215-Daniel’s acknowledgement of what his family has done for him since the crash and what he
must do before he can move forward “ All you lot.. have stuck around... all the people I’ve hurt... I’ll
see her ( aunt Kath) one day and Fin too”
216- Mum’s improvement and realisation that all her children need her care “ “ Keep me company
Tommy.. I’m sorry.. I promise I’ll get better...´ Tom’s changing emotional response to her “ Like
she use to.. I Fell into a sweet sleep”
217/223 The significance of the Nepal trip- to Enlightenment?
219/ 221- St Xavier’s grudge match and Tom’s growing success on his own
Chapter 16
225-229- Flashback of Daniel’s growing jealousy of Fin and Tom coming to terms with Daniel’s lack of
responsibility “ always did what he wanted to do”/ “ he was on a self destruct mission... so much
pressure... we were fighting all the time..we stopped looking out for each other.. They ( parents)
can’t control Dan. They were scared of him.. maybe he had to fall this far”
230- Tom’s pulling the past apart allows him to move forward “ I can see ahead now”
235- Playing Billi- “ not sure if they’re still mates.. I was scared (repeated) about it pushing me back
into the black hole”
236- Mum makes an omelette “ a big step”
237- Brendan’s reality- stuck in Coghill because of Daniel’s stupidity
Chapter 17
238- Brendan’s ‘bad day’ “ If I’d seen Brendan.. a couple of months ago (it would ) have sent me on a
downward spiral.. Now it didn’t... (it) helped me look at things from a distance... we were all on our
own journeys..”
“ The St John’s game was just another hill to climb... then life would plateau for a while...I’d get
through Saturday and life would go on....maybe I could stop myself from falling into the blackness”
239- “ Chrissy really likes you... don’t get too cocky...I wouldn’t leave it too long”
24o/241- Brendan’s secret waterhole- where , possibly as a right of passage, Dan, fin and now Tom
are taken- a sanctuary? “ it was peaceful”
241/242- Brendan and Tom’s dialogue about the enormity of the consequences of the crash
Brendan“ The accident.. How could I go?” Tom “ Thanks for staying” B “Don’t ever underestimate
what you’ve had to do because of something someone else did” and Tom’s conclusion “ I’d learnt
...that there are no answers”
242/243- Gran’s “pressie”
243/244 contrasting and positive silences
245- Now I knew differently... taught me plenty.. a team united... they’d saved my arse... Matt was
someone I knew would forgive my silence
247- “ makes me feel guilty... Fin’s the hardest... Fuck. Poor Fin... he’s really angry... it’s really hard to
like him..”
248- “ We are going to play even better...because Tom needs us to... show him our appreciation...”
“ Yeah.. they all cheered”
249- “ half time and we were still in it with a hope... like a silent pact we avoided eye contact”
250-“ You could smell their hunger... they wanted to finish us.” Poor tactics “ Killer Brennan”
251- team’s response “ Mother Fuuuuuckers!” and Matt’s “ Mate that was fucked”
252- Chrissy took my hand and steered me through the crowd “Thanks for getting me out of there”
252/253- “Opening up, letting it out, laughing and ( I) took her hand. It felt so natural...it was the
right thing to do... then we kissed”
Chapter 18
254/255- Family duty and responsibility and their continuing need to support Fin and Aunt Kath
256/260- Tom’s realisation that he had not made a concerted effort with Fin’s situation and fin’s
new reality and the Brennan’s “ It’s never going to end” and Tom’s anger about this “ fuck I hate
this”- despite it being two sided!
260/261- Visiting Fin – Silence returns. Fin’s feelings towards Dan “ He was like my brother”
261- Tom and Chrissy’s relationship allows Tom to feel like “ I was me again... ( and realise) I missed
me... now i could smile... ( I) was back”
261- the chook pen creation
262- Fin and Kylie’s decision to help- is it guilt “ silence” but as Tom concludes “it was a journey that
Kylie had to take”
264- changes in mum
265- the First anniversary “ one year ...feels like a thousand”
267- “ you get sick of feeling bad all the time’
267/268- the chook pen completed and Grandma’s joy
Chapter 19
269- Tom’s 18th ideas and plans
270- Tom’s change in physically- “ couldn’t stop eating”
promises”
The natural pool “the water...felt full of
271- “Daniel’s come a long way”
273/276- Daniel’s visit
276- Tom’ s birthday dinner, card and pressies
278/279- Gran and her love, past and graciousness
280- the note from Chrissy
281- kylie lightening up and again becoming a “ crawler”
282- the water hole and the positive aspects of Tom and Chrissy’s relationship “ You helped me find
my old self... Silence.. that was the morning Tom Brennan came back, forever.”
Supplementary text ONE
Song lyrics, SOBER, by PINK
Sober Lyrics
I don't wanna be the girl who laughs the loudest
Or the girl who never wants to be alone
I don't wanna be that call at four o'clock in the morning
'Cause I'm the only one you know in the world that won't be home
Aahh, the sun is blinding
I stayed up again
Oohh, I am finding
That's not the way I want my story to end
[Sober Lyrics On http://www.elyricsworld.com/ ]
I'm safe
Up high
Nothing can touch me
But why do I feel this party's over?
No pain
Inside
You're my protection
But how do I feel this good sober?
I don't wanna be the girl who has to fill the silence...
The quiet scares me 'cause it screams the truth
Please don't tell me that we had that conversation
When I won't remember, save your breath, 'cause what's the use?
Aahh, the night is calling
And it whispers to me softly, "come and play"
Aahh, I am falling
And if I let myself go, I'm the only one to blame
I'm safe
Up high
Nothing can touch me
But why do I feel this party's over?
No pain
Inside
You're like perfection
But how do I feel this good sober?
I'm comin' down
Comin' down
Comin' down
Spinnin' round
Spinnin' round
Spinnin' round
Looking for myself.. Sober
Comin' down
Comin' down
Comin' down
Spinnin' round
Spinnin' round
Spinnin' round
Looking for myself.. Sober
When it's good, then it's good, it's so good, 'till it goes bad
Till you're trying to find the you that you once had
I have heard myself cry
Never again
Broken down in agony
And just trying to find a friend
I'm safe
Up high
Nothing can touch me
But why do I feel this party's over?
No pain
Inside
You're like perfection
But how do I feel this good sober?
I'm safe
Up high
Nothing can touch me
But why do I feel this party's over?
No pain
Inside
You're like perfection
But how do I feel this good sober?
How do I feel this good sober?
The concept of the song surrounds Pink’s personal and very new separation from her husband. She
drinks a lot to numb the pain and wants to know, as repeated in rhetorical self questioning
throughout the lyrics “how do I feel this good sober?” This depressive state, compares to that of
Tom, in The Story of Tom Brennan, who, as the narrator must, too, come to terms with his new
situation.
Pink’s emotive and personal reflective lyrics tell us that she is also finding “ that that’s not the way
I want my story to end”. Pink, like Tom’s sister, Kylie, wants to allow others to share her grief and
guilt with others, to help burden her feelings, despite knowing that she’s “ the only on to blame”even though this is not entirely true
Pink’s depression is further highlighted in the repetitive chorus “ coming down, coming down,
coming down”. This exemplifies that in this early transition staged this new life experience and
situation. She, like Kylie, must “ try... to find a friend” that will understand her pain, as Brainna
Henderson does initially in the novel.
For both Pink and Kylie, however, there are also times on their journey when nothing is
communicated except for “silence” as seen throughout the novel and in Pink’s retrospective and
sullen lyrics “ The quiet scares me because it screams the truth”.
It is only at the conclusion of the song that Pink allows herself to “cry” once she appreciates that
she, like Kylie’ s “ four hours (of)..crying”, must move on alone first, and then with others,” Till
you're trying to find the you that you once had”.
In contrast, Brendan, the Brennan children’s incredibly supportive uncle, must ( until almost the
conclusion of the novel) always maintain a “macho, everything’s going to be alright” stance in
public and for the Brennans as they emerge from their “darkness”. It is only then that Brendan
allows himself like Pink to sit “ on the couch with a half empty bottle of gin”, listening to ‘Daniel’ by
Elton John,” tears streaming down his face’ grieving not only for Daniel for the loss of
opportunities in his own life.
Supplementary text TWO
The Australian Story- Courage of Conviction; Program Transcript
Monday 1st March, 2004 ABC
www. Abc.net.au/austory/content/2003/s1057229.htm/ hard copy given in class
The presenter Caroline Jones, orientates us through the context the beginning of the transcript,
alluding to the implied greatness of the Australian, Debbie Kilroy, who is the “head of a unique
organisation called ‘Sisters Inside’ where she “spends her life helping prisoners, ironically having
been “an inmate herself”
The main speakers in this story include Debbie Kilroy, her husband John, son Josh, mother Pat
Harding, convicted murderer Storm Brooke, George Brand (former prison manager), Tom
McGrady, QLD Minister of prisons and president of Sisters Inside Anne Warner. This array of
various characters allows for a diverse range of perspectives and opinions on how we may all go
‘ into the world’ and “ move on”.
The interview style transcript begins initially with Debbie who evocatively states “you bring your
children into the world and you have a responsibility. Sometimes that can be lost because of a
trauma that you’ve been through. This reflective statement is her epiphany ( light bulb moment)
that began her transition to “let life on track for the benefit of the children because they deserve a
life”.
This is also indicative of Tom’s mother in the core text……….( see notes above and quote)
Debbie K goes on to tell in a reminiscent tone of the initial catalyst ( summarise stint at Wilston
Home, page 2)
Her mother Pat Harding confirms this by stating “ ..Debbie probably went over the edge….didn’t
care about anything or anybody”…’cause she believed that she killed her father”
It is at this point that Debbie K’s life “spirals out of control “, and she becomes “pregnant.. (is)
severely beaten”. She then meet and married John, but she abused this relationship too,
“push(ing) him to the limits..spats of violence.. abused him…sold heroine”, then eventually John
moved out and both where gaoled for drug trafficking
The heart rendering and emotionally charged recount of the incident that changed her life, told in
tandem with the murderer Storm Brooke “Storm had gone into a frenzy and was stabbing Debbie
(friend) over and over again from behind” ( Debbie) “ When it happened.. I lost control…it gutted
me” ( Storm)
This incident is comparable to the “accident” and the deaths of innocent deaths causes by the
Daniel in the novel…………( see notes above and quote)
The inclusion of her son Josh’s contrasting personal insights, also allows the reader to
acknowledge, that despite our environment and family, we can succeed and be your “own
person…don’t break the law…go to university”. His further description of his mother, now that she
has been positive for “the last 15 years…She deserves a break and she’s got it now..”
This can also be seen in the novel with the inclusion Brendan, the uncle.. ……….( see notes above
and quote)
John Kilroy, however, is far more informative about the highs and lows the family has had because
of Debbie’s self destructive tendencies (quote)
When her change come, through the self realisation “something’s gotta be better than this shit”
the interview becomes far more prestigious and positive in tone, with excerpts from George Brand
“ she took advantage of the opportunities that were here”; Anne Warner “ Deb’s relationship with a
number of the women inside and also her knowledge of the system is absolutely invaluable” and
concludes with the Minister, Tony McGrady “ ..I admire here, and I respect her….She got the Order
of Australia..”
There, however, is a negative note regarding Debbie’s eldest child, Jodie, who has ( see end of
transcript)
This is very must like Tom’s sister Kylie ……….( see notes above and quote)
Pat Harding ends with a note of hope ( quote) and this very my follows the line of Tom’s grandma
……….( see notes above and quote)
As with the novel, the main character, Debbie shares with us her journey’s inspiration “ They (
women prisoners) inspire me in everything I do on a daily basis … ( and her determination to keep
things right) … Everyone walked away from me, and I won’t do it to them”
Tom’s journey, in contrast is not so resolute………….( see notes above and quote)