Captain Australia’s Crime Fighting Journal, Entry#78

I went on patrol on friday night, and was able to take some video.  I met some lovely people like my friends in the photograph below, as well as some horrible, cruel and vicious people.   For the most part it was uneventful, although it made me realise that it’s actually more important that I successfully connect to the horrible and cruel than the nice & decent.

I met some abusive and unpleasant people on friday night, and I don’t think I did a good job of explaining my mission to them.  I have to find a way to do a better job of turning them around.

Additionally, below find my latest activity report.

I am just making a brief personal journal entry to note that on Monday 23 August I briefly appeared on the TV program Today Tonight on Channel 7, in connection with a story about Matthew Newton’s being dropped from the X-FACTOR show.  I featured again on Thursday 26 August.

If you visit the Today Tonight website, and click on the VIDEO tab, you’ll find the story titled “X-Factor television scandal”  – I appear toward the latter part of the story, shaking Matthew’s hand back-stage at the X-FACTOR recording.  (A day I still think back to with a smile – I’m looking forward to it being screened next week).

If you’d like to you can read my latest Activity Report, or read about the X-FACTOR audition day.

This weekend I will patrol Brisbane, and thankfully my videographer is free, so I will be able to provide video documentation.  I think I will actively start recruiting for a side-kick from the people that I meet, someone who can fill the persona of “Boomerang Boy” or “Kangaroo Kid”.

I’m imagining a teen or young man of indigenous background, ideally very lean and lanky – if you’ve seen the movie Nacho Libre, I’m thinking my ideal sidekick would be like the wiry mexican sidekick who helped Nacho.

Captain Australia’s Crime Fighting Journal, Entry#77

I patrolled last night for 10 hours.  The young man who has been helping me take video of my experiences was again unavailable – his life is changing now, and I’m finding it harder to convince him to spend a night walking the streets in support of my Mission.  (Again, if you are based anywhere in Australia and would have an interest in either teaming up to patrol your city – or to help by being my videographer while we patrol – please email me at helpme@captainaustralia.net).  My written diary is fine, but video can be a very powerful way to share what I do.

I began my patrol in Brisbane, in the late evening.

With no clear objective, I visited the drug and prostitution hot-spots in the Valley.  I spoke to a few down-and-outers, sharing with them my views on finding a positive road to walk, but encountered no crime or active evil.

I then progressed into the city.  I ran into a small group of young men engaged in a dispute.  They were wearing their metro-sexual uniforms, but clearly just young blokes letting their mongrel out under the influence of a bit of booze.  I stopped and spoke calmly to them, mediating a solution to their dispute.  They seemed quite bemused by this – but at the same time, it was not difficult to re-direct their hostility into constructive dialogue.

I found my homeless friend Walter again.  This time he was not alone, he was sitting with a very old aboriginal man (regrettably I couldnt understand a single word he said, so I didn’t catch his name).   While we were talking, one of the young men from the earlier dispute approached me, and mentioned that things were really terrible down at the Gold Coast.  He was about to catch the train home, and invited me to travel with him.  I accepted.

We spoke at length on that long train ride.  More than an hour.

We talked about Good and Evil.  We talked about how easy it is to take from others, how it is almost a defensive strategy that we are born into – a competitive white commercialist driver that urges us to take take take, without really pausing to think.  We talked about short-sightedness and the greater good.

I hope I got through to you, mate.  I really do.

We parted ways later at Surfers Paradise, where I patrolled for about 4 hours.  I met dozens of young people, and had the opportunity to talk about my Quest.  Encouragingly, none of these kids were rude or violent.  Some nights I’ve had young groups of men actively hurl abuse at me, until I confront them.  But last night, these kids were very sweet, friendly and engaging.  This gives me a great deal of hope for our collective future.

There was only one incident of violence.  I saw a small semi-circle of people around two fighters across the street from one of the low-rent nightclubs.  One of the men had his shirt off, and blood on the side of his face.  Both were either islanders or kiwis.  In the dark I couldnt tell.  The security staff across the street at the club were just watching and joking to one another.  Of the circle of onlookers, they were mostly silent – some even filming it on their mobile phones (if any of you read this and have video you can send me, please email reportacrime@captainaustralia.net)

I ran right into the middle of it, and pushed the combatants aside.  They did stop brawling and thankfully didn’t team up to attack me (an outcome that I was braced for, but defending from two heavy guys with their gander up on my left & right would not have been fun).  They seemed quite amazed, and thankfully, I think the very strangeness of it was enough to disarm them.

I was looking back and forth at them and speaking loudly, urgently, but also respectfully, “Gentlemen !  Stop this !  Gentlemen !  Is this really who you are !?  Is this really who you want to be ?!”

They seemed to genuinely think about this.  There was some laughter from the onlookers, but at that point four policemen broke into the circle and separated the group.  I was lucky – one of them took me aside and spoke to me, but he did not require me to identify myself or to unmask, he just asked a few cursory questions and then moved on.

I hope that as people start to see me engage these kind of situations, they begin to understand – we all recognise the world is off-track, but we each individually have to BE the change that we want to see.  If someone is behaving badly, the answer is not to ignore them, or to attack them or to condemn them.  You have to engage them respectfully and firmly, and try to find a positive outcome.

If enough of us stand up and do this, we can change the world.

I had to wait until just after sun-up for the first train back to Brisbane.  I got home at around 8:30am, so tired I could barely think straight.

One noteworthy point – I’ve worked out a handy way to change from Captain Australia into my secret identity while on the move.  I’ve lined the inside of my uniform with fabric, so I can flip it inside out and hang it over my belt, so in the dark it just looks like I am a chubby guy in a tracksuit.  I pull my fatigues out and lower the hem over the boots – so the only real giveaway is what appear to be bright yellow shoes.

Captain Australia’s Crime Fighting Journal, Entry#76

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve had the time to patrol.  Captain Australia has been hiding under the surface while the day-to-day life of my secret identity has taken over.  With a high-demand job in Corporate Australia, a pregnant wife and a toddler son, I have had to use all my energy just to keep up with my personal obligations.

But I cannot forget, or turn away from, my obligation to the Australian Public.

You need me, and I see daily reminders of that.

There is so much apathy and hate in the world today.  You can see it in the daily news, the criminality, the violence.  Worst of all are the suffering children.  Babies left unwatched and neglected, or abandoned altogether, like this baby – her short life ending tragically hours after her birth due to a mother unable to cope with her and a society unable to help.

There are more subtle things that make me afraid for us all.  Take the current election campaign, for example.  Julia Gillard is a back-stabbing opportunist, and Tony Abbot is an unimaginative, bigoted little crook with barely two brain cells to rub together.  Why are they candidates for our highest public office ?  Because the behind the scenes power brokers want it that way.  A hopeless two-party system where the devil you know & the devil you don’t are both basically the same devil.

I talk to people, young and old, wealthy & homeless about who and what inspires them, and the one answer I absolutely never hear is “politicians”.  The thing that worries me is : what does this say about our society ?  What does this say about who we have become and where we are going, that we can’t trust our leaders, and we (collectively) don’t care enough to make radical change ?

I should be out there every night.  Watchful.  Waiting.  I should be out there trying to spread Goodness, and fight this cancer of Evil that is infecting our lives and our society.

My hope is that people will see what I’m doing, be inspired by it, and take action themselves.  Then this will cause a ripple effect : people will understand that you have to put your own personal safety aside and selflessly commit yourself to the betterment of humanity.

I have to do better.

This weekend, I will patrol.  Even if I have absolutely no energy, I will find it somewhere.  I will phone my videographer tomorrow, hopefully he will be willing to come on patrol with me, so that I can share the experience with you, and document any events that take place.

Captain Australia’s Crime Fighting Journal, Entry#75

I patrolled the City and Valley last night from shortly before midnight until around five o’clock in the morning.  Regrettably, my videographer (who sometimes helps me with filming my experiences as a vigilante crimefighter) was not available.

It is my hope to get some higher tech camera/surveillance equipment, but I also need people to help me operate it and document what I do.  If you happen to live in anywhere in Australia and would be willing to volunteer to accompany me on a patrol and help take video, please email me at helpme@captainaustralia.net – unfortunately I cannot pay you, but I would owe you a debt of gratitude.

In between long periods of walking, last night’s patrol did offer some interesting encounters, which I will outline.

Firstly, I was walking through an area near the Valley when I was hailed from the balcony of an apartment building above.  I waved and continued to move on, but a group of revellers rushed down, urging me to join them at their party.  I respectfully declined, but they begged for just ten minutes.

It was an interesting encounter.  Politely sipping a beer while being quizzed by a small group of well groomed, urbane young men.  I explained my mission and objectives as best I could, but I don’t think I really got past the superficial amusement at my appearance.  Gents, if you read this, I’d urge you to join me in my Quest to Save the World.

The second encounter happened at about 1am, near the river in closer to the Brisbane CBD.

I met a dishevelled homeless man called Walter, and sat and spoke with him at great length.   Homelessness was in front of my mind, having just visited the charity Sleep on The Streets on the weekend prior, and giving a little of my time and a hundred dollars from my wallet.

Walter showed me the real face of homelessness in Australia.

He lost his wife to cancer a few years ago, and simply could not go on with his day to day life.  Being catholic, he felt that killing himself would condemn him to an eternity in Hell, so he was just ticking away the remaining days of his life, much as a prisoner might mark their time in jail on a calendar.

I don’t think the average workaday Aussie really sees people like Walter.  And it’s a terrible shame.  People react to suffering like it is an ugly, contageous disease – when in fact it presents a great opportunity.  If you see someone in pain, I’d urge you to take the time to hear their story, and do what you can to help them.  Remember the old saying “A friend in need is a friend indeed” ?  I think the underlying meaning behind that is to show how much benefit you can get from helping others.

I think Walter was terribly, horribly lonely.  We sat and spoke for more than an hour, and during our talk he mentioned that there was a gang of teenage thugs running through the bottanical gardens just near the CBD, threatening and robbing people.

I went to check it out, and it wasn’t long before I found them.

I was initially approached by three laughing young thugs, circling around me like sharks.  I noticed immediately that in the shadows of the nearby bushes other characters were lurking, I figured as many as six in total getting their kicks waylaying and threatening drunks or couples passing through the gardens at night.   None of them looked much over 20 years old.  A dangerous situation.

Of the three who confronted me directly, one had his hand in his jacket, clearly implying that he had a knife.  In these kind of situations, acting quickly and decisively is crucial, keeping your opposition off balance.  You also have to very firmly establish who is predator and who is prey with these kind of cowards.

So I removed my maglite torch from my utility belt and shined it directly into the eyes of the kid with the knife and demanded “What’s that in your pocket, mate?”

This did indeed seem to put them off balance, so I pressed forward, demanding he show his hands.  He responded with a few choice profanities, and one of the other kids said something like “give us your money, you freak”.  I turned the torch on him (I wanted it handy as a defensive weapon), and said “the only thing you’re collecting from me is a broken jaw if you make a move at me, mate” (which I thought was pretty action-hero at the time).

It’s a difficult situation.  Do I call the authorities ?  The gang hadn’t really done anything to me yet.  Do I try to negotiate ?  Do I goad them into a fight ?  Interestingly, they threw a few mocking words at me and one of them said (deleting the expletives) “lets just get out of here”.

I followed them.  They ran.  I chased them.  They scattered.

I guess by disbanding them, I at least stopped them from hurting or robbing anybody else that night – but I have to wonder, why weren’t the police there, putting a stop to it ?  Surely if Walter was aware of people being assaulted or robbed, someone must have made a complaint to the authorities ?

In any case, it was now about 4am, so my mind turned toward home (which was about an hour and a half brisk walk).  I walked back to where I had met Walter first, to see if there was anything I could do for him .. but he was gone.

So: home.

I get home, I un-suit and fall into bed, tired but mentally alert.  About a half hour after my head hits the pillow, I feel a wet warm sticky sensation on my face.  My infant son (16mth) is smiling, gurgling, and lavishing kisses on my cheek. waking me up because he wants to eat/dance/play.  I won’t disclose too many details about my alter ego for fear of compromising my secret identity, but I have a little boy and another baby on the way.

Captain Australia’s Crime Fighting Journal, Entry#74

On saturday, I visited a church group who were staging a Sleep on the Streets event to help the homeless in Australia.  I’d urge you to visit their website, and make a donation if you can spare something – every little piece counts.

That evening, I met a group of people, all united by one thing: faith.

I’ve never been a man of faith – or so I thought.

Although when I stop to think about it, I actually realise that I have faith in a great many things.

I believe in the kindness of these people I met on saturday, and that their kindness can, in time spread and change the world.

I believe in myself, and my capabilities and skills : my extraordinary physical prowess, and unmatched mental gifts – the unique set of experiences that have forged me into the hero I am today.

I believe it is my responsibility to find ways to use my gifts to make the world a better place, to serve humanity.

And I believe in you.  I believe, that if you see goodness, and understand how necessary it is, and that you can be part of it, then you will spread that idea to others.  This seeding of goodness is my real hope for humankind.

I believe that deep down, people are basically good.  I see crushing cruelty, apathy and evil in the world around me, but I have faith, and hope, that together we can fight the darkness that is slowly spreading through our society like cancer.  Together we can make a difference.

I urge you to think about that.

There is not just one way, you don’t have to join a church group or support a charity, or put on a mask and tights and fight crime.  There is your way.

Find it.  Join me and find ways to heal this broken world.

There’s an ancient chinese proverb:  “It is better to light a candle, than to curse the darkness”

Inside you there is great beauty.  Light your candle, together we can all shine.

Captain Australia’s Crime Fighting Journal, Entry#73

Firstly, let me announce that next weekend on 24 July, I will be spending the night sleeping on the streets for a charity supporting homelessness.  It is a very noble cause, and I’d urge you to get along if you can, or alternatively make contact with the charity and organise a donation.  If you watch their video, you’ll see that often young battered wives wind up homeless, so you can have young kids living on the street .. and they need your help.

Learn more by following this link, it will also lead you to resources, video and supporting information: Sleep on the Streets Website

Yesterday I auditioned for the X-FACTOR and it was a very exciting experience.

Needless to say, the strangled gurgling that I call singing was not enough to get me through to the next round of the contest, but I do feel that the Elvis-style kungfu kick I executed in the chorus really added to my performance.

I got a text message afterward from a fan who was in the audience and who said “You were robbed !  You sang like a bird !”.  I guess if he’s referring to the territorial honk an emu makes just before it kicks you in the goolie-bags … fair enough.

I think it will be televised in August, and am excited because they took quite a lot of interesting video of me leading up to the performance.  The staff  & crew were quite lovely and professional, especially the young man who interviewed me.

Guy Sebastian (who I’ve liked since he started out on Idol) gave me a big reverse bearhug .. I may never wash my costume again: I’m a real fan.

Natalie Imbruglia was very gentle yet engaging & I have to say she is a very strikingly beautiful woman!  I told her so during the audition, but I think she interpretted it as vote-grabbing, not sincere flattery !

Ronan Keating seemed to me to be the larrakin & smart-arse.  He was very inquisitive and engaging.  He urged me to take off my mask – but he might as well have asked me to drop my pants and moonwalk through a cactus patch.  There’s just : no way !

Kyle Sandilands was an unexpected surprise – he said some very kind things, which I found to be quite moving : said the C A could also stand for Caring Australian, and that what I’m doing is wonderful.  I should have spent more time practicing my singing and less time trying to prepare snappy come-backs for insults that never came!

Matt Newton was as bouncy and energetic as a pre-schooler whose just chugged 5 cans of red-bull.  Great fun.  He was full of energy and enthusiasm, which really helped shock me out of my own nervous introspection.

It was a great experience.  It took a great deal of courage, and I’d like to thank Rodney for challenging me to do it.  Mate, I think you were tongue-in-cheek and didn’t expect me to follow through.. I hope you’ll remember when you see me on TV in the next month or so – some people in this life tell the truth, there is goodness in this world, and you should do your best to try and shine.

If you want to get an impression of how my singing went, this is my original response to Rodney’s challenge.  Note the gut !

Captain Australia’s Crime Fighting Journal, Entry#72

Who is Captain Australia ?

I am your Guardian, your Champion.  Your Hero.

Why is he doing this ?

Because I love you.  I think you have a great potential to do beautiful and inspiring things.  I think the world around us is built to slowly destroy and undermine our potential, and I am taking a bold stand to try and show you that ordinary people can be heroes.

So you’re ordinary ?

Is Bruce Lee ordinary ?  Is Einstein ordinary ?   I have talents, just as you do, and I am committed to using them to make the world a better place.

What’s wrong with the world now ?

Look at Julia Gillard, our Prime Minister – nothing more than an honourless pawn, a treacherous opportunist.  The opposition leader is a babbling moron – basically our leaders in the highest public offices, who are meant to be representations of who we are, are a damning indictment against us.  Pop culture is the same.  Movies, TV, music, take a look at the bombardment of disrespect & commoditisation of things like sexuality and you’ll see our own awful values reflected back at us.  Basically, I’m saying that something is profoundly wrong with the world, and we each have to take personal responsibility for fixing it.

What have you been doing lately ?

Rodney, a young fan from Sydney, challenged me to go on the X-FACTOR.  I think I was successful in the auditions, but am waiting to hear about next steps.  (So Rodney, you’ll hopefully get to see me on TV soon!).  The experience so far was fun, and the people running the show were kind and professional – it’s a great opportunity to face Rod’s challenge as a vocalist, and also get some public exposure, so people can learn about my mission).

Additionally, I spent about 8 hours patrolling the greater Sydney area on thursday night.  I met some lovely kids (if you’re reading this, g’day guys, make a comment!).  I also met some interesting characters like Tim, a decent man in an indecent world, and Stringy, a violent man with a broken piece inside himself, trying to find a way to live his life with dignity.

I went there in search of a convicted child rapist & murderer named Alfred Jessop, who apparently lives in Liverpool.  I spent hours walking around the township of Liverpool and met a number of interesting people, but no Jessop.  My goal was to learn what evil looks like, and decide what I am going to do to fight it.  You see, criminals who offend against children have a very high rate (indicated around 40%) of re-offending after they are released from prison, so I feel morally justified in bothering this man .. this monster .. to learn about what he did and whether he is an ongoing threat.  In any case, I couldnt find him.  I didnt have a videographer with me, but you will find a brief video of my comments and thoughts below.

Announcing Next Patrol : Sydney, July 1

I will patrol Sydney and its environs on the night of 1 July.

If any citizen can provide me with information regarding crimes or injustices that I should act against, or the current whereabouts of monsters previously convicted for serious crimes against children, I would be grateful if you contact me privately or publicly.

Likewise if you are aware of any opportunities for Good Deeds that I might do in Sydney, please let me know.

Also, does anyone know if this rapist & child murdering monster Alfred Jessop, still dwells in Tully St, Liverpool ?

Your friend

Captain Australia