Bowditch’s erratic, often outrageous behaviour under the influence of alcohol undoubtedly detracted from his greatness. It also gave his enemies ammunition with which to belittle him and his many achievements. Even today it is irksome and almost distressing to hear people highlight his drinking , often as not unaware of his dangerous wartime exploits , the many crusades in which he engaged as a fearless newspaper editor .
It was only
in the year
2001, long after Jim’s
death, that a
Sydney doctor presented
a plausible explanation
for much of
Bowditch’s actions and wild behaviour
over the years. From an early age, he had evinced a
strong awareness of social injustice in the world ; his bombing of bailiffs and hopelessly challenging
his father , a British Army boxing champion, showing his
willingness to take on
authority, the world when just a boy . This
attitude had not diminished as he
grew older and had then been drawn into the turmoil and trauma
of the war.
The
doctor said Bowditch’s behaviour
indicated he had suffered from
unresolved post-traumatic stress brought
about by his
war experiences. Receiving no
treatment for those
horrors he , in effect , “self medicated ” with alcohol .
Alcohol , then ,
outwardly seemed to
be his problem , but
it was more
complex . With his deep
seated antipathy
towards authority,
, his crusading zeal,
little sleep and
hard work , it all combined to
put enormous mental , physical and
nervous strain on
him .
Added
to this was the
use, later on , of marijuana , which Bowditch said
relaxed the mind . In his desperation to overcome
his complex
problems , simply attributed to “
alcoholism ” , he had , at medical
direction, taken medication which made him sick each time he touched alcohol. While he did
try to come to
grips with his drinking problem , Darwin was a
hard place to stop.
The
tragedy is that
by trying to overcome
his condition , he almost
certainly added to his
burdens.
At
some stage he
was introduced to
Serepax , used to avert
seizures when patients
are coming off
alcohol. It should never
be taken by
drinkers who are
still consuming alcohol . Over -
prescribing can result
in addiction . Modern
thinking is that
Serepax should not
be prescribed for
longer than six
weeks. In Bowditch’s case, he was
on and off
the drug for
years , and frequently
used it while
drinking heavily .
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Being well known in the Territory , which has an immense drinking problem in all sectors of the community , it was impossible for Bowditch to escape heavy drinking. His Northern Territory membership of the Bloody Good Drinkers Club issued and signed by entertainer and former NT Aministrator Ted Egan , above ,in 1978 highlights the situation.
|
Side effects
of Serepax
are blackouts similar
to alcoholic blackouts
which come without warning. The person
does not lose consciousness
, but part of the
memory
will just suddenly
disappear. Rarer side
effects are dizziness , fainting , vertigo,
headache , confusion , hallucination and aggression
. As well , paradoxical reactions
such as stimulation , excitement and
rage can occur.
On the
occasion when Bowditch
came to Adelaide
by bus to
see this writer on his way to
Western Australia , there
was clear evidence that he was
on the dangerous
cocktail of Serepax
and alcohol. Having heard
on the bush
telegraph that Bowditch
was “off the
grog ”, this writer, baching , made
sure the frig
was devoid of alcohol. However ,
Bowditch arrived bearing
a cask of
wine and had
been drinking along the way . He
insisted on drinking , and when
the cask was
polished off , ferreted out
a bottle of Christmas
whisky at the back of a shelf in a pantry cupboard.
About two in the morning, Bowditch
threatened to kill me
with two blows. At this stage
I had my feet on
the kitchen table .
Bowditch , mad eyed, standing
over me with one hand raised
threateningly , a whisky glass in the other , repeated his ability to make a quick killing. Giggling ,
I tempted fate by saying I was too young to die. At first, Bowditch responded angrily to this jocular remark, saying drastic action might
have to be taken “ to
teach Simon a lesson ”. Then Jim began to laugh, and asked for another
whisky .
The next
morning , as Bowditch was
being driven about
Adelaide , he asked several
times to stop
the car ,
saying he was
suffering from motion
sickness. On alighting , he would
dry retch . When being driven to the airport , Bowditch
became agitated , saying
he had run
out of Serepax , which he
said was for
his “anxiety ”. On spotting a
chemist shop, he asked
to stop , ran in
and was able
to get another
bottle of Serepax , despite not
having a prescription .
At
the airport he
was concerned that
he might have
to pay excess
baggage as I had repacked
his possessions into
two suitcases. Telling Jim
not to worry , I took
the suitcases to the
counter and said :“This
grey haired old
gentleman is going
to Perth , and all
his worldly possessions
are in these
bags.” Everybody
laughed , there was
no excess to
pay and Bowditch , less anxious , relaxed somewhat, toying with
his Serepax container in the airport lounge .
It is highly likely
that the drug
he was started on to
try and help overcome alcoholism
became another monkey
on the back
of a complex
and brave man , the likes of
whom will never again be
seen in Australian
journalism .
Bowditch’s
attitude to life and philosophy was encapsulated in a
poem composed on behalf of the family by his youngest son , Steven :
A
DAY IN THE
LIFE OF OUR
DAD
At the crack of
dawn
after his usual
four or five hours sleep
his old
typewriter was going rat a tat tat
we kids heard the racket
said “ Ahhh, Dad,
not again”
and went back to
sleep.
By midday
You’d see him
striding down Smith St
shorts, long socks, pulled all the way up
tidy,upright
racing forward
on another
crusade
By late afternoon
you’d find him at the Parap,
Vic, Don or some
other pub
hammering with words, or fists
about what was
right, or what was wrong
By midnight
cigarette singeing mum’s new teak table
hunched,
elbow propped
pondering in
tears
the horrible
deeds of war.
He didn’t need
the respect of kings or queens
the wrath of
heaven or hell
or the fear
of another man to shape his
code.
He simply believed in :
equal opportunity
equal distribution of wealth
of the land
to treat people equally, and to
think of no man as bigger or smaller
than yourself
We miss you Dad
We all love you Dad.
