Fleeing the grime of London and its oppressive social order,an unusual teenager , Jim Bowditch, sailed for Australia in 1937 in search of a new life .
Soon after arriving in Australia he made representations on behalf of a band of unemployed men and was punched in the mouth by an armed police sergeant , a blow which broke a tooth. This brutal encounter did not deter Bowditch from taking up further just causes . Confronting the establishment and fighting for the underdog became a way of life for him.
Even during his distinguished war service which saw him perform repeated acts of bravery against great odds, he clashed with superior officers , military police of several nations and incurred so many fines that he frequently organised gambling and other lurks to get spending money.
One of the deep psychological scars he carried from WW11 was his mutilation of a young enemy soldier with a knife during a dangerous commando operation. After the war , his life took an unexpected turn when he became an “ instant editor” which enabled him to build up a reputation as a fearless , crusading journalist. From ramshackle newspaper buildings with clapped out equipment , he fought to right many wrongs .
It mattered not if you were regarded by society as a mental defective, an escapee on the run from police , a woman with children facing eviction or a member of one of the richest families on earth, Bowditch was prepared to take instant, often daring , action to help , assist or rescue you.
He not only reported events and gave supportive editorial backing for many issues , he became personally involved in cases . Apart from covering the news, he often was the news throughout Australia . His many campaigns shaped the nation’s attitude in relation to such matters as the White Australia Policy, indentured labour, NT political reform and Aboriginal advancement and land rights .
Even though he was portrayed down south as “ Mr Darwin” because he had his finger on the city’s pulse , it was Alice Springs which played a pivotal part in his life . There he became involved in politics, union activities and developed a growing “ crusading zeal ”.
Being married to Bowditch was no bed of roses. His second wife, Betty, who bore him four children, is a special person who deserves a chestful of medals and then some for putting up with him . Many of the people interviewed for this book volunteered the view that Betty Bowditch is an exceptional woman .
Jim Bowditch did not believe in home ownership and possession of land, saying land was there to be used for the benefit of everyone . When it came to clothing, he did not worry much about having a wardrobe and would literally give away the shirt from his back .
While he loved his own children, he told them that they could not be treated any differently to the kids up the street . He instilled in his children the message that they must never let anybody put them down during life. A cigarette hanging from his mouth , Bowditch often sat up late at night pounding away on his portable typewriter. After a short sleep, he would rise and once more begin tapping away at the keys.
This is a tribute to a man who , with great courage and flair, fought for humanity in general. Over time, his “ larrikinism” and erratic behaviour tended to overshadow and detract from the greatness of the man .
At times he mockingly described himself as “ a bit bent ”. For the first time , this work contains a detailed medical explanation for his excesses . The saga also gives an insight into Australia’s own prolonged McCarthy era during the Cold War when Bowditch and many of his associates, exercising the rights and freedoms of individuals in a democracy, were closely watched by the nation’s security network.
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Soon after arriving in Australia he made representations on behalf of a band of unemployed men and was punched in the mouth by an armed police sergeant , a blow which broke a tooth. This brutal encounter did not deter Bowditch from taking up further just causes . Confronting the establishment and fighting for the underdog became a way of life for him.
Even during his distinguished war service which saw him perform repeated acts of bravery against great odds, he clashed with superior officers , military police of several nations and incurred so many fines that he frequently organised gambling and other lurks to get spending money.
One of the deep psychological scars he carried from WW11 was his mutilation of a young enemy soldier with a knife during a dangerous commando operation. After the war , his life took an unexpected turn when he became an “ instant editor” which enabled him to build up a reputation as a fearless , crusading journalist. From ramshackle newspaper buildings with clapped out equipment , he fought to right many wrongs .
It mattered not if you were regarded by society as a mental defective, an escapee on the run from police , a woman with children facing eviction or a member of one of the richest families on earth, Bowditch was prepared to take instant, often daring , action to help , assist or rescue you.
He not only reported events and gave supportive editorial backing for many issues , he became personally involved in cases . Apart from covering the news, he often was the news throughout Australia . His many campaigns shaped the nation’s attitude in relation to such matters as the White Australia Policy, indentured labour, NT political reform and Aboriginal advancement and land rights .
Even though he was portrayed down south as “ Mr Darwin” because he had his finger on the city’s pulse , it was Alice Springs which played a pivotal part in his life . There he became involved in politics, union activities and developed a growing “ crusading zeal ”.
Being married to Bowditch was no bed of roses. His second wife, Betty, who bore him four children, is a special person who deserves a chestful of medals and then some for putting up with him . Many of the people interviewed for this book volunteered the view that Betty Bowditch is an exceptional woman .
Jim Bowditch did not believe in home ownership and possession of land, saying land was there to be used for the benefit of everyone . When it came to clothing, he did not worry much about having a wardrobe and would literally give away the shirt from his back .
While he loved his own children, he told them that they could not be treated any differently to the kids up the street . He instilled in his children the message that they must never let anybody put them down during life. A cigarette hanging from his mouth , Bowditch often sat up late at night pounding away on his portable typewriter. After a short sleep, he would rise and once more begin tapping away at the keys.
This is a tribute to a man who , with great courage and flair, fought for humanity in general. Over time, his “ larrikinism” and erratic behaviour tended to overshadow and detract from the greatness of the man .
At times he mockingly described himself as “ a bit bent ”. For the first time , this work contains a detailed medical explanation for his excesses . The saga also gives an insight into Australia’s own prolonged McCarthy era during the Cold War when Bowditch and many of his associates, exercising the rights and freedoms of individuals in a democracy, were closely watched by the nation’s security network.
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