Timber Creek

Monday was a good day. I got up early and came into the office to do some more moot research. The client then came in and signed all the affidavits and applications and I lodged them with the court. Kate and I then had a brief negotiation with the police prosecutor who wasn't willing to budge so I went back to the office and researched some issues for the case before we went back to court. Ultimately, though, it was stood down for mention this Wednesday afternoon and then a hearing in August so it wasn't really so exciting.

After that we drove 3 hours to Timber Creek, which was a beautiful drive along the escarpments towards the sunset. That evening I hung out at the town pub with the locals and my housemates who were also in TK for the bush courts. On the wall of the bar was a big board covered in names of the banned drinkers list and another 'shameful behaviour' list which I assumed was the warning list before getting banned. The lists were full of my clients or the defendants in the matters.

Today was the bush courts so bright and early we went to the police station and got a lit of the matters being heard and who the victims in the domestic violence matters were. Then we drove to the town centre and had a chat with the locals trying to find our old clients and the new victims of DV.

There was one women who approached us and said that she had a domestic violence matter on in court today. So I got all her details and had her sign the forms and started to conduct an interview. She told me how she'd been with her husband for 20 years and they have 4 kids together and that this is the first domestic violence issue. I asked where it happened and she said behind the pub. And I asked if her and her husband had been drinking and she said no, neither of them drink. So I asked what had happened. She said, well I noticed my husband hadn't come home by 9pm so I went looking for him. And I saw his car parked and he was sitting in there was another lady. So I grabbed a stick and snuck up behind them very quietly and then struck her husband on the head through the open car window. The other woman ran out and ran away. Her husband leapt out of the car and she hit him some more with the stick. What happened next? I asked. I drove away with the car and left him there, she answered. And then he came home and bashed you? I asked. No. He slept out by the bush and the next day I came and collected him. And then he bashed you? I asked. No, she answered, he never bashed me. But if he ever thinks of cheating on me I'll bash him. And then I realised, the victim of this incident was her husband. We had a big old laugh and I told her that she'll have to peak to a defence lawyer since we only work with victims of domestic violence. I then had an interview with her husband, he was the sweetest guy and seemed really good with the kids and had a good job but he was happy to have a restraining order on her so that she couldn't hit him anymore.

The rest of the day was spent interviewing clients and advising them about domestic violence orders and liaising with police about the terms of these orders and varying them. After lunch we left the court and went to visit the communities themselves. They were small and neat. Though some houses obviously were a bit decrepit and had too many  people living in them. Furthermore there were huge packs o giant dogs roaming the communities. Some of the communities we visited were 'dry' zones under the intervention which meant that no alcohol or drugs or pornography could be brought there. Though ultimately it just means that the alcoholics go into town to drink leaving their children alone or neglected. Though the basics card that quarantines some of their Centrelink payments now limits the amount of money that can be drank away.

After visiting the communities we drove to a number of beautiful lookout points and admired the really stunning scenery. After that I lounged by the pool until it was dark and then I returned to my motel room to research the moot some more.

Tomorrow morning we drive back to Katherine (though I think we should have done it tonight) and tomorrow afternoon we are back in court for that mention that was first heard on Monday.

It's almost the end of my time in Katherine. I'll be sorry to leave.

On that note, g'nite.