My brother Randall Scott Carrington was made a state ward, first admitted as an involuntary patient into Lowson House Mental Ward, Brisbane Hospital, then Wolston Park Mental Hospital 1978 to 1979. He was subjected to numerous rounds of shock treatment without anaesthetic, copious experimental psychotic drug treatments, abused, raped, escaped, returned, punished, secluded in solitary confinement, and effectively chemically castrated.

This is what could happen to gay boys prior to the decriminalisation of male homosexuality in Qld in 1991. Found living with his boyfriend in November 1980, he suicided aged 20, in preference to the prospect of being returned to Pearce House, Wolston Park.

Qld State Archives have refused permission for me to access my brother’s case files, as the files of patients like Randall are locked up for 100 years. I have endeavoured over the last 2 years to seek access to my brother’s patient records.   I subsequently made a request under the Right to Information Act 2009 for these records, which was also refused by the Access Unit at West Moreton Health. This is a self-serving determination by an agency that is not independent – having oversight of Wolston Park Mental Hospital, the notorious institution at the heart of many historical scandals. I have submitted a request for an external review by the Qld Office of Information Commissioner and am waiting the outcome.

By burying patient files in archives till no-one living has a memory of anyone detained in Wolston Park, these state institutions continue to evade accountability for past wrongs.  In an era of inquiries into institutional child sexual assault in Australia and elsewhere, it is not good enough for State Government’s to hide behind laws that hide the past.

Healing and reconciliation requires the truth, however horrible, to be told.

My brother loved David Bowie and this was his favourite song. Heroes.

I, I will be king

And you, you will be queen

Though nothing will drive them away

We can beat them, just for one day

We can be Heroes, just for one day

David Bowie, Heroes, 1977

Here’s Randall’s story – or at least from what I remember visiting him in Wolston Park Mental Hospital.

Podcast 2: Randall’s Story 3 July 2022

Source: Mathew Condon, Courier Mail, 9 March 2017

I’d also really like to hear from anyone who remembers my brother Randall Scott Carrington, especially the social worker who helped him to be discharged into my care after 18 months.

Trigger warning this podcast talks about #Suicide #Rape #Torture #Abuse #ShockTreatment #ECT #Persecution of male homosexuals #ChemicalContsraints

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