Wollongong is my home town – I was born there. I grew up on a farm until I was about nine. I had a stepfather from the age of five. He taught me how to shoot, trap rabbits and fish. I have two sisters and two brothers. Both of my brothers have now passed away. My younger brother was only 26 when he died. He was so young.
After the farm, we moved to the other side of Gerringong, across the road from the beach. I’d go surfing after school. Things were good until I started high school and we moved again – to a place where there was no surf. It was about then I started getting into trouble. I left school when I was about 15, and I’d started to get into drugs – I did all sorts of stupid things.
I managed to get an apprenticeship as a plasterer. I’ve done that for work for most of my life, though I can’t do it anymore. It’s too physical: my shoulders, elbows and knees just can’t take it.
When I was 19, I started working with a travelling show. It gave me the travel bug. I’ve lived and worked in every state and territory in Australia (except for Tasmania), sometimes sleeping in caravan parks, a motel, or I might get put up in a house for work. I’ve met lots of people.
I eventually came to Queensland, where I met my wife and got married. My children were born in Wollongong, but we came back up to Queensland where we brought them up. After 18 years together, we separated. Queensland is my favourite state – it’s sunny and warm, and it’s the place I’ve been where I haven’t used drugs.
I’m off the drugs now, and I don’t drink anymore. Once I managed that, I went back to Perth to get in touch with my daughter and grandchildren, and with my son and my grandchildren here in Brisbane. Now I get to spend a lot of my time with my grandchildren. I live with my son, his wife and their three kids.
I’ve spent periods of time on the streets over the years. I first heard about The Big Issue on the streets in Perth. I used to sit in this alcove and watch people selling The Big Issue and I thought, I could do that! A couple of weeks later, I left Perth and ended up coming into The Big Issue office in Brisbane. I’ve been selling for three months now. It’s been good for me.
It gets me out of the house and communicating with people. If I wasn’t doing The Big Issue I’d probably just be sitting around reading books all the time! People stop and chat – they are very kind and generous. The income has also been really good. After I stopped being able to work as a plasterer I had to go on JobSeeker, which doesn’t give you very much to live on. With The Big Issue, I can go out to a movie or take my grandkids somewhere.
As you get older, you realise what matters. It’s something I’ve learned living on the streets, and also selling The Big Issue. You just need to be kind and courteous and respectful to others, and treat people the way you want to be treated.
Bruce sells The Big Issue at Cleveland Markets and West End Markets, Brisbane
Interview by Lou Abson
Photo by Barry Street
Published in Ed#720