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The family’s primary source of income came from a modest war widow’s pension, and as soon as we were old enough, the six of us siblings began contributing financially by taking up jobs during our teenage years.
As a teenager, my relationship with him was strained—I often felt embarrassed, frustrated, and irritated, mainly due to the limited understanding of autism that existed at the time.
The image features Helen’s brother John as a toddler in the 1930s. Source: Provided
John often criticized himself for not fitting in with those around him.
Getting a diagnosis
He was skinny and almost exclusively ate lentils, despite our mother being a great cook.
He wouldn’t go. And as he was not considered unwell to the point of being a danger to himself or others, we couldn’t make him.
Letters from Townsville
For the next couple of years, he bounced around the country, including stays in Canberra and Darwin.
John in his first Townsville apartment. Source: Supplied
I believe he tried to overcome his feelings of not fitting by pursuing different adventures.
But it wasn’t his fault; he’d been without a diagnosis and understanding for too long.
A downward spiral
He hardly left his room and was almost catatonic with despair.
We were told that John died of a heart attack on Christmas Day 1997 in Townsville at the age of 62. We all went up for his funeral, which was just incredibly sad.
