Arbeit macht frei: - Fredrick Töben

The driver smokes as does her co-driver. Throughout the trip they do not
hesitate to light up. They settle into their respective seats and off we go –
along the Yatala drive, then a right turn into Grand Junction Road and
heading where? I suppose chain smoking comes with the territory, a sign of
the stressfulness of transporting prisoners not handcuffed. It is a totally
unpredictable situation. Then again, most prisoners themselves are heavy
smokers and so there is a shared vice that unites drivers and passengers.
Cliff tells me he had not paid his fines and so has to spend 2 months inside.
We drive along the new freeway towards Gawler and exit at the Freeling
turnoff, which is Kausch territory, then towards Kapunda where we stop for
lunch. Then it is off again and we pass St Mary’s pub where Robert Lockett
lives, then through Morgan and in another few minutes cross the Murray
River on a punt. A pedestrian who had just alighted and was about to walk
to Cadell township sees the bus, then smiling returns and takes a trip back
all the while chatting animatedly with driver and co-driver.
And then it is a full stop at Cadell Training Centre (CTC) where we alight at
Reception. The returnees disappear through Reception while the
newcomers are processed individually and become inmates of CTC.
Peter, an elderly fatherly figure, kindly welcomes each one with a smile,
then Dante, a young jovial inmate at CTC, issues our allocated clothing. I
shed my suit, go through the routine that ends up in the squat position over
a mirror, then dress in standard prison clothes of shirt and jeans and I opt
for suede shoes that are light to wear.
Then it is off to the Case Management Centre where Morray Grant
welcomes me, issues me with my Prisoner ID that I am instructed to carry
with me at all times, then allocates Cell 17 on the ground floor of the Cell
Block: it is referred to as ‘Bottom’ while the first floor is called ‘Top’. That
is the usual procedure and only when a clear urine test is offered will a
prisoner move to the Dormitory or one of the numerous houses or cottages
that make up the accommodation complex at CTC.
I am allocated a cellmate, Craig, who is a non-smoker, and that is good.
The Japan Airlines pen that I had in my suit pocket is my handy instrument
so I can begin to write my first letters to Christopher and Peter.
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