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THERE is no darkness but ignorance.
For many, relating the words of William Shakespeare to Claude Critchley may seem curious, but for those who know the man beyond the larrikin who walks the streets of Bendigo, Shakespeare’s words could not be more apt.
For Claude, one of Bendigo’s best-known identities, ignorance is life’s challenge . . . and a challenge he has faced from birth.
Claude was born the second youngest child of 11.
He lived “everywhere but loose” with his family throughout the rough suburbs of Melbourne, until he was made a ward of the state by his father at the age of eight.
“He thought I was uncontrollable . . . but even so-called normal people are uncontrollable at times,” Claude said.
And that, Claude says, was his childhood.
He has no other memories of his youth beyond institutions.
And most of those memories, he says, are best left in the past.
"I remember one staff member holding me down so another could spit on me,” he said.
"I also saw a staff member having sex with a female patient.”
His own physical abuse “depends on what you call abuse,” he said.
“Sometimes you had to fight to have some dignity about yourself.”
Claude spent time in several Melbourne-based institutions before moving to the Sandhurst Boys’ Home.
He recalls being asked to write a letter to his mother at the age of 21, which said, “Dear mum, I love you very much, from your son Claude”.
"I didn’t know they buried her that year until a year-and-a-half later,” he said.
At the age of 27, Claude left the boys’ home and was given a job in packaging in Melbourne.
That didn’t work out, and he was told to live with his sister.
That arrangement didn’t work out, either.
Claude then returned to Bendigo in 1986.
And it’s here in Bendigo that the only darkness for Claude has been ignorance. Ignorance of mental illness, and more specifically schizophrenia.
"People don’t understand mental illness . . . they think, 'if it hasn’t happened to me or my family, why should I care about Claude and his mates',” he said. “It’s bugger me, bugger my friends . . . they don’t want to know about it.
“People get short with me, and if I give them a short temper back then I’m the worse person for it.
“I don’t see why people should be angry.
"It’s not an easy sickness to live with.”
Claude concedes that sometimes he can come across as a nuisance, but walking up to 20km throughout Bendigo each day is his life.
“I am harmless,” he said. “I have no family or friends to visit so I say hello to people . . . I like to be friends with everybody, but no one wants to be your friend.”
Daily life could be better, he said, but isn’t so bad.
“I live on my own now, but you get used to that after years."
That time alone is spent watching the news, political shows, The Einstein Factor and The Bold and the Beautiful.
He supports the Melbourne Football Club, Paramatta in rugby league, Australia in the cricket, Bendigo United at a local level, and Sandhurst in the BFL.
He enjoys talking sport with anybody who will listen, but would rather avoid the constant jibes from youngsters in the street.
“If you’re 13 or 14, stop picking on me . . . if people would give me a fair go, I would be a good bloke to be around,” he said.
“If people treat me like nothing, they’ll get treated that way.”
Friend and Bendigo businessman Robert Cook agrees.
"Unfortunately, these fellows who were tucked away in the Sandhurst Boys’ Home were out of the public eye . . . and he’s trying to integrate himself into society,” Rob said.
"I find him to be a fine fellow.
“If you show him compassion or understanding, Claude reciprocates.
“Sometimes he gets excited and people get frightened and abusive, so he responds accordingly.
“If he’s treated properly and respected, he’s a terrific bloke.”
Mr Cook was among many in the business community who helped Claude celebrate his 53rd birthday on Thursday.
Many will join a celebration in Claude’s honour tomorrow.
Mr Cook said too many in today’s society had little time for people such as Claude.
“Society is all about having different people, people who aren’t the same . . . and Claude is one of those different people,” he said.
“Unfortunately we don’t have much support or a system for people like Claude.
“He needs a lot of loving and caring and things to do.”
Claude couldn’t agree more. In fact, he’s doing the odd maintenance job around town and loving every minute.
He doesn’t expect others to feel sad, to judge or patronise.
He just wants them to understand.
Monday: Margot’s Story. Bendigo’s most successful businesswoman talks about Claude Critchley. Only in Monday’s Advertiser.