Making Sense and Learning Lessons from the Port Arthur Killings. Australasian Psychiatry. 5: p 233-236
In 1996 a gunman killed 35 men, women, and children, and wounded 25 at the recreational area of Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia. The mind and
Rampage killings. 2012.
What is behind the recent spate of rampage killings? Some common features in the minds of the perpetrators are examined. Steps to prevent such rampages
Clinical Observations of Causers and Victims of Motor Vehicle Incidents: Brief Report
Motor vehicle incidents (MVI’ s) cause more death and injury than wars, acts of terrorism, and disasters put together. Their major cause is ‘human error’.
Dynamics of atrocities from individuals to nations. Perpetrators Forum. Holocaust Centre Melbourne
It has been a long journey from being a Holocaust victim to holding the psychological profiles of top Nazis in my hand. As part of
Interrupting Transgenerational Violence CD (Film) From Survival to Fulfilment; Trauma and Fulfilment Therapy.
This film demonstrates visulally the wholist perspective. Wholist includes holistic (biopsychosocial) and ‘whole’. The perspective includes survival strategies and their radiations across three dimensions within
“Why War ?” revisited. Aust J Psychotherapy, 6:48-73.
“Why War? is at least as relevant a question today as when Einstein asked Freud to explain it in 1932. This paper re-examines the question.
Psychological attitudes and war. Social Alternatives 3:55-58
The horror of war, its destructiveness, suffering, degradation and futility may be denied, trivialised, and discounted. War can become a distasteful taboo subject. It is more productive
War: A psychoanalytic concern? Bull Aust Psychoanal Soc. 27-44 First presented at the Psychoanalytic Conference in Melbourne
Psychoanalytic conceptualisations of war are summarised. However, the psychoanalytic stance must be broadened and applied to observations of real conflicts. My own observations led me
ANZAC messages. (Unpublished) 2013
This piece contrasts patriotic and realistic views of the ANZAC story.
War-roots in animals and early societies: Encyclopaedia of Trauma 2012
This piece explores how our tribal and animal heritage still reverberates in our expressions of violence and war to our present day. Download: View Document
Tribal Hostility
Tribal mentality, adaptive in our early evolutionary environment, lies latent in the circuitry of our subconscious baggage. It can be perversely tapped, fanned, and exploited
The tragedy of tribalism in the modern world
Tribal type warfare as has been manifest in Ireland, the Balkans, Rwanda and the Middle East, stems from primitive fears belonging to our jungle pasts
Wars in civilised societies: Encyclopaedia of Trauma 2012
This piece explores motivations for war in civilised societies. It looks at historical perspectives of war and historical approaches to understand its causation. Three agonistic survival
History and causes of wars
The history of wars from animals to humans and from primitive societies to the present day are summarised. Theories of wars are looked at. Three
Wars for Symbols: Encyclopedia of Trauma
This paper examines radiations of aggressive biological drives into symbols. The symbols may be very far removed from objective dangers which made our forebears fight
War on America. The Age A feature p 6.
Lessons from other disasters can inform us as to how to deal with the 9/11 attacks and their consequences. View Document
Anniversary of September the eleventh. (Unpublished)
The article examines the power of anniversaries. They can revive traumatic experiences, but they are also opportunities to put those experiences into perspective. Download: View
Bali: a wound we must probe. Herald Sun Op-Ed. p 18
The anniversary of the Bali terrorist bombing arouses intense emotions and intense defences among survivors. Both ways of dealing with the wound must be respected.
New York on Kuta. (Unpublished)
Atrocity on our own feels different to those on others. Beyond the pain we need to ask why it was inflicted on us. Were we
What principles? (Unpublished)
In the wake of the September the 11th events there has been an amazing realignment of friends, foes, and principles. Osama bin Laden whom the
Tampa; What have we learned in a year, or indeed, in 60 years? Eureka Street
What have we learned in a year, or indeed, in 60 years? Sixty years ago my parents and i crossed a border to escape genocide.
Shame of Woomera. Herald Sun Op-Ed. p 21.
Incarceration of refugees from the very terrorists that we are fighting is illogical and cruel. Asylum seekers should be given asylum, not detention centres that
Letter to the Editor re Woomera, on behalf of Australasian society for Traumatic Stress Studies. The Australian. p.10
Letter from the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies pleading that traumatised asylum seekers should not be traumatised further. Download: View Document
Asylum seekers. Talk to The Royal Society of Tasmania
It has been said that one can learn a lot about a people from the way they handle their prisoners. To prisoners i want to
Inhumanity repeated. (Unpublished)
The treatment of asylum seekers in Woomera detention centre is a cameo rerun of Australia’s treatment of its aborigines. Current arguments and emotions link both
No, not us. (Unpublished)
Yes, Australia has been officially named as abuser of human rights. Stories of children in detention that melt our hearts harden those of politicians. We
