Paul’s Diary

BY Ryan Bell

• My name is Paul Thomas I was born on 1870 in England, when I was 12 me and my family came to Australia. I have been in Sydney for 18 years I am 30 and its 1901. I work as a rat catcher with some of my mates. I and my dog Toby hunt rats for a living. We get paid well and it’s a simple job. Even though there is a risk of disease. My partner Bob Smith got sick last week from the rats so I have to work more and get paid normal. I have a wife and two kids, my eldest Tom is 13 and has a job working as a boot factory and the youngest Jim is 9 and still in primary. My wife Louise works around the house all day.

• The life is rough and we hardly get out but when we do we go to the beach which was hard because Louise had to go to the other side of the beach. We would only stay on the beach for a short time because of this. We would walk home because the trams cost too much. Even though I a quite rich. We have to watch were we walk the roads are filled with horse manure. It takes some time to get home but it was worth the day at the beach.

• We walk home together so we don't get attacked by those larrikins on the loose in the city. One of my friends was attacked by them a few years back, and he died a week after the attack. His name was John and he worked with me catching rats. Usually when we got time we would play the piano and have a sing-along or read a book.

• Every few months I would go to Randwick racecourse to gamble on the races. I would go alone, it was not a place for the family. I won last year in September a total sum of 20 pounds. I was so happy when that happened.

• Today is Sunday so we decided not to go to church but go on a picnic, we hired a female servant who is an Aboriginal, she isn’t really good so I pay her less. She doesn’t really deserve money. At the picnic we invited some friends to come too.

• Today is Monday the picnic yesterday was fun and we weren’t bothered by anything. Australia is a beautiful country I wish to stay here for the rest of my life but for now I have to go back to rat catching.

THE END