Today, I'm hunting.

Yesterday, I was having a wonderful conversation with my good friend, the manager of the Marrickville Centrelink. "If you wanted to report that someone was rude, or that the facilities here aren't adequate, then I can take that feedback," he offered, "but the issues you've identified are systemic problems."

I interject, "Shouldn't it be as important to take feedback regarding systemic problems? You're generally dealing with people who can't speak for themselves." I nod my head in the direction of the rest of the room's occupants.

He nods without looking around, but I don't think he'd need to; he seems like enough ghosts of people who needed the system haunt him at night. He leans in.

"I agree with you, but the changes you'd need to make are at a legislative level. I don't know what you want. A revolution?"

We chuckle. He continues. I daydream, internally acknowledging that the $500 advance I was granted when I was homeless is officially my responsibility to pay back without Centrelink’s assistance because they managed to make reporting so hard that I gave up on it. Of course, their enthusiasm to recall debt is understandable, they need every dollar to fund Indue’s $4000 per person Cashless Welfare Card Rollout. How else would they further increase direct donations to the current party in power and the wealth of the shares of their friends? It’s politics, and it’s my duty as an Australian Citizen to pay for it while it’s crushing me. What else do I want? A revolution?

When I was waiting to be served, I was sitting next to a fairly scattered guy who was having trouble collecting his thoughts before his appointment. He was focused on drinking water every 30 mins, scrawling a complaint in various fonts and sizes. Despite his execution, I acknowledged his concern and noted that it was weird the branch has no water cooler or toilets. I had begun rewriting his scrawled notes for him when my name was called.
On my way out of the branch, he pauses his appointment to grab my attention and begin to mumble a request, seemingly paranoid about the security guard listening. "You want a smoke and a chat?" I speak over him, pointing my thumb over my shoulder at the door. He gratefully agrees, promising he'll finish up with his agent in a sec.

I return a few minutes later with two water bottles. The security guard, who has already seen me have a Great Debate with my good friend, stops me before I get to the counter, making a bit of a scene, but I explain myself. The woman behind the counter asks me if he's my friend, I say, "Well, yes, but I just met him then," as I hand over the water to the security guard and signal to my new friend that I'll be out the front.

"That's so nice!" said the woman from the Department of Human Services about a $1 bottle of water.

"Someone's gotta help people, you know?" I replied to the woman from the Department of Human Services on my way out the door.

I waited around and walked him to the station, talking about the country and the system. Unfortunately, he seemed beyond any long term help I can offer right now, but I was able to offer him the opportunity to speak and to be heard. He seemed to understand what I was saying, but replying with a coherent train of thought was too much to ask of him. The closest I got to a name was when I'd asked him to repeat himself and he replied, "That should be my name! What What?"

Yesterday, as I sat on the bench outside the station and had a cigarette with my good friend What, I had a revelation. I disagree with his choices and his pattern of judgement, but it would be absurd to expect him to change, or even know where to start, and the people that have promised to help have deemed this a 'legislative issue'. I left him with a simple message, "Help people." 

Today, I'm hunting. If you're willing to help me help people, I'll help you. Looking for specific super helpful animals to get this off the ground, otherwise please be patient but still get in touch and register your interest, tell me about yourself and let me know your thoughts on my essay. 

Be excellent to each other,

Lion