Hi David,
I've been posting to this message board for weeks and even dropped a message asking for contact with anyone ex-Lee St. but only just discovered tonight who "mate" was from a comment in another message thread.
I recall going to AOSH ANZO in the early 80's and finding everyone I knew gone, having been on the lines of the tiny ACT org and thus not knowing about the changes wrought by Int. management. It wasn't until many years later that the details of those times started to filter into the public domain. Among other names, I specifically asked where you had gotten to, and was told - by whom I don't recall - that you had gone "over the rainbow".
Now I didn't know whether they meant you had gone uplines, were dead, or had become gay but as two out of three of those options didn't look good I dropped that line of discussion. So it is with great pleasure that I find you've continued with what was always a charmed life, and after reading all of your story tonight must say that it was entertaining.
I started in 1975 but since I'm much younger you may have trouble recalling me. Male, longish auburn hair, wore a dark green leather coat almost everywhere, studying electronics at the tech over the road. I was on course from Aug 75 during Fdn hours and joined staff for a while, although that didn't work out well for me. I neither suffered extreme hardships at the hands of the evil Scientologists
nor held any vital posts, and of the few interesting people I knew you have rounded up most of them in your messages.
Since my story isn't all that interesting, it probably won't be told. Tales of failed cases and the struggles of half a lifetime spent trying to achieve the results promised are a dime a dozen. I did, however, finally make it to OT III privately last year, for which I am and will be eternally grateful.
I was surprised in your recall of the basement section of Castlereagh St org your omission of Steve Stevens' Black 911 Turbo Porsche with the SEA.ORG number plates, but otherwise your reminiscences of both orgs matched well with mine.
I've been in contact with some of the other guys who dropped out of sight, and actively looking for others. Heard from Peggy Daroesman by email a few years ago, she was one of the unfortunates who had to run around a tree for months and was not happy even years later. I believe she's working in Melbourne these days but haven't had further contact.
Mike and Cherie Eves were still in the SO when I last saw Mike, who was in Melbourne to set up some A/V event about 10 years ago. Little Rosie VDW was CO Syd Day last time I was up there, and Joy runs a mission in Cairns. Ian Tampion is no longer with us, but the legacy of his dedicated work remains. It also saddened me to hear about Peter Sparshott, whom I last saw at Flag in '95.
I was curious at your "moving on, no longer doing Scientology" message, and even more curious in what you could possibly have moved onto from there. But I firmly believe that the work is just beginning and that there is plenty of room for research, especially in the attainment and propagation of stable OT abilities. Hopefully your training isn't being wasted, anyhow.
All the best, mate.
haiqu