Mike Bernard writes:
On the corner of Campus Square and McDonalds (Main Road in Melville) there was always this polite, friendly, unobstructive ‘coloured’ gent in his wheelchair.
I used to have short chats with him and he struck me as knowledgeable in a wide range of subjects.
Now he seems to be gone.
Having once seen a young male pushing him in his wheelchair between the BP Garage on Perth Road and the Rea Vaya stop at Helen Joseph Hospital, I figured he might call Newclare his home.
So I went there to ask at random, but, alas, to no avail.
Maybe that is because I am of the pale complexion and the local people might be reluctant to talk to an ‘outsider’.
Maybe it’s the truth or just a story, but it was indicated to me that this gent in the wheelchair was once one of the celebrated ‘gentleman gangsters’, the Robin Hood types, the ones who took from rich dudes and gave it all to poor, struggling families.
The ones who protected women walking on streets and seen them safely to their doors.
The kind of gentlemen gangsters who kept ‘law’ and order within their chosen communities…
The sort of gentlemen gangsters who were adored and were said to have had real style…
The name ‘Veetas’ was mentioned.
If anyone happens to know where this gent in the wheelchair has gone to, please pass on my best wishes to him.
I must admit, I find the Campus Square intersection bare without him.
