Inmates as Officials? Aussie brothers - need clarification

[Cooter]

In an article in this month's Referee Magazine, it says prison inmates in Australia are being utilized as football officials due, in part, to the shortage of officials in that country.  Really? 

[bitols]

seems true, but I think they talk about austrlian football, the so called Aussie Rules

http://www.news.com.au/national/prison-inmates-to-umpire-football-games/story-e6frfkvr-1225935418965

[chymechowder]

I'm guessing they use modified lanyards:  Whistle-and-soap-on-a-rope

 

[TheStrippedOne]

If you have ever watched aussie rules then you know its a brawl where occaisonally some sport breaks out.

[bitols]

...well, that's what they say in europe about US football...

[Osric Pureheart]

The Darwin Correctional Centre in Berrimah has a specifically-designed facility for low-security prisoners, and this is where the umpires will come from: http://nt.gov.au/justice/corrservices/custodial/index.shtm

From what I can work out, the most prison-like feature about it is the locked exterior doors (prisoners in other, similar Australian facilities have their own bathrooms and kitchens) and it's one hefty sneeze short of an open prison.  This is not where you keep hardened criminals, not even in Australia.

[With_Two_Flakes]

But if they escaped, where would they go?

Darwin is a zillion miles from anywhere else, it's not even as big as the town I live in. One main road in and out, and a couple of passenger trains a week.

Not quite a one horse town but almost....

[Osric Pureheart]

Funny you should say that, cos apparently they had an attempted breakout only last week...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/07/3086673.htm

[LarryW60]

Maybe they got tired of the heat and wanted to pop down to the 7-Eleven to get an ice cream.

If you have ever watched aussie rules then you know its a brawl where occaisonally some sport breaks out.

...well, that's what they say in europe about US football...

I thought that was the description of NHL hockey.

[saofficial(aust)]

we all pretty much convict stock still

[busman]

At least they are used to wearing stripes!

[James]

busman:
Doublly funny, since your number of posts for this was 1111

[Aussie-Zebra]

Convict Streak lyrics
http://www.davewarner.com.au/convict.html

or listen here
http://www.davewarner.com.au/media%20files/CONVICT%20STREAK.mp3