My name is Dale Kerrigan, and this is my story.
Our family lives at 3 Highview Crescent, Coolaroo.
Dad bought this place 15 years ago for a steal.
As the real estate agent said, "Location, location, location."
And we're right next door to the airport.
It will be very convenient if we ever have to fly one day.
Dad still can't work out how he got it so cheap.
It's worth almost as much today as when we bought it.
Our street was going to be the heart of a major housing development.
But it never got up.
They reckon the planes put people off. Them and the power lines.
Not Dad. He reckons power lines are a reminder...
of man's ability to generate electricity.
He's always saying great things like that. That's why we love him so much.
Dad is the backbone of the Kerrigan family.
He made our billiard table.
Shot, Dale.
In fact, he's built half this house. He's always planning extensions.
I reckon we need a patio.
Oh, darl, how about we finish the back room first?
No, I'm waiting on some cheap siding.
I reckon we give the patio another go.
Dad is a tow truck driver. One of the best in the game.
He takes great pride in his work.
And he comes home with so many stories.
You see, the car was wrapped around the pole,
so I said, " Why not hook the chain on the back axle?"
See, no one had thought of that.
If Dad is the backbone, Mum is the other bones. All of them.
She keeps the family together.
Dad adores Mum, and Mum adores him.
They met at the greyhounds one night, and it was love at first sight.
Mum just loves craft. And she can pretty up just about anything.
How did you do that?
- Spray can and stencil, darl. That's all you need. - You could sell that.
Dad always reckons Mum could open a shop,
but she has a good part-time job in the office at Sunbeam.
Dad reckons Mum is the greatest cook on Earth.
- What do you call that, darl? - Sponge cake.
Beautiful. And what's that stuff on top?
- Icing sugar. - How is it, kids?
And why would you want to go out to a restaurant...
when this keeps coming up night after night?
I have two brothers and a sister, all older than me.
Steve is an apprentice mechanic, but he spends most of his time reading the Trading Post.
He just loves buying and trading.
Dad, ergonomic chairs. Four of them.
- What does he want? - One-eighty.
He's dreaming.
Him and Dad really know bargains.
Steve is also an ideas man. That's why Dad calls him the ideas man.
He has lots of ideas.
It's a motorcycle helmet with a built-in brake light.
You are an ideas man, Steve.
Dad thinks all of us are tremendous,
but I guess it's no secret that Tracey's his favorite.
How do I look, Dad?
Dad just loves her.
You look beautiful.
Thanks, Dad.
Tracey's the only girl in the family, apart from Mum and Gran.
Tracey constantly gave Dad proud moments.
Once she was on "The Price Is Right".
It was such an exciting afternoon for us.
Swap them around.
None of us could actually believe it was Tracey up there with Larry Emdier.
$45,000 worth of prizes. The luggage needs to be more than 640.
It needs to be less than 740.
She almost won the lot.
If only she'd known the price of the luggage.
I'm so sorry about that.
But she still managed to come home with a tumble dryer and drill set.
She is the only member of the Kerrigan family who'd had a college education.
Dad reckons the day she graduated as a fully-qualified hairdresser...
was about the proudest day of his life.
I knew he thought about that... a lot.
There were only two places he did his thinking--
in the poolroom and out the back, looking up at the power lines.
Yep, Dad's a real thinker.
But the proudest day was the day she got married to this nice guy called Con.
He is an accountant, but also a fanatical kickboxer.
Now Tracey's taken up kickboxing too.
Dad could not get the smile off his face.
And he gave a speech that brought the house down.
Now, as the bride's parents, I don't mind paying for the wedding,
but could you please stop busting all them plates?
That being a Greek custom and all.
I suppose, as a father,
you'd like your daughter to marry one of your own.
And let's not beat around the bush. The Greeks have a reputation.
At first, the Petropoulouses thought he was having a go at them.
But Dad was just saying how much he thought of Con.
I never thought anyone could love our Trace...
as much as me, Sal and the boys.
But there is another person. Con.
Smart, polite, fit as a fiddle.
And anyone who loves our Trace as much as us deserves our love.
So we love you, Con. We love you.
Thank you, and, uh,
"Kalispera".
That's "Good evening."
We'd had many top nights, but this was the most top.
Pity my oldest brother couldn't be there.
His name's Wayne. He's in jail.
Eight years for armed robbery.
Many people call him the black sheep of the family. But not Mum and Dad.
He got caught up with the wrong crowd. He didn't mean to rob the gas station.
Now he's sorry. With good behavior, he'll be out in a couple of years.
I visit him every Friday.
- How's Mum? - Good.
- How's Dad? - Good.
- How's Trace? - Good.
- How are you? - Good.
- How's Dave? - He's all right.
Good.
Even though he's the oldest and I'm the youngest, we get on great.
We can just chat for hours.
Thanks for coming down.
- You want some chewy? - No.
So, as you can see, our family is very close-knit.
We also have pets. Four greyhounds.
Banshee,
Starflash,
Trailblazer and Coco.
Coco is the best, most successful Dad has ever had.
She picked up two firsts in the country and a third in town.
Dad feeds them every morning in big bowls...
that Steve made out of tractor hubcaps.
They are good dogs. Good to Dad. And Dad is good to them.
All of them are descended from his first dog, Red Rocket.
Dad never stops marveling at the beauty of the greyhound.
In fact, he doesn't even race them for the money.
He reckons they are noble animals. Skinny and sleek...
and have a beautiful snout.
Another thing Dad loves is his boat. Sea Lady.
He cleans it every Saturday with something else Steve built.
It's a brush with a hose in it.
Dad never stops marveling at Steve's ideas.
He's a ideas man, Steve.
Steve gave it to Dad for Father's Day.
That's something our family prides itself on. Presents.
Even though none of us have a real lot of money,
we love giving each other presents.
- He got a rod and reel from Trace. - A rod and reel.
- I gave him a new muzzle. - A muzzle.
Wayne sent him an ashtray he'd made in prison shop.
An ashtray? But I don't smoke.
And Mum, well, Mum got him a big German beer mug from Franklin Mint.
Dad couldn't believe his eyes. It was too good to even drink beer out of.
I'd like to do pottery.
Oh, you should. You'd be good at it.
This is going straight to the poolroom.
All Dad's most prized possessions are in the poolroom –
all his mementos and things that remind him of something special.
So, by him saying it was "going straight to the poolroom"
meant he thought it was special.
That is a collector's item.
This has been the best Father's Day ever.
Of course there were ups and downs.
Wayne being in jail was an example of a down.
But, all in all, 3 Highview Crescent was a happy home.
Dad called it his castle.
But one day in June,
a knock at the door was to change all that.
- Yeah? - Mr. Darryl Kerrigan?
- Yeah? - John Clifton. I'm from the local council.
- Is this about the dogs? - No.
- The aerial? The extensions? - No.
Look, if this is about my truck on the nature strip, I've had it out with you guys.
No, I'm a valuer with the local council. I'm here to do a land valuation.
- What for? - Well, all properties get valued from time to time.
So, you'd be able to give me a value on this place?
- That's my job. - That'd be good.
- Do you want me to show you around? - If you wouldn't mind.
Oh, not at all. Be pleased to.
Because, between you and me, I reckon the values around here are--
As you can see, I've put a fair bit of work into it.
Would you like me to point out the features as we go along?
- If you wouldn't mind. - You see that lace up there?
- Yeah? - Fake. Plastic.
Gives the place a Victoriana feel.
The chimney? Fake too.
Why is it there?
Charm. Adds a bit of charm. Look at the size of that aerial.
That's a big aerial. What do you think? Add a bit of value?
- Hard to say. Yeah. - Yeah.
You can overcapitalize, can't you?
But it's a huge aerial.
And this is my backyard.
- Shuttle. From Melbourne to Sidney.
- How close are you to the end of the runway? - Ah, just over the fence.
- Is that the runway there? - Yeah.
- There? - Yeah.
Beautiful machines.
Sometimes you think they're gonna land right on top of you.
Freaks the dogs, though. Greyhounds.
Large kennel.
Well, originally, it was a tree house when the kids were growing up.
I was thinking of turning it into another room.
- But the county said no. - Ah.
Now, here back, all landfill. Not allowed to build there.
- Has the soil been tested? - Oh, yeah.
Nothing too serious in there.
What do you know about lead?
Oh, this is beautiful, darl.
- What do you call these things again? - Meat loaf.
Everybody cooks meat loaf, darl.
Yeah, but it's what you do with them.
Mum reckons the trick is you don't use minced meat. She gets topside and crushes it.
Is that right, darl? Well, it shows.
She gets silverside and she'll crush that too.
Dad, a guy's selling a pair of jousting sticks.
Jousting sticks? What does he want for them?
- Make us an offer. - Darl, what do you want with jousting sticks?
Oh, I don't know. But I reckon they wouldn't come up all that often.
But they're jousting sticks. What would anyone want with jousting sticks?
Well, if you get them for half price, it's a bargain.
- Give him a call? - Yeah.
I'll be interested to see this fella's valuation.
- Are you thinking of selling, Dad? - Oh, no, mate, no.
But it would be nice to know what we're sitting on here.
Clay.
No, mate. The value of the house.
You know, it's odd, because Farouk reckoned he had some bloke around as well.
Must've been doing the whole street.
- Maybe the market's on the move. - Here?
Dad? Four-fifty.
For jousting sticks? Tell him he's dreaming.
How much is a jousting stick worth, Dad?
Well, it couldn't be more than 250.
- Depending on the condition. - When do we find out?
Well, we should have the official notice in a couple of weeks.
But just quietly,
I reckon we could be in for a little surprise.
Compulsorily acquired.
You know what this means, don't you?
- They're acquiring it compulsorily. - It must be a mistake.
They're gonna take our place, and we don't get a say in it.
- Well, how can they do that? - I don't know. 70,000 bucks.
Who the hell is Air Link?
- Dad, a guy's selling seven coolers. - Hang on, Steve.
What's that? Is this about Wayne?
No, no. Look.
What do you make of that?
Jesus. This is a kick-out notice.
I'll get it. I'll get it.
- Ah, good day, Farouk. - Hello, Mr. Kerrigan.
Can you read to me something, please, I get today?
Yeah, sure, mate, but I'm a bit busy at the moment.
Can I-- Can I come--
- Shit. You got one too. - Got what?
What the hell is going on?
Jesus Christ. Jack!
Jack, it's Darryl, mate.
Someone is going to take me house, Darryl.
- Mr. Kerrigan. - Yeah. Yeah.
Mr. Kerrigan--
Darryl, this is a compulsory acquisition.
Yeah.
Mr. Kerrigan, the airport is expanding.
They're setting up one of the largest freight-handling facilities...
in the Southern Hemisphere, and they need a great deal of space.
Yeah.
And your house... is on that space.
Yeah. Yeah,my house.
That's right. Your house.
That's why you'll be duly compensated.
No. No, you've missed the point. I'm not interested in compensation.
I don't wanna go.
Under the laws of compulsory acquisition--
and I don't necessarily agree with those laws--
I can understand the pain and trouble--
Would you stop pretending to be on my side?
All right, Mr. Kerrigan, I'll state this simply.
There is an ironclad agreement...
between federal, state and local governments and the Airports Commission.
Yeah?
Well, where's the agreement with Darryl Kerrigan, 3 Highview Crescent, Coolaroo?
Where'sthat agreement?
It's not gonna happen.
I don't know, Darryl. This isn't my area.
What do you mean this is not your area? This is law.
Darryl, the airport wants to buy your place.
Airports come under federal law. Federal? I just do small stuff.
Conveyancing, magistrates.
- You defended Wayne. - Yeah, and he got eight years.
Yeah, but you did your best. I mean, you can hold your head up high.
He was the one that held up the service station.
- I don't know anything about this sort of stuff. - But they can't do this.
- I don't know. Maybe they can. - They can't.
Look, I'll ring around and I'll see what I can find out.
Good on you, Dennis. Eh.
How is Wayne?
Good. Yeah, good. Behaving himself.
- Any word? - Nah, nah.
They reckon he's still a couple of years off.
I'll let you know.
But Dad was never one to bring worries home.
Even in the down times he'd still tell us funny stories about his day.
It's a head-on between a Geo and a Volksy.
Dad also had a way of making everyone feel important.
Come on, Dale. Tell 'em.
Go on. Tell 'em. Dale dug a hole.
- Like the time I dug a hole. - Started the patio.
- Good on you, Dale. - And he'd compliment Mum every single night on her cooking.
Well, hello. How's this, boys? Whoo-hoo!
- What do you call this? - Chicken.
- Yeah, but it's got something sprinkled on it. - Seasoning.
Seasoning.
Looks like everybody's kicked a goal.
How are our backs feeling?
Steve did get them ergonometric chairs.
And Mum had already started prettying hers up.
Dad placed a great deal of importance on mealtime.
He had a very strict rule:
When the family starts to eat, the television is definitely turned down.
But as soon as we've finished eating, it's a different story.
That was great.
Dad, 7:30.
All right, time for some fun.
Dad reckons there's only one show better than Funniest Home Videos,
and that's The Best of Funniest Home Videos.
It made Dad laugh. And when Dad laughed, his whole body joined in.
And then we would too.
Doggy breath!
It was funny how on the fun nights, part of me got sad,
'cause I'd think about my big brother in prison and wonder what he was doing.
Wayne always reckoned he was doing fine,
but I get the feeling he was missing us more than he was letting on.
It'll be great when he comes home.
You're a ripper, Dennis.
I said you're a bloody ripper!
Yeah, okay.
- That's it, Sal. All fixed. - What did he say?
He said I have recourse to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
All I gotta do is run up there, put my case, and they can go and get stuffed.
Good on you, darl.
- He still hasn't noticed, Mum. - What?
- Oh, it's finished. - Today.
How is that? You should open a shop.
Dad, some guy's selling an overhead projector.
Nah--
Nah, hang on, Steve. What's he asking?
- One-fifty. - Tell him he's dreaming.
- Yeah. - So what else did Dennis have to say?
- Nothing. It's fixed. - Yeah, but when's the hearing?
Monday. And I know exactly what I'm gonna say.
- Don't babble on, darl. - I don't babble on. When do I babble on?
- You do babble on. - All right.
But I tell you what we're gonna do.
Friday we're gonna pick up Trace and Con,
and then we're going straight up to Bonnie Doon for the weekend.
And we're not worrying about those clowns for another second.
- Mum! Price is Right'son. - All right, eh.
I'd better ring up Farouk and Jack and Evonne and the others...
and tell 'em what's going on.
Trace and Con had a great honeymoon in Thailand.
We met them as they came off the plane with a baggage cart,
which was lucky 'cause they had heaps of stuff.
We couldn't wait to hear all the stories about their trip,
and we didn't have to wait all that long either.
'Cause one of the good things about living next to the airport...
is that it doesn't take long to walk home.
And they had these masks which you put over your eyes when you're sleeping...
so that you can't see anything.
- And they were complimentary. - Yeah, they were for free.
It was the first time anyone in our family...
had traveled outside the county.
And we just sat glued listening to all the details.
Oh, Mum, we had a choice between fish and Beef Wellington.
- Beef Wellington? - What's that, darl?
It's beef done in pastry.
And it was an absolute credit to the airline.
- Did they show a film? - Two.
- Two? - Yeah.
- And they also had-- - What were they?
- We saw Twister. And they had-- - Was it on a screen or a telly?
Telly. And they had easy listening, classic gold, contemporary rock, world--
What was the other one, the other film?
- Uh,Juman-- Jumanji, yeah. -Jumanji.
- And with the headphones-- - Which one was first?
- Twister. You could turn the sound all-- - How many on the way back?
- Dale! You can ask all this later. - Sorry, Trace.
It was so dry in the plane that your hair actually dehydrates.
- Doesn't it, Con? - It loses its moisture. - It's so interesting.
We could have listened for hours,
but then it was presents time.
For you, Dad. It's a samurai sword letter opener.
That is handcrafted.
How's that, love? That is just--
This is going straight to the poolroom.
You should use it, Dad.
This I am not even taking out of the wrapper.
They bought Mum a genuine Rolex for 15 bucks off a guy at the beach.
He said he'd mail the warranty later.
I got a necklace with a shark tooth. They got a Walkman for Steve.
'Cause it was Friday, I told Trace I'd take Wayne's present to him.
It was an elephant, 'cause elephants bring good luck,
especially if the trunks are up, and his trunk was up.
It really made Wayne's day.
- She's great, isn't she? Trace. - Yeah.
It brings good luck. She's coming in on Monday.
Great. And when's Dad going in to do that hearing?
- On Monday. - Yeah?
- Yeah. He reckons they can't do it. - Dad would know.
- You going up to Bonnie Doon tonight? - Yeah. Maybe. I don't know.
I didn't want to tell Wayne that we were going to Bonnie Doon,
just in case he'd feel bad that we were going to Bonnie Doon.
He liked it there. We all liked it there.
* We're going to Bonnie Doon *
We all left soon after, except for Trace and Con.
As you can just imagine, they were just married and wanted some time to themselves.
So they drove up in their own car.
Dad had a song he used to sing about going to Bonnie Doon.
Only he sang it a lot, and it was a bit repetitive.
Darl!
- Dad, radar!
- How much did that cost? - Seventy bucks.
Just paid for itself.
Dale, why don't you unload the boat, Mate?
Steve, don't forget the dog food, pal.
Hey, boy. Hey!
- Bloody marvelous to be up here, isn't it, Dale? - Yeah.
- Bonnie Doon. - Dad loved Bonnie Doon.
How do I describe it?
It is a little town on a big lake.
It's a beautiful place, especially this time of year when the water levels are down.
Dad could not believe his luck when he found this place.
It was a bargain, and he couldn't work out why.
It was just a block of land with a beautiful view.
It took him five years to build this place.
He bought an unfinished kit home out of the Trading Post,
built it in the backyard and towed it up here with his truck.
He was the only bloke he knew with a holiday home.
Not a mobile home, a holiday home.
And he reckoned we were the luckiest family in the world.
- Dale, I reckon we're the luckiest family in the world. - Yeah.
He loved the serenity of the place.
How's the serenity?
I think he also just loved the word.
So much serenity.
Let's get to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a great day.
Yeah.
If there's one thing Dad loved more than serenity,
it was an outboard motor on full throttle.
Listen to that! Singing like a bird!
He just loved Bonnie Doon, and he reckoned the faster you went,
the more you saw of it.
Look at that!
- What? - Back there.
But eventually he found a place he reckoned looked like a good spot.
I reckon this looks like a good spot.
Dad loved fishing. And he really looked after his equipment.
He said they only made on good rod. It's called the 'Ugly Stick' by Shakespeare.
It's so strong, you can bend it right around on itself.
Look at that. Bends right around on itself.
The lake had trout, redfin and carp.
The carp was not a good eating fish, but it was good catching.
They could grow to quite a size.
Genuinely, that just hooked himself. But occasionally Dad went crafty, just nibbling at the bait.
- Got a nibble.
Dad reckoned that fishing was 10 percent brains and 95 percent muscle...
and the rest was just good luck.
We all got a few carp that day, and each of us know how to muscle fish.
- Where's Con? - Down the shops.
You and Con talked about kids yet?
Yeah – Con wants to start straightaway.
But, you know, I've got a career.
Of course.
So, I said I'm not having kids until I'm at least 23.
Times have changed.
- Gail had a boy. - Was he a whopper?
Mmm, 10 pounds. They're gonna be a big beefy family.
Tyler Jay. Even the birth notice was big – stork and everything.
Shannon was nine pounds. - Mmm. - What did you make then?
Oh, I knitted a pair of bootees. You always need bootees.
- I reckon you should make fake flowers. - Oh, yeah.
- Jenny makes fake flowers. - Jenny?
- Yeah. - Jenny Jenny?
No, microwave Jenny. She reckons the trick is to make 'em real
but not too real, just real enough to know that they're fake.
- I'd like to do pottery. - Wow! On a wheel?
Yeah. I just love mugs.
Yeah, I'd like to make my own mugs.
- Mum... - Yeah?
- What's the matter? - Nothing.
- You worried about the house? - No.
- Dad said everything's gonna be OK. - Of course it is, darl.
We ended up with four carp and one redfin –
a reasonable day's fishing, considering we had to get back earlier when Coco got seasick.
Steve wasn't looking all that flash either.
Keep it still, Trace.
Disciplined, isn't he, Sal?
Here are you and I relaxing, having a beer, and he's still training.
Yeah, he just loves that sport.
- Well, you gotta have a passion for something. - Yeah.
How's the serenity?
Dad! Where do you want me to put the chicken coop?
Up the back, Steve.
45 bucks. You couldn't buy the materials for that.
Now, what do you want with a chicken coop?
And what do we want with a kit home?
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Now, give me a kiss, you big hunk of a man.
Marvellous, ain't it? The lake, the kids.
Oh, look at the dogs! Don't they love it?
Oh, smell that!
- Two-stroke. - Yep.
Pity Wayne can't be here.
- Darl. - No, no, I could've done better.
Well, let's start cooking this feast.
- Who ordered medium rare? - Me.
Good stuff.
Check that, Steve. It could be a little underdone.
- I bet they don't have places like this in Thailand, Con. - No, Mr. Kerrigan.
Hey, hey, hey. "Darryl" now, mate.
Sorry, Darryl.
- It's a good place, though. - Yeah, yeah, I'm curious.
Now, I know it's unfair to compare anyplace to Bonnie Doon,
but why would I want to go there instead of here?
- It's for young people, Dad. - I know that, Trace.
- It's the culture, Darryl. The place is full of culture. - Chockers.
- Oh, yeah. - Something for everyone.
- What was that movie again, Con? - Dale.
There were so many stories.
At the hotel Trace and I were staying in, they had this one channel:
kickboxing, 24 hours a day.
It was just so interesting to hear about another county.
Meals were 5 dollars, mum – the most beautiful satays.
What's that, darl?
It's meat on a skewer with peanut sauce and grilled.
And the stories went on and on all night.
The value for money is absolutely second to none.
- One of the other Sony Walkmans... - With presets?
Yeah, presets AND megabass – $85 Australian.
- Wow! - Bargain? - Shit yeah!
But I reckon someone like you, Steve, could have got him down even further.
I can't wait to go to Bangkok.
- It's great to have you two back. - It's great to be back.
Great to be up here.
They haven't got a place like this in Bangkok.
How's the serenity?
Not a sound.
On Monday morning Dad was chomping at the bit.
- Feeling good, Sal. - Good on you, darl.
Steve, could you move the Corolla?
I need to get to the Torana out so I can get to the Commodore.
I'll have to get the keys to the Cortina if I'm going to move that Corolla.
- Watch the boat, mate. - Yeah.
- Know why I'm feeling good, Sal? - Why?
I'll tell you why. Because this is an example of the individual.
Of how the individual, if he has the guts to stand up...
and shove it right up those people who think they can stand on top of you.
The people who think they can do that, that's why.
What do you mean what's my plea?
- What is the case you are putting? - I told you.
I mean, you just can't walk in and take a man's house.
Mr. Kerrigan, are you disputing the amount of compensation?
I'm not interested in compensation. I'm saying that you can't kick me out.
Very well.
- What is your argument? - That's it.
That's my argument. You can't kick me out.
And on what law do you base that argument?
- The law of bloody common sense! - Mr. Kerrigan.
- I must ask you to restrain yourself. - Yeah, all right.
Mr. Kerrigan, this is the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
You are an applicant. You need to show--
I need to show? So it's up to me, is it?
Mr. Kerrigan, Air Link, as a federal authority,
has the right to purchase property compulsorily.
And, as far as I can see, you have offered no evidence to refute that right.
No evidence?
It's not a house. It's a home. A man's home is his castle.
I mean, it's-- it's-- it's Jack's castle. It's Farou-Farouk's castle.
You just can't walk in and steal our homes.
- You will be compensated. - I don't wanna be compensated.
You can't buy what I've got.
Mr. Kerrigan, I am rapidly running out of patience.
- You're running out of patience. - What is your case in law?
Well, okay, um,
the law is supposed to be about justice-- no, fairness.
And I know that sometimes what is right and fair is not clear-cut. It's a bit iffy.
But this is not iffy. I mean, this is as clear as day.
It is right and fair that a family be allowed to live in its own house.
That is justice.
I rest my case.
Dad reckoned he'd nailed it. Farouk agreed.
But Dad was wrong.
I can't believe I lost. I've let you down.
No, no, Mr. Kerrigan. You do good job.
- Please, Farouk, call me Darryl. - Okay, Mr. Darryl.
But, you know, I never heard that one you say before.
"A man's home is his castle." Well, that's an old saying.
No, no. Other one. Other one. "Is not house, is home."
Farouk, I lost.
I know, Mr. Darryl.
Farouk, how much are they paying you?
- $65,000. - For your place?
Yes. They say the plane, they fly overhead, drop the value.
I don't care. In Beirut, plane fly overhead, drop bomb.
- I like this plane. - What are we going to do, Darryl?
I don't know, Jack.
This is the only place I can afford. I don't wanna move.
You see what they're doing, Sal?
Mm.
- How long you lived here, Jack? - Three years.
Now, in the area. How long have you lived around here?
Fifty-seven years.
And they're gonna kick you out on your ass.
Well, bugger 'em. I'm not giving up, Jack.
If they wanna play things by the law, fine. We'll play by the law.
But they're not the only big guns in town.
If it's gonna be lawyers, I'm gonna hit them with the big artillery.
Hang on, Darryl. Jesus, these fucking photocopiers.
What the fuck is that? I cleared tray three.
Why don't you get your girl to do that for you?
She's not here on Mondays. She does Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.
F-3. What the fuck is that?
- Dennis, how did it go? - Not good.
I spoke to every barrister I know. No one wants to touch it.
All right. You do it.
I told you, Darryl, I'm not qualified.
You're not qualified? Now I've heard everything.
What do you mean you're not qualified?
I mean I'm not in the big time.
You have lost faith in yourself, Dennis.
- Darryl-- - You have lost faith.
Darryl, it's over my head. It's over your head too.
Over my head? Dennis.
- Darryl, have you heard of the Barlow Group? -No.
It's basically a big investment company controlled by three blokes...
worth about a half a billion each.
Well, the Barlow Group is Air Link.
I thought Air Link was the government.
It's a government authority, but all the money's coming from Barlow.
It's a way of privatizing without privatizing. Anyway, it's a big, big thing.
Every level of government. Huge investment.
All right, fine. So they're big.
But why do they wantmy house?
Why don't they just fill in the old quarry and build it there?
I don't know. Maybe it's just cheaper to pull down more houses.
- So we fight 'em. - Darryl, they want this thing to work.
- They're gonna get their way. - And you know why people like that get their way?
Because people like us don't stand up to 'em.
Now, they've still gotta play by the rules.
Darryl, they write the rules. They own the game.
Fuck, Dennis. It's my fucking house. You're not gonna run scared on me.
I can't do this by myself.
All right, mate.
Let me think about it.
- Con's working late tonight. - He's just so busy.
I cannot believe this postcard arrived today.
Thanks for dropping in.
How's he treating my princess?
Dad!
All right, all right.
You saw some amazing things.
Now, that is a bloody big statue.
- Yeah, and it's all made of gold. - Is that so?
This bloke's gonna win the cars.
- How's the salon? - Good.
And look at these models.
They've got ripper bodies, but they let themselves down in the hair department.
You ought to contact Channel Nine, get a contract with them.
Dad, it doesn't work like that.
Well, look at them and look at you. Now, that is a head of hair.
- Just beautiful. - Thanks, Dad.
I'm only stating the truth.
Dad, what's a pulpit?
Where the minister gives his sermon from. How much?
- Eight hundred. - Dreaming.
Actually, I know how to get you on there.
- Send in a photo of you for the home viewers. - Dad, if you dare.
- Oh, I've got quite a few lying around. - Dad!
Actually, I think I've got one taken when you were two...
and you didn't have any clothes on.
Dad! Don't you--
- Quite a few to choose from there. - Don't-- No!
That night I thought of Wayne again.
I wondered what he was doing and whether the elephant's trunk was still up.
'Cause that brings good luck.
So, in conclusion,
my client will be appealing the decision to the federal court...
and, as an interim, will be seeking an injunction...
to stop any further action in this matter.
Sincerely, Dennis Denuto.
Hammersley and Laycock. May I help you?
Yes, putting you through now.
I'm afraid he can't come to the phone right now, Farouk. He's up in the ceiling.
All right, I'll get him to give you a call as soon as he comes down.
Okay. Oh, give my love to Taboulah.
- Good-bye. - Shit!
Steve!
- Yeah? - The beams aren't supporting.
- I reckon we put a hold on the mezzanine. - Yeah, all right.
But I'll have to give that guy a call about the spiral staircase 'cause he's holding it for us.
- Darl, can you give Farouk a ring? - Yeah.
- Where's Dad? - Up in the roof.
- Dad! - Yeah, mate?
I dug another hole. It's filling with water.
You are fucking kidding me. I cleared that tray three fucking times!
- Mr. Denuto. - Yeah?
Ron Graham, Hammersley and Laycock. Got your note during the week.
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Um, sit down.
Now, the Kerrigan matter.
Well, we're going to be taking it further.
Yes, we totally understand, and we're here on behalf of our client to apologize.
- We made a mistake. - You have?
Yes, it appears that the house belonging to Mr. Kerrigan was grossly undervalued by mistake,
and our client would like to rectify the situation.
- Well, what are you offering? - Another $25,000.
- Whoa. - As a separate cash check.
You know, Darryl, my client,
is disputing the compulsory purchase.
Yes, though with the correct valuation,
we thought this may put the dispute to rest.
What if it doesn't?
If I were you,
I would advise Mr. Kerrigan against taking any further action.
This is a multi-billion dollar project.
It's been in planning for a long time.
If this action were to delay or spoil the plans,
the understandable anger could well spill into something else.
- Are you threatening? - Hang on.
I just came in here, apologized and increased the offer by $25,000.
- I'm sorry. - And that offer should be put to Mr. Kerrigan...
with your strongest possible recommendation.
Tell 'em to get stuffed.
- It's $25,000, Darryl. - Don't you get this, Dennis?
Darryl, they're offering 25 grand extra.
Dennis, this is not about money. I am not leaving my house.
- Tell 'em I'm not moving. - They're not gonna be happy.
- Who cares? - I mean, they're gonna be really unhappy.
- So what are you telling me, Dennis? - Nothing, Darryl.
- Did they threaten you? - Not me, really.
- They threatened me. - Not exactly. They just said--
- They fucking well threatened me. - They just said--
I want you to get on that phone right now and tell 'em where they can shove their 25 grand.
Darryl, " them" is the Barlow Group,
people used to getting their way.
Now, they want to expand the airport,
and there's one bloke who's a pain in the ass.
Tell 'em to get stuffed.
More, darling?
Oh, no. No, love. That was beautiful. What do you call that?
lce cream.
Yeah, but what you've done with it. What did you do to it?
Scooped it out of the tub.
Did I do the right thing?
Oh, yes, sweetheart, you did the right thing.
- Twenty-five grand, Dad. - Yeah, but not that way, Steve.
We're not gonna take the money.
- I want to tell you a story. - Oh, good.
- About how your father and I met. - I know this one.
Not all of it, Dale.
You see, I used to go out with a very handsome young man,
well-to-do, called Bob Thompson.
Big Bob Thompson. What's he doing now, eh?
Putting in fence posts in the country.
- He runs a construction company. - So he says.
Well, anyway, one night he took me to the greyhounds.
- He put on a real show. We ate at the carvery. - What did you have?
Uh, pork.
Anyway, we had wine, champagne.
He put on all my bets, and he was just sweeping me off my feet.
And I wouldn't have been at all surprised if he'd popped the question.
Well, anyway, later on-- I don't know what it was--
But out of the corner of my eye I spotted this lanky bloke...
- struggling with one of his greyhounds. - Red Rocket.
- That's you, Dad. - Now, Bob, he went off to talk to one of the stewards.
And this young fella, he comes right up to me and starts chatting to me...
and he asks me out.
And I said, "Well, I'm on a date."
Well, he backed right off.
He said he wasn't cutting anyone's lunch, and he wished me good night.
And I thought, "That man has principles."
And from that day on, I've only had eyes for one man.
Hook, line and sinker.
And that's what I love about him: his principles.
So we're not taking the money, Steve.
Hang on. I'll get it.
What was the carvery like?
- Yeah? - Mr. Kerrigan.
- Yeah? What? - I've just got a message to pass on.
- From who? - I'm just passing on a message.
- Are you from the council? - No, I'm not from the council.
- The company. - I'm just passing on a message, Mr. Kerrigan.
They always send someone different, don't they?
The message is, "Take the offer and shut up." Understood?
- Are you threatening me? - I'm just passing on a message.
- Fuck off, you clown! Fuck off! - Mr. Kerrigan--
- You better watch your mouth, pal. - You heard my dad.
- Now, fuck off! - Whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa. Fine.
I'm just trying to tell you.
And what the fuck do you think you're doing?
You know what I said after Wayne. No more guns in the house.
- Yeah, but he was threatening you. - Where did you get it?
- Trading Post. - And what did you pay for it?
- One-eighty. - What was he asking?
- Two-fifty. - He was dreaming.
- Yeah. - Get rid of it.
Sell it.
Pricks!
All right. All right.
I might pass on a message of my own.
Don't bullshit me, pal. I know why you want Highview Crescent.
It's because you're too much of a tight-ass to fill in the quarry.
It's easier to knock down people's houses than it is to fill in a hole.
Well, what do you say to that?
Get off my property or I'll call the police.
Fuck the police! You're the asshole who had my car smashed!
Settle down, mate. Settle down.
It's just what he wants us to do.
Let's just keep our cool. We don't wanna do anything stupid.
- Darryl John Kerrigan? - You know who I am, Mick.
- Darryl John Kerrigan. - Yes, officer?
Were you on Lansell Road, Toorak at approximately 2:30 this morning?
- No. - Is there anyone who can verify your whereabouts at that hour?
Yeah, yeah. Everyone in this house. While we've still got it.
- Daz, I know you did it. - I told you, mate. I don't know anything--
- Shut up. I'm not going to book you. This is just a warning.
I know what's going on. No one wants to see you get the rough end of the stick,
but you're gonna have to watch yourself.
- Otherwise, you'll end up losing more than this house. - Mick.
Darryl, I've seen it happen, mate. Now, settle down.
If you wanna take 'em on, do it the right way. By the book.
- All right, Mick. - Oh, and, uh, Daz?
- Yeah? - Put them gates around the back.
Oh.
Now, listen. Things are gettin' a bit serious.
Last night I had a visit from some hired thug.
- Yeah, me too. -What do you mean, you too?
A man, he come to my house and he say, "Stop with the court business."
If no stop, he have friend who come and beat me.
And I say, "You have friend, I have friend.
My friend come to your house, put bomb under your car and blow you to fucking sky."
- What'd he do? - He get scared and he leave.
- I bet he did. - I-I don't really have friend like this,
but, you know, I'm Arab and people think all Arab have bomb.
You're a bloody ripper, Farouk. That's fuckin' fantastic.
- Excuse the French, Evonne. - Get your hand off it, Darryl.
Anyway, um, I was worried for everyone.
I just didn't want to force anyone into this. Farouk?
No, I'm with you, Mr. Darryl.
- Evonne? - What are they gonna do my ex hasn't done?
- Jack? - Yeah, fuck 'em.
Well, Dennis Denuto is acting on our behalf.
We've gotta be in federal court next Tuesday.
Does he think we've got a good case?
Well, he reckons it just has to contravene the Constitution.
And the Constitution is the biggest law we've got.
How much?
Ah, good point, Evonne. Steve?
Now, all up, it's gonna cost 1,500.
Now, that's 750 now, 750 in six months' time.
So 150 each.
And, Jack, I know you can't do it, so I'm kickin' in for you.
Oh, good on you, Darryl. I'll pay you back.
- Evonne? - Yeah, fine.
- Farouk? - I pay cash now.
No, no, no, hold your horses. What is it with wogs and cash?
Anyway, it's bargain-basement prices,
and, uh, you'd better wear a suit this time, Farouk.
What's this Dennis Denuto like, Darryl?
Ah, he's a lawyer. This is about the law.
He's gotta know what he's doin'.
Um... all-- all right.
Gi-Give me one moment...
and I-- and I will.
Um... it's the--
the, um-- the--
the Constitution of Australia.
This is a blatant violation...
of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia.
And when it comes to violations,
they don't come any bigger.
What section of the Constitution has been breached?
Section?
Wh-What section?
There is no one section.
It's just the vibe of the thing.
I'm afraid, Mr. Denuto, you'll have to be more specific.
Oh, yeah, sure, sure.
I was just starting general, and then I was getting... more specific...
with the-- the, um-- Just one moment, please.
The, um--
Jesus, Darryl, I am sweatin' here.
You're killin' them, Dennis.
I don't even know Roman numerals.
Um-- It's-- It's--
Ju-- I've got it here.
It's the... section 51,
uh, second from the bottom.
"The Parliament shall have power to make laws...
with respect to copyrights, patents of inventions...
and designs and trademarks."
It's all part of it.
This is what I'm getting at. That's my point.
It's-- It's the vibe of it.
All right. Taken.
Do you have a precedent which supports...
this...vibe?
Uh... yes.
Yes, I do. Um, just one moment.
What's the name of the famous aboriginal?
- Cathy Freeman. - No, the court case.
- Evonne Goolagong. - No, no, no. Ma-- Mabo.
Mabo.
What about it?
That's your classic case of big business...
trying to take land,
and they couldn't.
Mr. Denuto, the Mabo decision...
pertains to the specific issue of native land title and terra nullius.
Yeah.
So what part of the judgment is relevant to this case?
A-Again, i-it's just the vibe of it.
Actually, may I approach the bench?
Am I wasting my time here?
Your case is not strong.
- Am I sort of in the ballpark though? - I'm a judge.
I understand. Can you just give me an angle?
I'm sorry, Mr. Denuto. I can't.
Understood. Understood.
I think I've got a good one anyway.
In summing up, i-it's the Constitution,
it's Mabo, it's justice, it's law.
It's the vibe, and, uh--
No, that's it. It's the vibe.
I rest my case.
That was sensational.
Counsel for the respondent?
Your Honor, I don't wish to waste any more of your time.
- Appreciated. - All our arguments are contained in the forward documents,
and we'd be more than happy for that to constitute the case for the respondent.
Thank you. So be it.
I call a one-hour adjournment.
Good on ya, Dennis. That shut 'em up.
I'm going for a bit of a breather, mate.
How you goin'?
Oh, fine. Fine.
- Got a case comin' up? - Uh, no, no.
I'm here to see someone. I'm-I'm a spectator today.
- Are you? - My son's first appearance.
Oh? Do you reckon he'll get off?
Oh, no, no. He's a barrister.
- He's appearing for the first time as a barrister. - Congratulations.
- Thank you. - Uh, Darryl Kerrigan.
- Lawrence Hammill. - G'day, Lawrence.
Barrister, eh? He'd need a degree for that.
Yes, yes. He-He's got a couple, actually.
- Ah, you must be as proud as punch. - Well, you know.
Oh, I know. I've got a daughter.
Diploma certificate, fully qualified hairdresser.
The day she came home and told me she'd got into Sunshine Tech...
- was the proudest day of my life. - Yes, yes, I can imagine.
Yeah, sure makes us parents look like a bunch of dodos, eh?
You wouldn't have dreamt of doing what your son's done.
No, no. Anyway, Darryl, what brings you here?
Our bloody government's trying to take my house.
This new Air Link thing. I mean, imagine that.
Sal and me, we brought up our whole family in that house,
and they think they can just walk in--
Anyway, we're takin' 'em to court.
Bloody outrageous. It's gotta be against the Constitution.
Yes, it is outrageous. Who's acting for you?
- Dennis Denuto. - Uh, never heard of him.
You wouldn't have. He just does our local area.
Yeah, but I've never heard of him in Constitutional law.
Oh, no, you wouldn't. No, he does conveyancing mainly.
You know, wills, petty theft, that sort of thing.
But hey, it's all based on the Constitution.
Yes. Yes, in a way.
- Good bloke though. - Yes. Sounds like it.
Anyway, uh, I'd better be going.
- Sure. - Nice talking to you, Lawrie.
- Nice talking to you, Darryl. - And good luck with your boy.
Thanks, Darryl. I hope everything works out.
Ah, yeah, yeah. I'm pretty confident.
I find in favor of the respondent.
Yes!
It's them, Darryl.
But we was respondin' to them.
We lost, Darryl. I'm sorry.
Dad reckons he must have sat there for an hour.
He said it was like being kicked in the guts with the back end of a bus.
Dad had to explain to Farouk that they had lost.
It was really hard telling Evonne too.
But the toughest one was Jack.
Trace and Con were great though.
Good on you, Dad. You stood up to them. I'm so proud of you.
I'm so impressed with your fighting quality, Mr. Kerrigan.
Thanks, mate.
And can I just say how disenchanted I am with our legal system.
Dad was very quiet after losing the court case.
I'd never seen him so down.
He even stopped complimenting Mum on her cooking.
You all right there, Darryl?
Yeah.
Dad?
Someone's, uh,
sellin' a telephone box.
They said no to an extension.
Dennis says we've got to be out in two weeks.
Two weeks?
I haven't told Wayne yet.
I think Dad felt he'd let everyone down, but especially Wayne.
That's why he'd been puttin' off tellin' him.
He just couldn't think of a way to break it to Wayne.
I told Dad not to worry. I knew how to tell Wayne we'd lost.
- We lost. - Lost?
Yeah.
Did Dad do his nut?
Nah, he's gone all quiet.
Quiet?
Yeah. I think he thinks he's let everyone down.
Letus down?
Yeah, that's what I think.
See, especially you.
I think he was lookin' forward to the day you came back to the house.
Well, you tell Dad...
the only reason I loved that house is 'cause it had him and Mum in it...
and like... everyone else.
Wherever they go, I'll love...
as long as it has them in it.
And all those lawyers and government people can just go and get fucked.
"...as long as it has them in it.
And all those lawyers and government people can go and get fucked."
Ah, he wanted me to change that " get fucked" bit, but I forgot.
On you, mate.
I'd better keep packin'.
Dad?
Steven.
I can, uh, get you some more boxes, if you want.
No, I think I'll be all right, Steve.
Dad?
You haven't let anyone down.
I don't know what the opposite of... lettin' someone down is,
but you done the opposite.
When are you gonna sign 'em?
- I don't know. - They gotta be done by Friday.
I can't.
lcan't. I just can't.
Darryl, we gotta go.
Yeah, I know. I know we lost.
I know we gotta get out of this place.
I know this is no longer our house, but I'll be buggered if I can sign those papers.
I just cannot physically pick up the pen and sign them.
Did you speak to Jack?
Yeah, yeah. His son-in-law's moved to Perth, so he's no help.
Poor Jack.
Listen, I-I told him he could stay with us until we work somethin' out.
How'd you go with the agent?
Two-bedroom units are $80,000.
A flat.
With four people, the greyhounds,
five cars,
the boat and Jack.
It'll be okay.
- And what are we gonna do with Wayne? - Wayne'll understand.
You know he keeps a photo of this place on his wall.
I know.
He gets out after five years, we have to put him in a laundry smaller than his cell.
- Maybe we rent. - Rent?
We not only lose our place, we're payin' for someone else's.
- Oh, Darryl-- - I'm starting to understand how the aborigines feel.
Have you been drinkin'?
Well, this house is like their land.
It-It holds their memories.
The land is their story. It's everything.
You just can't pick it up and plonk it down somewhere else.
This country's gotta stop stealin' other people's land.
Dad? There's someone here to see you.
G'day, Darryl.
Lawrie.
So I thought I'd come and visit.
- But how'd you find us? - You know us dodos.
- We've got a few tricks up our sleeves. - Don't I know it.
I, uh, heard about the decision.
Yeah. Yeah, well, that's the way these things are.
- How'd your boy go? - Oh, fine. Yeah, fine.
- Great. - Darryl, I wonder if I could put something to you.
Yeah, sure.
I don't think I introduced myself fully.
You see, I'm retired now, but I'm actually a lawyer myself.
Three degrees in the family. I'd like to see your poolroom.
I'm, uh, what's called a Q.C.
- Are you? A Q.C.? You're one of those? - What's that?
- Uh, Queens Counsel. - Oh, you counsel the queen?
Uh, they're the lawyers rich people use, love.
Yeah, well, that's probably the most accurate way of describing us.
I don't think Dennis would be a Q.C.
N-No, no, I don't think.
Anyway, my specialty as a Q.C...
was Constitutional law, Australian Constitutional law.
Have you heard of the Tasmanian Dams case?
- Um-- - Mabo?
Oh, the aboriginal guy, told the government to shove it.
That's the one.
Uh, anyway, I've had quite a bit to do with these over the years,
and I've had a look into your case over the last few days,
and I think there's a bit more to it.
- What do you mean? - I think you've got a case.
- So Dennis was on the right track. - Y-Yes.
I told you that judge had it in for him.
I believe there's a section of the Constitution...
about the government's right to acquire land that hasn't been tested.
But Dennis tested it.
Well, I-I think we could test it better.
Anyway, I would like to appear on your behalf... gratis.
- No fee. - Well, no, we couldn't.
I've done pretty well out of this law caper over the years,
- so if you're happy for me to take it further-- - Further?
But we've been to the federal court.
How much further can we take it?
Three weeks later, Mr Hammill, Dad and Dennis
went to the High Court in Canberra.
Lawrie asked Dennis to be his instructing solicitor.
Dennis was stoked, but shittin' himself at the same time.
I'm shittin' myself.
- Shall we? - Let's stick it up 'em.
And so Dad, or as he was called by the judge--
Darryl John Kerrigan--
sat in the High Court of Australia and put his case.
Or at least Mr. Hammill did.
Dennis was very helpful too. He was passing books around like a librarian.
He even learnt Roman numerals especially for the trip.
Um, paragraph, uh... 31.
- Thank you, Dennis. - But Dad reckoned there was no doubt about it.
From the moment he stood up, Mr. Hammill was the star of the show.
Section 51, paragraph 31.
"The parliament shall have power to make laws...
with respect to the acquisition of property on just terms."
Let's think about those words, "on just terms" ...
and how they relate to real people.
Your Honor, my client built his home by the law,
in full accordance with the law.
He doesn't know about the extensions.
But does he have the protection of the law?
How can the forcible removal of a family, a good family, from their home...
have the blessing of our Constitution?
How can that be... "just terms" ?
Dad reckoned it was in the bag,
even though they had five times more lawyers than we did.
My client has adhered to the law, every law,
every statute from the Town Planning Act to Civil Aviation Regulations.
But in what can only be described as a last desperate measure,
my client is accused of breaching none other than the Constitution.
I mean, good Lord, what else are we guilty of?
lnternational war crimes, hmm?
He's even paid people to laugh for him.
I refer the court to His Honor Mr. Justice Dixon's decision...
in Grace Brothers and the Commonwealth.
As much as Dad hated to admit it the other lawyer was good,
and he was gonna give us a real run for our money.
A safeguard to the commonwealth.
But if Mr. Hammill was worried, he didn't show it. He kept right on at 'em.
...has acquired the status of a constitutional guarantee,
which is designed to protect the individual--
But everything he said, they had an answer for.
- Your Honor, that statement was obiter dictum. - Was not!
Well, it wasn't.
- Was it? - I don't know.
The interpretation of "on just terms" was considered in the Tasmanian Dams case.
The court took into account the interests of the community,
such as, uh, job creation--
Dad reckoned Dennis got the hang of things real quick.
The main job of the senior counsel was to provide backup for the Q.C.
Ah, yes. And this is further underlined in Georgiades--
- And that's what Dennis did. - Ah, utilitarianism.
The greatest good for the greatest number.
But what this principle fails to--
What this principle fails to take into account...
is that competing rights cannot be weighed one against the other.
Is a family's right to live freely in their home outweighed--
It wasn't just legal argument.
Mr. Hammill even put jokes in, clever jokes.
...not that our children will have a place to live,
but whether they'll have prompt delivery of their parcels.
Dad thought it was real funny,
even though he didn't get it.
Suffer in your jocks.
In fact, there were a lot of times he didn't quite understand what was being said,
but one time he knew exactly what was being said.
He's even approached the appellant with an offer of compensation,
a generous offer considering the nature of the, uh, dwelling,
or as it might more accurately be called, eyesore.
- What are you calling an eyesore? - Darryl.
It's called a home, you dickhead!
- Your Honor. - Darryl!
It's a bloody fine one. If there were more homes like that, we'd--
Have the jails full of people like your son?
- Ah, this bloody asshole! - Sit down, Darryl.
Mr. Hammill, I'm calling an adjournment.
And I trust that your client will, in the meantime, compose himself.
Mr. Lyle, I'll thank you not to make any further value judgments in this court.
I'm sorry, Lawrie.
That's all right, Darryl.
I was thinking the same thing,
though not in those words.
I wish I had your words.
How dare they?
I mean, an eyesore!
I mean, that-- that just goes to show that they don't get it.
I mean, they're judging the place by what it looks like,
and if it doesn't have a pool or a classy front or a big garden--
It's got a pretty good gate.
And then because of that, it's not worth saving.
But it's not a house. It's a home.
It's got everything.
People who love each other, care for each other.
It's got memories.
Great memories.
It's a place for the family to turn to,
come back to.
But that doesn't seem to mean as much as a big fuckin' driveway.
Later it was time for Mr. Hammill to sum up.
Dad said he was unbelievable.
He reckoned he finished like a champion greyhound.
People who love each other--
He quoted cases, he quoted laws.
But Dad nearly fell off his chair when Mr. Hammill finished by quoting Dad,
only better.
And somehow that's not worth as much as a big driveway.
You may think our appeal is based on emotion rather than law.
Not true.
It's about the highest law in this country, the Constitution,
and one phrase within it: "on just terms."
That's what this is all about-- being just.
They want to pay only for the house.
But they're taking away more than that, so much more.
Sure, the Kerrigans built a house,
then they built a home, and then a family.
You can acquire a house,
but you can't acquire a home,
because a home is not built of bricks and mortar...
but love and memories.
You can't pay for it,
and you're just shortchanging people if you try.
I can't speak for those who wrote this document,
but I'll bet when they put in the phrase " on just terms,"
they hoped it would stop anyone...
shortchanging someone like Darryl Kerrigan.
Thanks, Lawrence.
Thank you.
In the end, who knows whether it was Dad's words or Mr. Hammill
or even Dennis' note passing-- ...but we won the case.
...in favor of the appellant.
Shit.
That's us.
Bullshit. We won?
- We won. - You little ripper!
Thanks, lads.
We won.
Dad was stoked but suitably restrained.
He reckons the other side didn't know what to do with themselves.
Dennis was so stunned, he went all quiet.
Dad reckons he almost cried. In fact, I think he did.
Mr. Hammill just sat there for ages.
He reckoned it was the most satisfying victory he'd had in 47 years.
Dad reckons it's important to be noble in victory, so he spoke to the other Q.C. ...
Oh, hey.
...the one who had a go at Wayne.
Bad luck.
You dickhead!
The case was all over the news that night.
Good evening. First tonight, a landmark decision in the High Court today...
has confirmed the age-old saying, "A man's home is his castle."
When the huge Air Link consortium tried to compulsorily acquire a string of homes...
on Melbourne's outskirts earlier this year,
they didn't expect a fight.
- Well, they got one. - It was a case of Darryl versus Goliath...
in the High Court of Australia today.
Mum reckons it's real funny how one day you're not famous,
and then the next day you are... famous,
and then you're not anymore.
Dad had one of the biggest parties ever that night back at home.
He invited everyone from the neighborhood--
his friends, family, in-laws.
This case has totally regained my faith in the legal system.
Mr. Hammill even brought his son along.
Really pleased to meet you.
Everyone was havin' a real good time,
especially Mum and Dad.
I'd never seen them so happy.
Dad invited everyone up to Bonnie Doon.
I fix for you a special Farouk pressure system.
Mr. Hammill said he'd love to come. I don't think he'd ever fished for carp.
Well, that party went on and on and on. Dad smiled all night.
See, this is why we need that patio.
The victory was reported in all the papers.
It became known as the Kerrigan Decision.
Jack, don't thank me. This is the bloke.
Although Dad said, as far as he was concerned, it was Lawrie's victory.
And don't forget Dennis here either.
That was the beginning of a string of good luck for our family.
Six months later we got notice that Wayne would soon be eligible for parole.
Dad rang Mr. Hammill, who was more than happy to come out of retirement again.
Wayne said the parole board couldn't believe their eyes.
When Mr. Hammill walked in, he reckons they granted him parole out of shock.
Dennis became very well-known after the case,
and people came from everywhere to hire him.
He won a very big case,
a class action against people who put lead in the landfill 15 years ago.
I think Mr. Hammill helped him there too. Dad is very happy for him.
He even bought himself a new photocopier,
one that never breaks down.
And guess what. Mr. Hammill did go up to Bonnie Doon.
At first Dad thought it was out of politeness, but it can't be...
'cause he goes up there all the time.
He and Dad still hit it off as good as they did the first day they met.
Coco never won another race,
but she had a son which Dad called Son of Coco.
He hasn't won yet, but Dad has high hopes.
Dad did finish the patio in a Greek style, and the extension,
and he even put up those big iron gates that he and Steve...
had gotten for a bargain that night in Toorak.
Steve got back with Kerry, his old girlfriend.
Eventually they got married and had a little boy... three weeks later.
"Baby carriage, still in box."
Con and Trace had a kid too.
He's already taken up kickboxing. They are great parents.
Wayne started helping Dad with the tow truck and really made a go at it.
Dad's even more proud of him now than when he was in jail.
It was Wayne's idea to move into tray trucks.
Pretty soon they had two, then three, then eight.
Who knows when it will stop? Mum reckons 11.
She's as proud as punch with all this.
And guess what. She did take up pottery. She didn't even need lessons.
And Dad, well, he reckoned he'd got everything he'd ever wished for.
He often used to sit out on the patio and just smile to himself.
And they still live at 3 Highview Crescent,
even though it's only them two livin' in it.
And Dad still calls it "his castle."
My name's Dale Kerrigan, and that was my story.