Andrew outside Subiaco railway station with his sign.
Camera IconAndrew outside Subiaco railway station with his sign. Credit: Supplied/Rosanna Candler

Andrew back to where it all began

Staff ReporterWestern Suburbs Weekly

At 8.30am, just in time for peak hour, Andrew can be found sitting outside Subiaco railway station with a handmade cardboard sign propped against his knees.

‘Lots of people in Subiaco are nice but then again some people aren’t so much,’ he said. ‘No one has tried to hurt me, most of the time they look right through me ” but sometimes they use verbal abuse.

‘They say stuff like, ‘Oh, why don’t you get a job’, but I don’t say anything back. They can say what they want. I’ve had that all my life.’

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After his mother kicked him out about six weeks ago for fighting with his older brother, Andrew said he decided to come to Subiaco because he was born at King Edward Memorial Hospital.

‘I thought: ‘This will be good because it’s the first place I ever lived’ and then I met a guy who showed me where I could sleep here,’ he said.

‘When it’s your first time alone it’s hard because you don’t know places you can stay, where you can get money or be safe.

‘People accuse me of being on drugs and stuff like that. Sometimes it’s funny, someone will hand me a $5 note and say: ‘Don’t spend it on drugs or alcohol’ and I think: ‘Yeah, right, right ” I’m going to eat first’.’

If you are concerned about a homeless person that might need assistance, call the Salvation Army street team on 0458 600 946.