I hadn't been at Fremantle Prison long ,having transferred from Canning Vale Prison, and was learning the duties of the afternoon shift(4pm-12pm) officer.
I had to check that doors,grilles and padlocks were all secure before the dayshift could knock off.
I was coming in to the division to tell the Senior Officer that everything was locked,give him my keys, and just as I was about to, I glimpsed in the corner of my eye a whitish bird's wing close to my head.
I instinctively ducked and started to curse the pigeon, and looked up to see 20 pairs of eyes staring at me.
"What..!"
No-one said anything, the S.O. took the keys and they all left.
My partner was standing there with a weird look on his face.
"Did you trip?"
"Naah, pigeon swooped me".
"What..where..?"
"Just a second ago, a white one,looked like.."
He stood there looking at me.
"There's an old story that if ever anyone was going to top themselves, a white owl would fly through the divisions".
"What..no, it must have been a pigeon.."
Then he said,"Well I didn't see any birds and neither did anyone else, mate"
The routine for the afternoon shift was to do at least 3 musters(counts) during the shift.
That night I did at least 10!!
Later on , I was talking with one of the old screws, and asked him about the white owl story.
He told me that a long time past , they had a full blood aboriginal from up the Kimberley area ,never been out of the desert, and he saw a white owl up in the rafters.
In aboriginal folklore the kadaichaman leaves a white feather next to or around the one to be "sung" to death.
The poor fellow hung himself in his cell that night.

Wow Wallwalker, what a horrible ending for that poor man! Did you ever have any ill effects from your encounter with the owl?

I am enjoying your stories so much! Thank you SO much for sharing them with us!

None whatsoever, although I must admit whenever I see a white dove, I start counting.
The latest thing at weddings is to release white doves,and by 12pm I'm up to about 12,375.
And, I get a whole table to myself.
Don't know why,perhaps it's the ak47 in case one of them lands on me.
But apart from that, no problwms whatso ever......theres one!!!

Great story wallwalker, I really enjoy reading them! Please share any more that you may have!

Thanks for sharing this! You were brave! I have an absolute fascination with the paranormal but am scared stiff at the same time! More stories, please!

Great story wallwalker,, please keep them coming

Another great story Aboriginal folklore is fascinating. Now does the owl mean someone is going to die or is it because they believe in it so strongly it becomes a suggestion. All the same, that would have been a spooky thing to happen.
I'm loving your stories, please keep them coming

I remember reading a novel years ago I Heard the Owl Call My Name and part of that novel was a tradition from Alaskan Indian tribes that the owl appearing presaged one's death. I don't remember the details, but this reminded me . . . however, Wallwalker, is still with us and I assume that a few years have passed. Very interesting. I wonder what it all means.

Another fascinating account wallwaker, thank you!

Great story but YIKES!!!!

Wallwalker, I find these kinds of traditional stories and explanations so interesting, wonder how that one originated? Thanks for your account.