Pentridge Prison: New book sheds light on working behind bars

UNTOLD stories from Australia’s most notorious maximum security prison have been penned in a new tell-all book by Pentridge’s former Governor.

WHEN James Potter heard his drinking buddy’s backstory he knew there was a book in it.

The Mt Eliza writer and professional gambler was fascinated by John Beedon’s tales of his former role as one of the last governors of Australia’s most notorious maximum security prison — Pentridge.

“John, or the Gov., as he is affectionately known as (on the Mornington Peninsula) is one of nature’s gentlemen,” Potter said.

“Half the guys we drink with have served time behind bars but all of them still love the Gov. He is just a down to earth guy who did his job.”

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The pair hatched a plan to write a collection of prison tales from the perspective of those who worked behind the blue stone walls of the Coburg prison.

“I never judged the prisoners that I took care of during my time at Pentridge,” Mr Beedon said.

“I left that up to the politicians, police and the judges.

“I was just a regular bloke who was paid to do my job. My job was to run the jail as best I could.”

Mr Beedon’s first contact with the law came when he was a troubled teenager growing up in Birmingham and London.

A judge gave him a choice — go to prison himself or join the navy.

He chose the latter and went to sea at just 15 years old.

Mt Eliza author James Potter with the last Governor of Pentridge John Beedon. Picture: George Salpigtidis

After serving in the Caribbean during the Cuban missile crisis he emigrated to Australia and started a new career as a prison officer.

“I was never the hardest man going around, but I saw enough of the world to cope with being an officer and later a governor at Pentridge,” Mr Beedon said.

“The prisoners weren’t my friends, nor were they my enemies.

“They were just a group of men who found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

“Many were violent, street savvy, criminals but there were many who just found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Pentridge was a hard place for both the convicted and the officer and many from both sides of the razor wire didn’t last long.”

He met Potter, or Big Jim as he is known, after retiring to the Mornington Peninsula.

Potter has written for a myriad of publications and travelled the globe for 10 years as a professional poker player.

He said while he had heard the tales about the prison’s infamous inmates he wasn’t familiar with the behind the scenes stories.

“Some of these tales will make you laugh and some of them will bring a tear to your eye, but at the end of the day I think these are fascinating tales that need to be told,” he said.

The Governor of Pentridge can be bought online here or from your favourite local book store.

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