Jack was son of Wends Johann and Johanna (née Graff) Wuchatsch, who

arrived in Australia aboard the Pribislaw in 1850.  Born at Epping on 18 December

1869, he was baptised by Pastor Herlitz on 27 February 1870 and confirmed in

After leaving Epping State School, Jack worked on the family dairy farm, but later

travelled the district in a horse drawn waggon in which he lived.  He took on

various jobs including farm hand, fencer, woodcutter, quarryman, stonebreaker

and collector of dog licence fees.

In August 1912 Jack, described as a quarryman, was living in Vincent’s paddock,

North Preston.  On 2 December 1919, while living in a tent at Wood Street,

Preston, he pleaded guilty in the Preston Court to several charges of petty theft

and was sentenced to three months imprisonment, but placed on 12 months

good behaviour bond, with a £10 fine and £20 surety.

On 8 September 1932, Jack faced the Preston Court again, this time charged

‘that on or about August 18 he destroyed certain native game, to wit 31

opossums’.  His address was then given as Cemetery Lane, Epping and his

occupation as labourer.  A fine of £3 was imposed and Jack was also ordered to pay

£7/15/-, which was equivalent to 5/- per skin.  Later that month, Jack faced the

Whittlesea Court, charged with the theft of clothing valued at £1/10/-.  He was

fined £5 which he paid in weekly £1 instalments.

On 19 April 1933, aged 63, Jack was admitted to the Mont Park Mental Hospital.

His committal, very much against his wishes, was arranged by his elder brother

Albert who stated he habitually stole articles of little or no value.  Jack was

diagnosed and certified the next day as suffering from ‘Paraphrenia Paranoia’.

His examiner found Jack to be:

Correctly orientated, freely communicative.  Lacks insight.  Concentration,

attention and memory good.  Refers to a family vendetta, and has delusions of

persecution by the police, possibly due to his having German blood in him. 

Suspicious and secretive at first, grudgingly giving information but soon becomes

voluble and conversible…States there are two cliques in the town (Epping) in

which he has been residing – Freemasons and Catholics, and the JPs and police

are members and part of them.  They do him a lot of harm, prevent him from

getting work.  He gets blamed for everything that happens in the district…

In June 1933, he was reported to be a quiet patient, good worker and clean in

his habits.  He is well orientated and can give a good account of himself.  He is

suspicious and so refrains from speaking out.

In September 1933 he was working well in grounds.  In May 1934 his condition

was unchanged, but he was said to spend his spare time in climbing trees for

parrots.  From 1935 to 1939, Jack successfully exhibited mangels and chicory roots at the Royal Melbourne Show, taking many First prizes.

In April 1940, aged 70, Jack was transferred to the Ararat Mental Hospital, where

he spent the next 17 years.  In 1944 he wrote:

The winter is a bit disastrous for me.  I don’t intend to do anything.  I’ve thrown

discretion to the winds.  I’m going on for 76 years of age.  I just sit about in the

airing court.  My relatives never write to me and I don’t write to them either.  It was

my brother who got me into these places in the first instance.  I’m suffering from

a strained heart.  I used to work very hard at one time.

His examiner commented:  He is an old man now, and has given up work.  He is

still suspicious and paranoid.  In fair bodily health.

In 1951 his examiner wrote:

His delusions of persecution are rather vague now and he is only mildly

suspicious.  His thoughts seem to concentrate mainly on his desire to go on living

despite his 81 years.  He thinks little improvement can be made in the care of the

mentally ill.  Keeps up with current affairs and is well orientated.  He converses

freely and agreeably, although in a somewhat dejected manner because he says

he has failed in life.  Clean and tidy, does not work now.  Says he is as content

here as he would be anywhere.  Signs of myocardial degeneration.

In 1956 Jack was discharged from his certificate and readmitted as a voluntary

boarder.  He died at the Ararat Mental Hospital on 3 August 1957, aged 87 and

was buried in the Church of England Section of the Ararat Cemetery.