Noted Australian writer, Trent Dalton (b. 1979) was in kinship care for a while as a child.

In his debut novel, Boy Swallows Universe (2019), Dalton includes a character who grew up in children’s homes & became a notorious criminal, Slim Halliday.

Renowned Australian actor, Bryan Brown (b. 1947), plays Slim Halliday in the 2024 adaption of Boy Swallows Universe.

In this article “From escaping Boggo Road Gaol to Boy Swallows Universe. The story of Arthur 'Slim' Halliday”, Ned Hammond tells us something about the inspiration for Dalton’s character, the real Arthur ‘Slim’ Halliday” who was, apparently, “"a very intelligent and curious personality".

Quoting from historian jack Sim, Hammond writes:

“Known today as the Houdini of Boggo Road, Mr Sim said Halliday "deserves his status as one of the greatest jailbreakers in Australian history".

He was incredibly intelligent, and "if it were not for the sad aspect that he'd been put into an orphanage and had had a hard early life, if he hadn't drifted into crime … he would have had a very satisfying life and career."”

Slim Halliday eventually became “the neighbour and babysitter of Brisbane writer Trent Dalton.”

Image credit: ABC News Pete Mullins