Weapons of mass instruction

Registrar and sheriff stomp on barrister's plan to arm moppets with missiles ... Children's Court Book Project hits a snag ... Literature flung from Parramatta Children's Court 

That's a relief. It's almost certain you won't be rendered unconscious by a kiddie hurling a copy of Harry Potter or Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, should you find yourself at Parramatta Children's Court. 

The registrar and the dudes from the sheriff's office have seen to that. 

Earlier this year a group of practitioners commenced something called the Book Project. The aim was to get books into all seven children's courts in NSW: Parramatta, Glebe, Campbelltown, Port Kembla, Broadmeadow, Woy Woy and Wyong. 

The registrar at Glebe's Bidura court was thrilled. What better way of occupying kiddies, parents and carers than with a small library - and it's free. 

Books for ankle-biters of all ages were donated by lawyers, along with bookshelves. More often than not the adults also would dive into what was on offer, while waiting for a hearing. Books even went missing, which was seen as a sign of success if the nippers were taking the tomes with them. 

Next stop Parramatta. The registrar sounded dubious. He wanted to see the books ... and the shelves. The approval of the sheriff would also be necessary. 

So last month a hard pressed Sydney barrister who was the force behind the Book Project piled volumes into her car, along with the shelves, and drove to Parramatta in the afternoon traffic. 

Three boxes of kiddy literature and planks of wood were lugged up to the first floor of the court, where they were met with a frosty reception. A muffin from the sheriff's office was dead opposed. "These books might be used as missiles."

No way could kiddies be allowed to get their hands on these dangerous objects. 

Better missiles might be fashioned from the cans of Coke dispensed from the vending machine or boiling tea and coffee made available by court support people. 

Practitioners can't recall the last time they saw anyone hurl a missile at the Children's Courts ... but you just never know. 

Years ago magistrate Sue Schreiner encouraged lawyers to bring toys into Balmain Children's Court.

There were no reports of anyone being scalped by a run away Ken Doll. 

Unlike Parramatta, the registrar at Port Kembla Children's Court doesn't see any problems, and books will be going in there this week. 

And the radical person behind this bookish revolution? Why, it's Michelle Fraser from Frederick Jordan Chambers.