At 13, Thornton was sent to school in Australia's only monastic town, New Norcia, Western Australia, although he later declared he became angry with Christianity and did not consider himself religious.
Im Alter von 13 Jahren kam Thornton auf die einzige australische Klosterschule in New Norcia in Western Australia, dennoch erklärte er später, er sei sauer auf das Christentum und selbst nie religiös geworden.