Green’s Dictionary of Slang

cries and screeches n.

(Aus.) leeches.

1905		Duke Tritton’s Letter n.p.: It was Brave and Bold, and there were plenty of Cries and Screeches, but when I rubbed the Cape of Good Hope over myself, they went.
1984		J. Meredith Learn to Talk Old Jack Lang 19: It was brave and bold, and there were plenty of cries and screeches .
2002		Pete’s Aussie Sl. Home Page 🌐 cries and screeches: leeches.