Our focus for this month was Indigenous Authors. The group were quite enamoured with this topic and plenty of discussion took place.
SHIELA - BABY BUSINESS by Jasmine SEYMOUR. Shiela presented 2 childrens pictures books, both award winning, written to help young children learn the language and words of the Dharug people. Charming, beautifully presented and naive. COOEE MITTIGAR, Jasmine SEYMOUR also - stories and song lines for children. Again gorgeous drawings and wonderful presentation. Great as gifts.
LYN - TALKING TO MY COUNTRY by Stan GRANT. Stan grew up poor and in difficult circumstances. Through hard work and journalism, he rose to become a successful and well regarded commentator, journalist and a voice for many indigenous. His book is quite disturbing in parts - he talks about the way Adam Goodes was treated by many (during his AFL days), and other incidents concerning race. Lots to ponder.
VAL - TALKING TO MY COUNTRY by Stan GRANT 2016. Stan comes from Wiradjuri land, Cowra/Bathurst. With his humble beginnings he managed with encouragement, whilst working as a mail boy, to attend university, pave a career in journalism and include time working for CNN. There are angry undertones in his book. It seems he feels diminished by his background and a victim. Stan sees Adam Goodes as a good role model. Not an enjoyable read but thought provoking.
JUDY J - REMEMBERING THE MYALL CREEK MASSACRE by Mark TEDESCI. Whilst many know of the Massacre when an entire village, of mainly women and children, were viciously murdered by white men, this book provides the history from 1830's (expansion of white settlement moving local tribes off their lands) and builds till the slaughter in 1838. The ring leader, a young man called John Henry Fleming, was originally from the Hawkesbury. He wasn't arrested after the massacre - but 11 others... convicts and stockmen were. 7 were ultimately hung. Fleming disappeared and later moved to Sydney and back into society. He married, had a family, became a church warden and a JP. Flemings parents ran the Macquarie Arms hotel for a while. Tedesci writes that this and other incidents of racial atrocities are the same as modern day war crimes - the systemic extermination of the indigenous, ethnic cleansing, sexual violence and targeted violence and punishment.
JO - COMMON PEOPLE by Tony BIRCH. A collection of stories about 'common people' - many troubled, in difficult circumstances, struggling for some reason. Single mums, homeless men, old/young - good people and good stories.
CLAURENE - RONNIE; THE TASMANIAN SONGMAN. RONNIE SUMMERS. Ronnie was born on Cape Barren Island, Tasmania, a very mixed race island, many European sealers lived there, intermixed with local women, the Aboriginal men had been wiped out. Estimated by 1850's there were about 50 sealers with 100 indigenous women and children, regarded as Islanders not indigenous tribes. Great life for Ronnie whilst young but when moved to Flinders Island trouble began. Had disliked school, couldn't read, into trouble. Associated with white women, fighting, jail, alcohol, downward spiral. Managed to pull himself up, sing and tell stories of the Indigenous, raise their identity, spread positivity.
JOAN - DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN by Ruby LANGFORD.
Autobiography. Ruby was raised, among other places, in missions. She recalls memories of her mum - both good and bad. When Ruby was 6 her mother left, taking the baby, and never was seen again. This was the time when the Aboriginal Protection Board could take children into their care. The remaining family lived in a tent. A tough life. As an adult she raised 9 children, moved to Sydney, began writing and became an activist. Ruby was truthful in her writing style, very caring and a much loved matriarch of her family dying in 2011. Engrossing.
PAT - SWALLOW THE AIR by Tara June WINCH. Growing up in Wollongong little May and brother Billie only know their father was gone cane cutting, but never saw him. Their mother died so they went to live with Auntie. She was an alcoholic with a series of male, often abusive, companions. Whilst providing basic needs to the children their quality of life was poor. Billie left, moved to Redfern into squats and got into drugs. May followed to Redfern to be with her brother. Jump to the end of the story and eventually May returned home. A very depressing story.
JULIA - AFTER THE CARNAGE by Tara June WINCH. 13 short stories. Much swearing, dark themes, drugs, focussing on dark deeds. Awful.
TAM - AFTER THE CARNAGE by Tara June WINCH. Tam thought the characters were shadowy, the drifters of society. Poorly written.
DIANN - NOWHERE PEOPLE by Henry REYNOLDS. Diann grew up in Redfern and so could relate to the situations of the characters. She had witnessed some of the experiences of the Indigenous and found it a very sad book. Personally moving. '1/2 castes' were assumed to be unstable, ineffective.
JUDY De La - QUESTION OF COLOUR by Pattie LEES. Pattie and her 4 siblings were removed from their mothers care, becoming state wards, 2 sent to Palm Island ( rife with sexual and physical abuse), awful early life. Pattie recounts her journey and survival through the years. Presented in a forthright and clear manner her story is told without bitterness.
PRUE - BENANG:FROM THE HEART by Kim SCOTT. The author is a well educated and important figure in Australia today. Originally from the Kimberley's, as an adult Kim lived with his family in different areas so his children could really learn the language and the culture. He believes learning the language helps redevelop "belonging to the family and settlement". In the book Harley, main character, relates a series of stories, facts, atrocities - some good, some bad - and is non linear. It is difficult to read as it jumps characters, some stories are told in song. The stories are blunt, emotional and with a lot of depth.
BEV - THE PROMISE - TONY BIRCH. A common theme - death. Narrated by different people, some shady characters, some poor, unemployed, with alcohol and other issues.
JUDY A - BLACK CHICKS TALKING by LEAH PURCELL. 9 Indigenous women, from a range of backgrounds, recount stories of their lives and influences. (Actor, activist, community police officer, business, dancer, a mum, lawyer etc). Some were well informed of their indigenous heritage, others had family who wanted it hidden or denied. Poor spelling and grammar made it frustrating to read.
KRIS - DARK EMU by BRUCE PASCOE. A nonfiction book about what Australia looked like before white settlement and expansion. Our modern day views and interpretations of what the structure of life was like pre colonisation. Subjects include housing, fire, food growing, laws. Well researched. Makes you reflect on the past and consider that the idea of a hunter/gatherer society back then may not be correct.
LESLEY - THE YIELD by TARA JUNE WINCH. 3 Parallel stories - a - August, living in London, absorbing European culture, seems aimless, returns suddenly to home country town as Poppy dying. Massacre Plains, dreadful atrocities here during early white settlement. b - before dying Poppy recorded and wrote a dictionary of Wiradjuri words, linked them to English, gave egs of what terms/phrases meant. Wanted August to have it. c - Mission letters written by German Missionary who set up mission late 1800's, into 1900's. Gave details of events, attitudes of whites, treatment of indigenous, way of life for them. Background story - a tin mine bought most of the land and about to dig up the earth. Mob cannot claim native title unless can prove link to land plus evidence of structures, long term use, ties. All comes together towards end. Was hard to follow at times, many themes touched upon. Difficult reading in parts.
