Printer Friendly Version of Speech
Nick with the Right Honorable Kate Ellis, Federal Member for Adelaide
Read Kate's Speech on Indigenous Australians Here
Nick's Speech For Hollywood, Amarroo Book
Launch
I'm elated to see so many of my friends and colleagues here.
I wish we could have a party like this one every week but I can't write that
fast.
Many friends asked me why did you write a book about Aborigines.
You have a classical education and a science background they reminded me, why
write a story about Aborigines? The short answer is that the stories pick the
writer it's not the other way around. This is almost a Zen answer but the
shorter answer is Humanism. I grew up believing and still believe that if
someone hurts we all hurt. If someone dies in Iraq or in Palm Island we all
mourn because our humanity is diminished. Writing about Aborigines was therefore
natural for me because they suffered a lot over a long period.
Having an
emotional connection with a group of people is not enough to write a novel. In
the seventies I was a member of a group of scientists and engineers who
constructed a Giant Radio Telescope in the outback - away from the static
interference associated with large cities. In the bush I noted where Aborigines
lived and heard of their pain and suffering. That is when I knew then that one
day I'll write one of their stories. So I had the emotional connection and the
first hand knowledge of our indigenous people.
When my love affair with
science ended in 2001 I was ready to write my book but didn't. I revisited the
bush instead, talked to the locals and had extensive discussions with one of the
country GPs who treated Aborigines. Lastly I researched my topic and studied the
works of Aboriginal writers before I started writing. During that time many of
my friends didn't believe that we have serious Aboriginal writers. Other doubted
that I'll finish writing my book. Today I have a book to launch.
The
heroes of my story are Peter and Allison. Born in Adelaide they fell in love
while Peter studied Law and Allison Arts. Young and idealistic they ignored the
prejudices of the sixties to defend Rosalie an Aboriginal mother accused of
manslaughter. The trial takes place in Amarroo, a prosperous Queensland country
town bordering a reserve where two hundred Aborigines live in lamentable
poverty. As a joke the locals refer to the reserve as Hollywood. During the trial
Allison chronicles the lives and times of the Aborigines who endure poverty,
diseases and the ever present fears of the disposed.
Continue to second
page