AustLit

'Following the death of her elderly father, a close friend of mine recently asked if I would read a poem by Goethe at his funeral. I didn't know the man well. In fact, I had met him only once, seated in my friend's car on a Fitzroy street on a sunny day several years ago. What struck me about him at the time was the mischievous smile he wore and the youthful sparkle in his eyes. I felt honoured to be invited to share in the celebration of his life. Although my friend is near a generation younger than me, we are very close. I have known her since she was a shy but determined young person. She has since become an advocate for the rights of Indigenous people in Australia and the South Pacific. She is thoughtful and kind and fierce whenever the situation requires a `warrior woman'. ' (Introduction)