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Bill Dodd Bill Dodd i(A19963 works by) (a.k.a. Billy Dodd)
Born: Established: 1965 ;
Gender: Male
Heritage: Aboriginal
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BiographyHistory

Bill Dodd spent his childhood on cattle properties in the Mitchell area of Queensland. He left school during Year 10 after the death of his father and took up work as a stockman in Queensland and the Northern Territory. While still a teenager Dodd broke his neck in a diving accident and became a quadriplegic. His spent time in rehabilitation in Brisbane and Roma, Queensland, before beginning work in the Roma office of the Community Youth Support Scheme.

Source: Broken Dreams (1992)

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Broken Dreams St Lucia : University of Queensland Press , 1992 Z502310 1992 selected work life story poetry

'When eighteen-year-old Bill Dodd dived into the Maranoa River his life changed in an instant. This young larrikin had enjoyed many adventures as a stockman on a remote station; now he was a quadriplegic. His boxing, running and football days were over, and he would never ride a horse again.

Bill's story begins with a high-spirited childhood in smalltown Queensland, a time of youthful humour and energy. The sudden death of his stockman father affects Bill deeply and he rebels, before himself choosing the exciting life of an apprentice stockman.

Waking up in the intensive care spinal unit, he faces the consequences of his accident and slowly builds a new life.

...Bill's story was written with the aid of a specially designed finger splint, and a typewriter donated by the people of Mitchell, his hometown.' Source: Publisher's blurb

1991 winner Queensland Literary Awards Unpublished Indigenous Writer : David Unaipon Award
Last amended 31 Mar 2011 15:05:55
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