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Notes
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'This year, 2004, marks a very special occasion. The time has come to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Awards, which continue to encourage and acclaim writers of varying ages and backgrounds, whether they be first time or more experienced authors, to seek their place in the recorded history of Northern Territory literature.' - Introduction, p. iv.
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Contents indexed selectively.
Contents
- King of the Mangroves, single work short story (p. 1-4)
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Alone on the Soaks of Loves Creek
Alone on the Soaks,
Kadek Krishna Adidharma
(translator),
extract
autobiography
'Alec Kruger was stolen as a child from his family and his country. From this early time he knew the cold and harsh reality of institutions and not the caressing love of his mother or the warmth of other close relations. Still young, he was taken again – to the cattle stations of Central Australia where, even as a boy, he was expected to display all the independence and ingenuity of someone much older.'
'In isolation. Alec faced possible death, till the arrival of Old People from country who saved him, taught him and made him culturally strong.'
'Alec Kruger spent years droving and roaming throughout the Territory and Queensland, forever seeking his place in the world. He found a sense of belonging and somewhere to call home through having his own family and with the emergence and leadership of groups such as the Central Australian Stolen Generations and Families Aboriginal Corporation in the struggle of recognition, reconciliation and recompense.'
'Alone on the Soaks enhances our understanding of the diverse journeys of Australia’s stolen generations by offering readers intimate stories told in an original and valuable voice.' (Source: publishers blurb)
- My Childhood Story, single work autobiography (p. 10)
- Untitled, single work autobiography (p. 11)
- The Land of Many Races, single work prose (p. 12)
- Who Can Blame Us for That?, single work short story crime (p. 13-15)
- Protection, single work short story (p. 16-21)
- The Channel Between You and God, single work short story (p. 22-25)
- The Pintubi Cup, single work short story (p. 26-30)
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A Kindom for an Eye,
single work
short story
Helen has just been discharged from the hospital after treatment for the accident that left her blind. She makes her way home with the help of her brother Christopher, where her mother calls her. Helen resents the idea of her mother hovering over her and quickly ends the call.
Her business partner, Martin, calls Helen to discuss the future of their art gallery. Although Helen is dubious, Martin remains optimistic about assigning Helen appropriate work in the art gallery. Before Helen can relax and have a cry, her estranged husband Hal calls. Hal had an affair with a younger girl, Naomi, but still pushes to get back together with Helen, despite Helen's repeated refusals.
Later, Helen uses a dictaphone to record a to-do list, in which she initially lays out a suicide plan - but deletes it and changes it to a list of things she can do, such as going back to university or picking up piano again. She also records a diary, in which the accident is revealed: jealous of Naomi's youthful looks, Helen tried to dye her hair with permanent colour, including her eyelashes, despite the package's warning. She gets colouring in her eyes and knocks herself unconscious in the bathroom. From then on, she is blind.
- Freefall, single work short story (p. 37-40)
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Weeping in the Streets,
Jane Clancy
(interviewer),
single work
oral history
'The Bureau of Meteorology in Darwin issued its first warning at 4pm on December 21 1974 and by 10pm Cyclone Tracy was born. For a day it hovered above the islands north of Darwin, moving slowly south west. Then, at 3.15 am on December 24, Tracy rounded a tip of Bathurst Island, suddenly turned east and set a course straight for Darwin. This oral history document's one family's story.' (p. 48)
- Lost, single work short story (p. 61-62)
- Justice for Carol, single work short story (p. 63-66)
- Detachment, single work short story (p. 67-68)
- Time to Diei"A tapping sound", single work poetry (p. 69-70)
- This Town Is Too Smalli"This town in too small", single work poetry (p. 71-72)
- If You Never Knewi"The mouth-watering smell of barbecued meat", single work poetry (p. 73)
- Vaults of Helli"Come:", single work poetry (p. 73)
- Ganga's Burning, sequence poetry (p. 73-77)