Black Swan: A Koorie Woman’s Life

Landon, Carolyn

$25.00

Sold Out

A frank and powerful memoir of the life of an Aboriginal woman, from her early years on the Lake Tyers mission to discovery of her talent as a painter.

‘It’s bad luck to catch a black swan.’ Eileen Harrison grew up at the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Mission Station in the 1950s as one of eleven children in a tight-knit and loving family. When the new assimilation policy comes in, they are wrenched from the Mission and sent off to Ararat in the hope that they will become part of that community. Unable to build a stable life in the face of isolation and discrimination, the family is torn apart. Eileen must become the protector and the peacemaker. As a child, Eileen set free a black swan caught in a hessian bag. Now the story of the magical black swan from her childhood provides an uncanny map for her life as she struggles to find her path. After many years she discovers her talent as a painter and builds a new life for herself. Powerfully told in Eileen’s words, her experiences speak eloquently of what has happened to Aboriginal people over the last half-century. ‘Both heart-wrenching and hopeful, Eileen Harrison’s story demonstrates that while policies of assimilation may have taken families from country and community, they could never take the memories that kept them connected.”

xvii, 238 p., [16] p. of plates : ill. (some col.), ports. ; 24 cm. First Edition. #220822

Harrison, Eileen.  |  Women, Aboriginal Australian — Biography.  |  Women artists, Aboriginal Australian — Biography.  |  Aboriginal Australians — Removal.  |  Children, Aboriginal Australian — Institutional care — History.  |  Aboriginal Australians — Social life and customs.  |  Kurnai / Gunai people (S68) (Vic SJ55)  |  Art – Artists – Women.  |  Substance use – Alcohol.  |  Government policy – Assimilation.  |  History – Biographies – Indigenous – Autobiographies.  |  Race relations – Racial discrimination.  |  Child welfare – Children’s homes.  |  Victoria — History.  |  Ararat (W Vic SJ54-08)  |  Bung Yarnda / Lake Tyers (E Vic Gippsland SJ55-07)

Additional Information

AuthorLandon, Carolyn
Number of pagesxvii, 238 p.,
PublisherAllen & Unwin, Australia
Year Published2011
Book Condition

Fine

Elizabeth’s Bookshops have been one of Australia’s premier independent book dealers since 1973. Elizabeth’s family-owned business operates four branches in Perth CBD, Fremantle (WA), and Newtown (NSW). All orders are dispatched within 24 hours from our Fremantle Warehouse.

All items can be viewed at Elizabeth’s Bookshop Warehouse, 23 Queen Victoria Street, Fremantle WA.
Click & Collect (no postage cost!) is available at all branches.