Yes I know this blog is way late, and I won’t even use the
excuse that I’m on Koori time, it’s just that I’ve been flat-out, like everyone
else. But, even when I don’t write a blog expressing it, I do actually stop
every day and note in my head the people, conversations, kind acts and so forth
that I am grateful for. I simply can’t go another day without writing down my thanks for the
wonderful community who came along to celebrate the release of Am I Black Enough for You? in Sydney earlier this month.
Thanks first up to my lawyerly and loyal friend Robynne
Quiggin (that’s her above in the gorgeous frock which I may have to borrow at
some point if can drop a few kilos and squeeze into it). My dear Wiradjuri
sista did the honours of launching the book for me at the State Library of NSW in their stunning ‘Galleries’ space.
Robynne’s speech was warm, insightful, generous, and funny! Aside from talking
about stereotypes and the history of defining Aboriginal people, Robynne also
commented about our friendship, and that given we both speak at length each morning
and evening while driving to and from our jobs, it’s an absolute miracle
neither if us has rear-ended another vehicle! I’m touching wood just as I write
this now!
Also there on the night were two of my dear friends who flew
in especially to be there. Jake Reid travelled from tropical Cairns, and Kerry
Reed-Gilbert surprised me from not-so-tropical Canberra. Both women (pictured
below) appear in the book, and it seemed beautifully right that they were there
with me.
I am grateful to all my family who were there and who sent
messages, and to my dear friends some visiting from as far away as the UK,
other friends I knew in a former life working for government in Canberra in the
early 1990s. I am truly grateful that we are still walking this path together. Thank
you!
A shout out finally to all the oranisations represented at
the event including but not limited to Gadigal Information Services / Koori Radio 93.9FM, the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence http://www.ncie.org.au/ the Sydney Writers’ Festival, the Australia
Council for the Arts, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and of course my fabulous publisher Random House Australia.
Thank you! Merci! 감사합니다, Grazzi! Gracias! Teşekkür ederim! Terima
kasih! Danke! Asante!
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