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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
sad
informative
reflective
medium-paced
A brilliant feat of storytelling. The case of Cameron Doomadgee’s death exposes so much about how our history affects our present day.
A heartbreaking and important book that brings to light the devastating history of the Aborigines of Palm Island, their relationship with white authorities, and how that has played out so tragically in modern times. Hooper doesn't downplay the difficulties of policing in remote communities, but puts this up against 'two hundred years of dispossession and abuse.'
'Asked at the inquest if he'd received cultural-awareness training, [young Constable Kristopher Steadman] said he'd been told about the barbed wire surrounding the barracks.'
'Asked at the inquest if he'd received cultural-awareness training, [young Constable Kristopher Steadman] said he'd been told about the barbed wire surrounding the barracks.'
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Brief Summary: A Chronicle of the investigation into the in-custody death of an Cameron Domadgee, Aboriginal man, on Palm Island that was allegedly caused by a policy officer, Chris Hurley. The author follows the case, digs into the past of both men and documents the inquest and trial.
Mini Review: I am torn on how to review this book. The core story was well documented including the inquest, I could tell the author strove to remain balanced in presenting the case. I learned a lot about the treatment of the Aboriginal people in Australia. While I felt the author strove to provide background about the history of the police force, the history of Australia’s indigenous peoples and to provide her experience in exploring more about her country’s history, her bias and judgment of the Aboriginal people was still evident on the page. There were also some issues with the writing style, specifically at times it seems to be stream of consciousness in flowing back and forth between stories and histories which made the reading experience jarring. I am looking for books by Aboriginal authors into this subject and their own history to better compliment my understand and honor their own experience, not told through the “white” perspective. This book does echo that in-custody deaths of black and indigenous people’s is not isolated to the United States and seismic racism and generational trauma is a wider problem for colonized nations across the globe. This is another title that I would recommend reviewing trigger warnings before you start.
Overall rating: 3.25
Writing: 3
Structure: 3
Pacing: 3
Emotional impact: 4.5
Must read! This true story about the trial of a white cop who murdered a Palm Island Aboriginal is fascinating and devastating. Particularly for the fact that it occurred in the 2000's.
The writing is engaging and accessible (even the legal proceedings and detail).
As soon as I finished I put it in the hands of somebody else.
The writing is engaging and accessible (even the legal proceedings and detail).
As soon as I finished I put it in the hands of somebody else.
A beautifully balanced look at a very complex case. The book is sympathetic to the poor conditions and opportunity of the Palm Island indigenous community. One or twice (but only once or twice) Hooper shows a glimpse of bias towards that community but otherwise she is very even handed.
Okay, let’s start by saying that this book broke my heart. Chloe Hooper did an excellent job telling the story - at times it did feel like it was a fictional story rather than a real one. I also think that everyone should read this book, it’s really eye-opening and I can’t believe I never heard of this story before. Now, my review at 3 stars is due to the writing style she implemented. I found parts of the book tedious and just dragging, when it didn’t need to be. However, still a great read!
‘Until I met Boe, I’d never even heard of Palm Island.’
Palm Island lies off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The Island is roughly half way between Brisbane and the tip of Cape York. Palm Island, home to many Indigenous people, is a settlement with a troubled history.
On 19 November 2004, Cameron Domadgee was arrested on Palm Island by Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley. He may have been arrested for swearing at the police, he may have been arrested for singing ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’ (a one-hit wonder by the Baha Men). Bundled into a police van, taken to the police station, Cameron Doomadgee is found dead in his cell just over an hour after his arrest.
What happened? Did Cameron Doomadgee die as a consequence of injuries sustained during a fall with Senior Sergeant Hurley, or did Senior Sergeant Hurley brutally beat him before he was put in the cell?
Chloe Hooper became involved when Andrew Boe, a lawyer, became interested in the case and wanted someone to write about it. The inquest, Boe told Ms Hooper, would take a week or two. This was the starting point for an investigation which took months. And while the book is about Cameron Doomadgee’s death in custody, it is also about some of the issues that permeate relationships between Indigenous and European Australians.
This book was first published in 2008. In 2011 a documentary was made.
I found this a confronting and uncomfortable read. What really happened to Cameron Doomadgee? What are we doing to improve the sad and tragic history of race relations between Indigenous and more recently arrived Australians? How can despair be replaced by hope? And the ‘tall man’ of the title? Somehow it seems appropriate that the ‘tall man’ represents both Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley (2 metres tall) as well as a malignant spirit in Indigenous culture, capable of moving unseen in the night to do evil.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Palm Island lies off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The Island is roughly half way between Brisbane and the tip of Cape York. Palm Island, home to many Indigenous people, is a settlement with a troubled history.
On 19 November 2004, Cameron Domadgee was arrested on Palm Island by Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley. He may have been arrested for swearing at the police, he may have been arrested for singing ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’ (a one-hit wonder by the Baha Men). Bundled into a police van, taken to the police station, Cameron Doomadgee is found dead in his cell just over an hour after his arrest.
What happened? Did Cameron Doomadgee die as a consequence of injuries sustained during a fall with Senior Sergeant Hurley, or did Senior Sergeant Hurley brutally beat him before he was put in the cell?
Chloe Hooper became involved when Andrew Boe, a lawyer, became interested in the case and wanted someone to write about it. The inquest, Boe told Ms Hooper, would take a week or two. This was the starting point for an investigation which took months. And while the book is about Cameron Doomadgee’s death in custody, it is also about some of the issues that permeate relationships between Indigenous and European Australians.
This book was first published in 2008. In 2011 a documentary was made.
I found this a confronting and uncomfortable read. What really happened to Cameron Doomadgee? What are we doing to improve the sad and tragic history of race relations between Indigenous and more recently arrived Australians? How can despair be replaced by hope? And the ‘tall man’ of the title? Somehow it seems appropriate that the ‘tall man’ represents both Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley (2 metres tall) as well as a malignant spirit in Indigenous culture, capable of moving unseen in the night to do evil.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This book was painful to read for two reasons: (1) the subject matter was depressing, (2) the writing style was stilted and very very very journalistic in tone. However, the discussion of Aboriginal beliefs was very interesting.
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced