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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
The Tall Man is completely engrossing. Hooper travelled to Palm Island, alongside the lawyers appearing on behalf of the Palm Island Aboriginal Council in The Qld State Coroner's Inquest into the death in custody of Cameron Doomadgee, after he was excessively forcibly detained by Police Snr Sgt Chris Hurley. The author expertly sets up the setting and background of the people on the Island.
Hooper has incredible skill in conveying very confronting and conflicting issue in a readable way. There's a depth and breadth to this that is breath-taking.
The book finishes at the same time that PM John Howard announced The Intervention in the NT for anyone wishing to know more about that and it's impact I'd highly recommend the anthology edited by Anita Heiss called "The Intervention".
The far north of Australia is like another country to the southern eastern states of Australia and I'd highly recommend reading these works.
Hooper has incredible skill in conveying very confronting and conflicting issue in a readable way. There's a depth and breadth to this that is breath-taking.
The book finishes at the same time that PM John Howard announced The Intervention in the NT for anyone wishing to know more about that and it's impact I'd highly recommend the anthology edited by Anita Heiss called "The Intervention".
The far north of Australia is like another country to the southern eastern states of Australia and I'd highly recommend reading these works.
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Everyone needs to read this to fully understand Palm Island but also the ongoing genocide of Aborigibal people in Australia
In this exploration of the events behind the death of Cameron Mulrunji Doomadgee on Palm Island (and the subsequent trial of Sgt Christopher Hurley for the death), Chloe Hooper reveals a clear personal bias. It's not a deliberate disclosure per se, but her personal revelations are clear enough for a critical reader to appreciate that this account is not an academic or objective one.
Hooper delivers some really interesting insights into the cultural history of Queensland aborigines and also provides some compelling behind the scenes accounts of the legal team representing the family of Doomadgee in the coronial inquest.
Reading this book I couldn't help but appreciate that the social problems white man has created (whether intentionally or inadvertently) are serious and generationally entrenched.
It's easy from the relative comfort of a suburban capital city to judge the police as described in this book, the aborigines, and the racist survey responses from Townsville drawn out in anticipation of the trial, but the reality of life in the places described is one that I don't live - and hope I never need to.
If you're looking for a story to be told by a clearly left-leaning liberal with a healthy dose of aboriginal history told through nifty use of literary metaphor, you'll probably enjoy this book (as I did). However, if you're interested in a critical analysis of the circumstances of life on Palm Island, the events of Mulrunji's death and the legal issues inherent in Hurley's pre-trial and trial, then you're likely to be left disappointed (as I was here).
To clarify - Hooper's work is highly commendable, for what it is... I suppose I'd like to read a book that's a little more academic and a little less literature to satisfy my need for critical reason over emotive narration
Hooper delivers some really interesting insights into the cultural history of Queensland aborigines and also provides some compelling behind the scenes accounts of the legal team representing the family of Doomadgee in the coronial inquest.
Reading this book I couldn't help but appreciate that the social problems white man has created (whether intentionally or inadvertently) are serious and generationally entrenched.
It's easy from the relative comfort of a suburban capital city to judge the police as described in this book, the aborigines, and the racist survey responses from Townsville drawn out in anticipation of the trial, but the reality of life in the places described is one that I don't live - and hope I never need to.
If you're looking for a story to be told by a clearly left-leaning liberal with a healthy dose of aboriginal history told through nifty use of literary metaphor, you'll probably enjoy this book (as I did). However, if you're interested in a critical analysis of the circumstances of life on Palm Island, the events of Mulrunji's death and the legal issues inherent in Hurley's pre-trial and trial, then you're likely to be left disappointed (as I was here).
To clarify - Hooper's work is highly commendable, for what it is... I suppose I'd like to read a book that's a little more academic and a little less literature to satisfy my need for critical reason over emotive narration
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
dark
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
In 2004, aboriginal man Cameron Doomadgee died in police custody on an island off the Queensland coast. Less than an hour after being arrested for swearing at a policeman, he suffered a fatal blow that almost split his liver in two across his spine and ruptured a major blood vessel.
The announcement of the post-mortem’s conclusions - that he had sustained these injuries in “a fall” - sparked a riot on the island, a high-profile inquest and the first trial of an Australian police officer for a death in custody ever.
Hooper’s account of the fallout from Doomadgee’s death considers both Australia’s original sin - the treatment of the aborigines, who continue to live in extreme poverty and whose tribulations are little known outside Australia - and what the effect of policing rough neighbourhoods has on police officers.
It is easy to see the whole episode through a racial prism, and there is a heavy racial element, but perhaps it’s not as straightforward as a racist cop killing a black man. Senior Sgt Chris Hurley, the officer who was eventually charged with and acquitted of manslaughter, does not appear to have been an out-and-out racist.
But for any police officer it must be difficult, when constantly exposed to the worst aspects of society, to maintain one’s humanity, especially so far from comfort. In this account, the question of when people think “rough justice” is acceptable is also important.
Although, of course, it’s easy to mete out some violence - if that is what he did - if you don’t fully respect the person on the receiving end.
A final point - it was striking to see the disparity between the white and black witnesses in this account. When giving evidence, the aborigines are unsure, while the whites are polished. They know how to play the game.
Even without racial bias from a jury, it’s easy to think the aborigines never stood a chance in the white man’s court.
In short, read this book. It is excellent.
The announcement of the post-mortem’s conclusions - that he had sustained these injuries in “a fall” - sparked a riot on the island, a high-profile inquest and the first trial of an Australian police officer for a death in custody ever.
Hooper’s account of the fallout from Doomadgee’s death considers both Australia’s original sin - the treatment of the aborigines, who continue to live in extreme poverty and whose tribulations are little known outside Australia - and what the effect of policing rough neighbourhoods has on police officers.
It is easy to see the whole episode through a racial prism, and there is a heavy racial element, but perhaps it’s not as straightforward as a racist cop killing a black man. Senior Sgt Chris Hurley, the officer who was eventually charged with and acquitted of manslaughter, does not appear to have been an out-and-out racist.
But for any police officer it must be difficult, when constantly exposed to the worst aspects of society, to maintain one’s humanity, especially so far from comfort. In this account, the question of when people think “rough justice” is acceptable is also important.
Although, of course, it’s easy to mete out some violence - if that is what he did - if you don’t fully respect the person on the receiving end.
A final point - it was striking to see the disparity between the white and black witnesses in this account. When giving evidence, the aborigines are unsure, while the whites are polished. They know how to play the game.
Even without racial bias from a jury, it’s easy to think the aborigines never stood a chance in the white man’s court.
In short, read this book. It is excellent.
Book Club: Louise's Selection
I was really interested to get into this book when Louise announced it as her selection. I don't remember this specific incident occurring but I do remember a number of government forced initiatives introduced that were mentioned toward the end of the book. I was hoping to get a deep insight into the troubled relationship between our peoples, especially of that in the top end of Australia but I was left slightly disappointed.
It is essentially a report and it definitely read as one. The structure of the prose was bland and slightly monotonous which may have been intentional, but left me wanting to feel a deeper connection and understanding to the case. It read very victim-centric but I attain that to Hooper being unable to access Hurley hence limiting her interpretation of him and his view of the incident.
Reading it I struggled to believe that this only occurred in 2004 and found the racism and lack of understanding toward the Indigenous People of Palm Island confronting and upsetting. Furthermore to read of all the promotions offered to so many of the Public Servants involved after the completion of this case that made such incredibly blind and self-serving decisions was mind blowing. Definitely showcasing white privilege at its finest. What rattles me even more is that I struggle to see a different outcome if a similar incident were to occur in 2019. As a country we have much still to learn and unfortunately a large proportion of our people continue to display a strong lack of interest to better our relationship with our Indigenous Communities.
I was really interested to get into this book when Louise announced it as her selection. I don't remember this specific incident occurring but I do remember a number of government forced initiatives introduced that were mentioned toward the end of the book. I was hoping to get a deep insight into the troubled relationship between our peoples, especially of that in the top end of Australia but I was left slightly disappointed.
It is essentially a report and it definitely read as one. The structure of the prose was bland and slightly monotonous which may have been intentional, but left me wanting to feel a deeper connection and understanding to the case. It read very victim-centric but I attain that to Hooper being unable to access Hurley hence limiting her interpretation of him and his view of the incident.
Reading it I struggled to believe that this only occurred in 2004 and found the racism and lack of understanding toward the Indigenous People of Palm Island confronting and upsetting. Furthermore to read of all the promotions offered to so many of the Public Servants involved after the completion of this case that made such incredibly blind and self-serving decisions was mind blowing. Definitely showcasing white privilege at its finest. What rattles me even more is that I struggle to see a different outcome if a similar incident were to occur in 2019. As a country we have much still to learn and unfortunately a large proportion of our people continue to display a strong lack of interest to better our relationship with our Indigenous Communities.
An important book. Specifically it examines the death in custody of Cameron Doomadgee but its implications are much broader in terms of Australian history and race relations. Compelling and rich in its attempt to understand tragic events.