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A QUARTERLY OF NEW WRITI NG & IDEAS 35 RANDOM ACTS OF NATURE AND MAN Matthew Condon, Ashley Hay, Tom Griffiths, Lloyd Jones, Sally Neighbour, Sophie Cunningham, David Francis, Michael Gawenda, Kathy Marks, Nic Low, Mara Bún, Sidney Dekker SURVIVING
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Page 1: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

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‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian

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RePORTAGeMaTTHeW Condon Flooding plains, bursting rivers, human sufferingsally neIGHbour life and death on the high seas

eSSAYMara bún The path to resiliencesopHIe CunnInGHaM disappearedsIdney dekker The meaning of a disasterMICHael GaWenda Informed consentToM GrIFFITHs The language of catastrophenIC loW ear to the groundkaTHy Marks When bystanders failjulIanne sCHulTZ life in a time of disastersjorGe soTIrIos europe’s Trojan horse

MeMOiRToM baMForTH How to survive an earthquakedaVId FranCIs no jesus manasHley Hay Walking underwaterlee koFMan passion in a time of warVIrGInIa peTers My mother and murdersydney sMITH occupying armies

FiCTiONnIkola GuroVIC babo ColIn MIlls Ghost town

POeTRYlIsa GorTon The sleeperslloyd jones suddenlyGeoFF paGe auntie May, 1953MarIa Takolander Crime scene investigation

PiCTuRe GAlleRYdean saFFron High water marks

griffithreview.comread more surVIVInG articles online and purchase previous digital and print editions

A quARTeRlY OF New wRiTiNG & ideAS35

RANdOM ACTS OF NATuRe ANd MANMatthew Condon, ashley Hay, Tom Griffiths,

lloyd jones, sally neighbour, sophie Cunningham, david Francis, Michael Gawenda, kathy Marks,

nic low, Mara bún, sidney dekker

surviving

GR35_cover_PT.indd 1 12/12/11 10:01 AM

Page 2: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

Praise for Griffith REVIEW

‘This is a small literary magazine that amazingly – it is now in its eighth year – keeps getting better.’ Sydney Morning Herald

‘A varied, impressive and international cast of authors.’ The Australian

‘An always vibrant mix of creative writing, essays, photography and ideas, Griffith REVIEW has gone from strength to strength.’ Adelaide Review

‘At once comfortable and though-provoking, edgy and familiar, [it] will draw the reader through its pages.’ Australian Book Review

‘Griffith REVIEW represents “the long game” in journalism, providing quality analysis in an age of diminishing journalistic integrity.’ Walkley Magazine

‘Griffith REVIEW is a wonderful journal. It’s pretty much setting the agenda in Australia and fighting way above its weight…You’re mad if you don’t subscribe.’ Phillip Adams

‘Once again, Griffith REVIEW has produced a stunning volume of excellent work. The pieces are diverse, the stories unique and real. But one thing remains constant – superb writing.’ Weekend Herald (NZ)

‘Griffith REVIEW would have no trouble competing on an international stage.’ West Australian

‘Griffith REVIEW is the best literary journal in the country. Editor Julianne Schultz attracts writing of superior craftsmanship, intellectual and creative depth. If you care about writing, this is compulsory reading.’ The Age

Page 3: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

SIR SAMUEL GRIFFITH was one of Australia’s great early achievers. Twice the premier of Queensland, that state’s chief justice and the author of its criminal code, he was best known for his pivotal role in drafting agreements that led to Federation, and as the new nation’s first chief justice. He was also an important reformer and legislator, a practical and cautious man of words.

Griffith died in 1920 and is now best remembered in his namesakes: an electorate, a society, a suburb and a university. Ninety-six years after he first proposed establishing a university in Brisbane, Griffith University, the city’s second, was created. His commitment to public debate and ideas, his delight in words and art, and his attachment to active citizenship are recognised by the publication that bears his name.

Like Sir Samuel Griffith, Griffith REVIEW is iconoclastic and non-partisan, with a sceptical eye and a pragmatically reforming heart and a commitment to public discussion. Personal, political and unpredictable, it is Australia’s best conversation.

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GriffithREVIEW35SURVIVING

Edited by Julianne Schultz

Page 5: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

INTRODUCTION 9 Life in a time of disasters JULIANNE SCHULTZ: Counting the toll

REPORTAGE 12 Flooding plains, bursting rivers, human suffering MATTHEW CONDON: The 2010–11 Queensland floods

102 Life and death on the high seas SALLY NEIGHBOUR: Haunting a community

ESSAY 33 The path to resilience MARA BÚN: More haste, less speed

45 The language of catastrophe TOM GRIFFITHS: Forgetting, blaming and bursting into colour

58 Informed consent MICHAEL GAWENDA: The quest for a story

73 Disappeared SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM: This disaster was not televised

80 Ear to the ground NIC LOW: Learning to make a fuss

129 Europe’s Trojan horse JORGE SOTIRIOS: Portrait of a wounded nation

141 When bystanders fail KATHY MARKS: ‘I just did my job and minded my own business’

186 The meaning of a disaster SIDNEY DEKKER: Making sense of random events

MEMOIR 30 Walking underwater ASHLEY HAY: Salvage along the Plimsoll line

92 How to survive an earthquake TOM BAMFORTH: Moments of solidarity amid the turmoil

117 Passion in a time of war LEE KOFMAN: On the road with Saddam and Miriam

135 No Jesus man DAVID FRANCIS: The comfort of strangers

164 Occupying armies SYDNEY SMITH: The Chatham Islands and an incest family

175 My mother and murder VIRGINIA PETERS: Matters of life and death

FICTION 66 Ghost town COLIN MILLS

152 Babo NIKOLA GUROVIC

GriffithREVIEW35

Page 6: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

POETRY 42 Suddenly LLOYD JONES

101 Crime scene investigation MARIA TAKOLANDER

126 Auntie May, 1953 GEOFF PAGE

185 The sleepers LISA GORTON

griffithreview.com

The day the earth shook IAN LOWE

Tragic intimacy DAMON YOUNG

Surviving peace OLIVERA SIMIC

Ground cover ALAN VAARWERK

What does Fukushima mean? ADAM BROINOWSKI

Adapting for hope DOUG HENDRIE

Developing an Australian bushfire narrative CATHERINE GOUGH-BRADY

COVER IMAGE:WH Chong/Text.

Griffith REVIEW gratefully acknowledges the support and ongoing generosity of our founding patron Margaret Mittelheuser.

Page 7: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

GriffithREVIEW35 AUTUMN 2012GriffithREVIEW is published four times a year by Griffith University in conjunction with Text Publishing. eISSN 1839-2954

GRIFFITH REVIEW South Bank Campus, Griffith University PO Box 3370, South Brisbane QLD 4101 Australia Ph +617 3735 3071 Fax +617 3735 3272 [email protected] www.griffithreview.com

TEXT PUBLISHING Swann House, 22 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia Ph +613 8610 4500 Fax +613 9629 8621 [email protected] www.textpublishing.com.au

SUBSCRIPTIONS Within Australia: 1 year (4 editions) $111.80 RRP, inc. P&H and GST Outside Australia: 1 year (4 editions) A$161.80 RRP, inc. P&H Institutional and bulk rates available on application.

COPYRIGHT The copyright of all material published in Griffith REVIEW and on its website remains the property of the author, artist or photographer, and is subject to copyright laws. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. ||| Opinions published in Griffith REVIEW are not necessarily those of the Publisher, Editor, Griffith University or Text Publishing.

FEEDBACK AND COMMENT www.griffithreview.com

ADVERTISING Each issue of Griffith REVIEW has a circulation of at least 4,000 copies. Full-page adverts are available to selected advertisers. To book your advert, in the first instance please email Griffith REVIEW: [email protected]

Publisher Marilyn McMeniman AM

Editor Julianne Schultz AM

Deputy Editor Erica Sontheimer

Picture Editor & Production Manager Paul Thwaites

Associate Editor David Winter, Text Publishing

Publication & Cover Design WH Chong, Text Publishing

Text Publishing Michael Heyward, Kirsty Wilson, Stephanie Stepan

Proofreader Alan Vaarwerk

Editorial Interns Harry Brumpton, Michelle Chitts, Coco McGrath

Administration Andrea Huynh

Typesetting Midland Typesetters

Printing Ligare Book Printers

Distribution Penguin Australia

Contributions by academics can, on request, be refereed by our Editorial Board. Details: www.griffithreview.com

This project has received financial assistance from the Queensland Government throught Arts Queensland

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its principal arts funding and advisory body.

Page 8: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

Subscribe to Griffith REVIEW

Discover the best Australian and international writers and thinkers as they tease out the complexities of the issues that matter the most.

Each themed edition presents timely and elegant new essays, reportage, memoir, fiction and poetry from a range of established and emerging authors who make Griffith REVIEW the premier Australian quarterly of ideas.

Chose from a range of subscription packages, including Digital, Print or Premium (digital+print) Subscriptions.

Or treat yourself to the value-packed Super Subscription and receive four editions of Griffith REVIEW plus four advance copies of the most interesting titles from Text Publishing throughout the year.

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‘It cannot be said often enough: Griffith REVIEW is the best literary journal in the country ... Each essay and memoir is like a great meal. It fills the reader with thoughts and leaves them deeply satisfied.’ – Sydney Morning Herald

‘It’s a cracker, a reminder of how satisfying on ever level good quality

non-fiction can be.’ – New Zealand Herald

Page 9: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

INTRODUCTION

Life in a time of disasters Counting the toll

Julianne Schultz

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JULIANNE SCHULTZ: Life in a time of disasters 9

Page 10: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

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Page 11: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

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$ A Bushfire category was added to the Action Guide on the DisasterWatch app after this essay was written.

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JULIANNE SCHULTZ: Life in a time of disasters 11

Page 12: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

REPORTAGE

Flooding plains, bursting rivers, human suffering

The 2010–11 Queensland floods

Matthew Condon

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12 GriffithREVIEW35

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MATTHEW CONDON: Flooding plains, bursting rivers, human suffering 13

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14 GriffithREVIEW35

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16 GriffithREVIEW35

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MATTHEW CONDON: Flooding plains, bursting rivers, human suffering 17

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MATTHEW CONDON: Flooding plains, bursting rivers, human suffering 19

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MATTHEW CONDON: Flooding plains, bursting rivers, human suffering 21

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22 GriffithREVIEW35

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MATTHEW CONDON: Flooding plains, bursting rivers, human suffering 25

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!

-.$/01#23#,$-455$!

This report was compiled using the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry’s online transcripts, witness statements and contemporaneous newspaper articles.

Matthew Condon is the editor of QWeekend magazine. He is the author, most recently, of Brisbane (NewSouth Books, 2010) and the editor of Fear, Faith & Hope: Remembering the long, wet summer of 2010-11 (UQP, 2011). His essay ‘The flood’ appeared in Griffith REVIEW 32.

MATTHEW CONDON: Flooding plains, bursting rivers, human suffering 29

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MEMOIR

Walking underwater Salvage along the Plimsoll line

Ashley Hay

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C3%!%&#$#!-$#!(%&#$!$#)*-*%+!&#$#!-*1!%&#$#!;!%()-%(!/.-*%+!&->#!+/$3*5!3/!-.(*5!'((%/-%&+!-*1!2*!/#(/.#B+!3+3-..4!)-*283$#1!.-"*+9!8($2-*1#$!2+!%&$2>2*5!-)(*5!(3$!/-$<B+!/$28<.4!8(38&9!-!.2*#!('!+#.'S+("*!.#%%38#+!8()#+!)-$8&2*5!-8$(++!%&#!4-$1!('!-!&(3+#!A!"-.<!/-+%,!(*!%&$(35&!%&#!5-%#!-*1!-8$(++!%&#!)#12-*!+%$2/!%(!%&#!53%%#$6!!

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

V(!)-*4!&(3+#+!+%2..!#)/%49!+(!)-*4!/#(/.#!5(*#6!LW(,!*(!(*#B+!8()#!0-8<!%(!%&-%!/.-8#!4#%,B!-*!#.1#$.4!)-*!+-4+!('!&2+!*#25&0(3$+!"&(!"#!3+#1!%(!+##! 2*! %&#!/-$<6!LV%2..!"($<2*5!(3%!"&-%!%(!1(!;!'2J!2%,!$-2+#!2%,!+#..!2%6!@&#4!1(*B%!<*("!"&28&!"-4!%(!X3)/6B!

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

ASHLEY HAY: Walking underwater 31

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A!+"2*5!1("*!-+!%&#!.-+%!('!%&#!.2'#S+8$-/+!-*1!.#'%(>#$+!12+.(15#!'$()!-)(*5!%&#!5$-++!(*!(3$!>#$5#6!A!+"2*5!3/!-+!%&#!-.2#*!)-$8&!('!*#"!%3$'!-*1!+-.-1!>#5#%-0.#+!2+!+.(".4!#J82+#1!'$()!(3$!+-'#.4!+303$0-*!.-"*+6!A!+"2*5!1("*!-+!5$#4!8.(31+!5-%&#$9!A!+"2*5!3/!-+!%&#!.-+%!('!(3$!*#25&0(3$+!8()#+!&()#6!

Ashley Hay’s first novel, The Body in the Clouds (Allen & Unwin, 2010), was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, a New South Wales Premier’s Literary Award and a Western Australian Premier’s Book Award, and has been longlisted for the 2012 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Awards. Her writing has appeared recently in Australian Geographic, The Australian and The Guardian, and previously in Griffith REVIEW editions 21, 30 and 34.

32 GriffithREVIEW35

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ESSAY

The path to resilience More haste, less speed

Mara Bún

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MARA BÚN: The path to resilience 33

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40 GriffithREVIEW35

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

Mara Bún is chief executive of Green Cross Australia and a member of the Queensland Design Council. Born and raised in Brazil, she studied and worked in the US before moving to Australia in 1991, and is based on the Gold Coast.

1 See: http://www.mlandman.com/gbuildinginfo/leedplatinum.shtml#KS 2 See: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/corporate/47461.pdf 3 Comments taken from Rockefeller funded review of ‘Sustainable development and long-term disaster recovery’ undertaken by the Institute for Sustainable Communities, released January 2010. http://www.iscvt.org/resources/documents/isc_report_to_hud.pdf 4 See: http://blog.fema.gov/2011/04/earth-day-2011-green-building-practices.html 5 See: http://www.dlgp.qld.gov.au/resources/speeches-and-presentations/building-dispute-resolution/qra-presentation.pdf 6 See: http://www.greenhouse2011.com/UserFiles/Presentation/presentationUrl_23.pdf 7 See: http://www.ag.gov.au/www/emaweb/rwpattach.nsf/VAP/(3A6790B96C927794AF1031D9395C5C20)~Economic_costs_of_natural_disasters_in_Australia.pdf/$file/Economic_costs_of_natural_disasters_in_Australia.pdf 8 http://www.disasterassist.gov.au/www/disasterassist/disasterassist.nsf/Page/Currentdisasters_CycloneYasi 9 See: www.cairns.com.au 10 Wylan Fleener interview, American Comebacks: Fleener Furniture and Flooring, Success Achievers Magazine http://www.successmagazine.com/american-comebacks-fleener-furniture-and-flooring/PARAMS/article/1493/channel/22 11 See: http://helpflowerdalenow.blogspot.com/2009/04/looking-towards-safer-and-more.html 12 For full interview with Beth Galante, see: http://www.greencrossaustralia.org/our-work/green-disaster-rebuilding-goes-global-build-it-back-green/live-from-the-oil-spill.aspx 13 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/brumby-defends-bushfire-rebuilding-delays/story-e6frf7kx-1225827512111 14 See: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/school-resumes-at-all-but-three-schools-in-floodhit-queensland-20110124-1a1m6.html

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42 GriffithREVIEW35

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LLOYD JONES: Suddenly 43

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(((

Lloyd Jones is the author of the novel Hand Me Down World (Text, 2010); the short-story collection The Man in the Shed (Text, 2009); and the novel Mister Pip (Text, 2006), which won the 2007 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and was shortlisted for the 2007 Man Booker Prize. His writing has previously appeared in Griffith REVIEW editions 25 and 33.

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ESSAY

The language of catastrophe Forgetting, blaming and bursting into colour

Tom Griffiths

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!TASMANIA’S TERRIBLE DAY!7"0!"!*+",-!='$0."/A!D4!7"0!"%&4)$#!U!>$C#'"#/!51#$;! C'4! 1%! T_`UA! S%! 4)"4! ."/! "! F51#$! )'##1,"%$G;! "0! 0'#818&#0! ,"++$.! 14;! 04&#2$.!4)#&'()! 4)$! C'0)+"%.! &5! 0&'4)V$"04$#%! ="02"%1"! "%.! 1%8".$.! R&C"#4G0! 0'C'#C0;!,&21%(!714)1%!47&!-1+&2$4#$0!&5!4)$!K*aA!D4!,"'0$.!7)"4!7"0!4)$%!4)$!+"#($04!+&00!&5!+15$!"%.!6#&6$#4/!&%!"%/!01%(+$!."/!1%!4)$!)104&#/!&5!0$44+$#!3'04#"+1"A!!

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8$%($"%,$!&%!0&'4)$#%!3'04#"+1"b!4)$!C'0)!C$,"2$!C#144+$!"%.!6"#,)$.A!=)$#$!7"0!%&4!"!.#&6!&5!#"1%!1%!4)$!51#04!7$$-!&5!>$C#'"#/!T_`UA!S%!J!>$C#'"#/!"!)1()V6#$00'#$!0/04$2!2&8$.!",#&00! 4)$!04"4$!"%.!&55! 4)$!$"04$#%!,&"04;!"%.!4)$!%&#4)$#+/!71%.0!5#$0)$%$.A!D%!,&'%4#/!"#$"0!51#$0!,&%41%'$.!4&!C$!+14!9!FC'#%1%(!&55G!7"0!"!#'#"+!#14'"+A!D4!7"0!.&%$!,"0'"++/;! 4&!C#1%(!&%!"!(#$$%!61,-;!&#!5&#!,+$"#1%(A!:&2$412$0!6$&6+$;!7)$%! 0$$1%(! 02&-$!&%! 4)$!)&#1[&%;!7&'+.! 4)#&7!"!2"4,)!&8$#! 4)$1#!C",-! 5$%,$;!C$,"'0$!"!%$7+/!C'#%4!)&2$!6"..&,-!7"0! +1-$!"! 0"5$4/!C+"%-$4A! D4!7"0!,&22&%!C$5&#$!>$C#'"#/!T_`U! 4&!0$$!061#"+0!&5! 02&-$!#101%(! 5#&2!4)$! 5&&4)1++0!&5!R&C"#4G0!2&'%4"1%&'0! 0-/+1%$;! "%.! F%&!&%$!7&##1$.!"C&'4! 4)$2! 4&&!2',)AG!=$26$#"4'#$0!,&%41%'$.!4&!,+12C!"%.!4)$!71%.0!04#$%(4)$%$.A!!

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48 GriffithREVIEW35

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(#"66+$0!2&#$!.1#$,4+/!714)! 4)$! F2"%"($#1"+! +"%('"($G!&5! 4)$!C'#$"',#"40;!"%.! 140!,&%0$L'$%,$0A!=)$#$! 10!"!2&#$!0'04"1%$.!"%"+/010!&5! 4)$!0/04$21,! 5"1+'#$0;!"%.!"%!126#$0018$! .$2&+141&%! &5! 4)$! FM#$6"#$;! :4"/! "%.! a$5$%.! &#! \$"8$! W"#+/G! 6&+1,/;!"CC#$81"4$.!4&!F:4"/!&#!n&G!"%.!&54$%!.1041++$.!1%!4)$!&551,1"+!2"%4#"!4)"4!FM$&6+$!0"8$!)&'0$0A! R&'0$0! 0"8$! 6$&6+$AG! =)$! :4"/! &#! n&! 6&+1,/! $8&+8$.! 2&04+/! &'4! &5!$X6$#1$%,$0! 1%! &4)$#! 3'04#"+1"%! 51#$! #$(1&%0! C'4! 7"0! "+0&! 1%5+'$%,$.! C/! 30)!@$.%$0."/!T_kJ;!7)$%!0&!2"%/!6$&6+$!.1$.!5+$$1%(!51#$!1%!4)$0$!2&'%4"1%!5&#$040A!Q100"%$!.$,+"#$0!4)10!6&+1,/!F4)$!51%"+!81,412!&5!*+",-!:"4'#."/GA!

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M$&6+$! 7)&! 0'55$#$.! 1%! *+",-! :"4'#."/! )"8$! 0'#6#10$.! 4)$20$+8$0! C/! 51%.1%(!C$"'4/!1%!4)$!C'#%4!+"%.0,"6$A!D%!4)$!2&%4)0!"54$#!4)$!51#$!0'#818&#0!&54$%!0"1.E! FD!#$"++/!0)&'+.%G4!0"/!4)10;!C'4!4)$#$G0!0&2$!C$"'4/!1%!4)"4AG!@14)!"!8$#41(1%&'0!"%.!('1+4/! 0$%0$! &5! +1C$#"41&%;! 4)$/! ,&'+.! 0$$! 4)$! C&%$0! &5! 4)$! +"%.! "%.! 4)$! 4#",40! &5!,&'%4#/!714)&'4!F"++!4)&0$!5$%,$0!7$!6'4!1%h0'..$%+/!/&'!,&'+.!0$$!5&#$8$#;!4)"4!(#$"4!0$%0$!&5!06",$YG!3%.!14!6'4!)'2"%0!1%!6$#06$,418$!4&&E!FD4G0!%&4!#$"++/!"C&'4!'0;G!#$5+$,4$.!&%$!7&2"%;!<"#("#$4A!FS%,$!/&'!0$$!4)&0$!,&%4&'#0!&5!4)$!+"%.!#$8$"+$.!C/!4)$!51#$;!/&'!#$"+10$!14G0!"!C1(($#!04&#/AG!!

=)$! "#41040! 1%! :4$$+0! K#$$-! (#&'%.! 4)$! "0)! 1%4&! 6"1%4! "%.! 2".$! '0$! &5! C+",-!+$"8$0;! C'#%4!71#$;! ,"'4$#10$.! 4&&+0! "%.! 4)$! #'04! 5#&2! 4)$!("#.$%! 0)$.A!W8$%! 4)$!,)"##$.!4#$$0!F"#$!+1-$!0,'+64'#$0!1%!4)$20$+8$0GA!f"%$;!"!2$2C$#!&5!4)$!+&,"+!:414,)$#0!(#&'6;!4)&'()4!&5!C+",-!+",$!C$,"'0$!14!0$$2$.!4&!5#1%($!$8$#/!#1.($A!S%$!6"1%4$#;!?&C/%;!0"1.!0)$!)".!%$8$#!C&'()4!C+",-!6"1%4!'%41+!HII_;!"%.!4)$%!7$%4!4)#&'()!4'C$0!"%.!4'C$0!&5!14A!R$#!"#4!"54$#!4)$!51#$!C$("%!714)!C+",-!"'04$#14/;!4)$!."#-!4#$$0!+1-$!6#10&%!C"#0A!=)$%;!1%!4)$!06#1%(!&5!HII_;!0)$!1%4#&.',$.!)$#!51#04!,&+&'#A!*/!4)$!5&++&71%(!/$"#!)$#!6"+$44$!)".!$X6+&.$.!1%4&!71+.;!N&/&'0!6#&5'01&%E!F=)10!10!7)"4!D!0$$!%&7h+1-$!"!51+1(#$$;!4)$0$!(&#($&'0!,&+&'#0;!4)$!&#"%($!&5!4)$!2&00A!D!)"8$!C'#04!1%4&!,&+&'#AG!

References available at www.griffithreview.com

Tom Griffiths is William Keith Hancock professor of history at the Australian National University, Canberra and the author of several books, including Slicing the Silence: Voyaging to Antarctica (UNSW Press, 2007), which won the Queensland and New South Wales Premiers’ Literary Awards for Non-Fiction and was the joint winner of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Australian History in 2008. His essay ‘A humanist on thin ice’ was published in Griffith REVIEW 29.

TOM GRIFFITHS: The language of catastrophe 57

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ESSAY

Informed consent The quest for a story

Michael Gawenda

‘Every journalist who is not too stupid or too full of himself to notice what is going on knows that what he does is indefensible. He is a kind of confidence man, preying on

people’s vanity, ignorance, or loneliness, gaining their trust and betraying them without remorse. Like the credulous widow who wakes up one day to find the charming young

man and all her savings gone, so the consenting subject of a piece of non-fiction writing learns – when the article or book appears – his hard lesson. Journalists justify their treachery

in various ways according to their temperaments. The more pompous talk about freedom of speech and the “public’s right to know”; the least talented talk about Art; the seemliest

murmur about earning a living.’

– Janet Malcolm, The Journalist and the Murderer (1990)

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58 GriffithREVIEW35

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MICHAEL GAWENDA: Informed consent 59

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IN 2009, IN!+4#!$-+#%7$+4!(-!@,.+(%,$E&!F/$.G!K$+1%8$"!-,%#&:!)!*$&!+4#!8,%#.+(%!(-!+4#!A#3+%#!-(%!N8;$3.#8!?(1%3$/,&7!$+!9#/0(1%3#!]3,;#%&,+"5!F/$.G!K$+1%8$"!*$&!N1&+%$/,$E&!*(%&+!2#$.#+,7#!8,&$&+#%5!L3#!4138%#8!$38!&#;#3+"C+4%##!2#(2/#!8,#8!,3!+4#!-,%#&!$38!4138%#8&!*#%#!,3<1%#85!64(1&$38&!(-!4(1&#&!*#%#!01%3+^!+(*3&!/,G#!9$%"&;,//#!*#%#!$//!01+!*,2#8!(1+5!K188#3/"!$//!+4#!,&&1#&!)!4$8!*%#&+/#8!*,+4!J!$&!$!<(1%3$/,&+:!0(+4!*4#3!)!*$&!$!%#2(%+#%!$38:!/$+#%:!*4#3!)!*$&!$3!#8,+(%!J!.$7#!+(!+4#!-(%#_! +4#! ,72/,.,+! .(3+%$.+! 0#+*##3! %#2(%+#%&! $38! +4#,%! &10<#.+&:! *4$+! .(3&+,+1+#&!.(3&#3+!0#+*##3!%#2(%+#%!$38!&10<#.+:!+4#!0$/$3.#!0#+*##3!+4#!210/,.!,3+#%#&+!$38!+4#! %,'4+! +(!2%,;$."!(-!2#(2/#! ,3!8,&+%#&&:! +4#! #--#.+&!(3!(%8,3$%"!2#(2/#!(-!0#,3'!&188#3/"! &10<#.+#8! +(! ,3+#3&#! 7#8,$! .(;#%$'#5! N//! +4#&#! ,&&1#&! $%#! 7$'3,-,#8! ,3!3$+1%$/!8,&$&+#%&5!

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.%,+,.$//":!+4#!&1%;,;(%&!0#,3'!,3!$!2(&,+,(3!+(!',;#!.(3&#3+5!9(&+!(-!+4#! <(1%3$/,&+&!$'%##8!+4$+!$-+#%!+4,&!+,7#!7(&+!&1%;,;(%&!3(!/(3'#%!*$3+#8!+(!0#!&10<#.+#8!+(!7#8,$!.(;#%$'#5! 64#"! &+$%+#8! +(! -##/! #=2/(,+#85! 64#"! *(38#%#8! *4$+! +4#! 2(,3+! (-! +4#!.(;#%$'#!*$&:!4(*!,+!%#7$,3#8![3#*&E5!!

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!THE JOURNALISTS AND!&1%;,;(%&!*#!,3+#%;,#*#8!*#%#!'1$%$3+##8!$3(3"7,+":!01+!+4#%#!*$&!(3#! <(1%3$/,&+!*4(!$'%##8!+4$+!$3(3"7,+"!-(%!4,7!*$&!,72(&&,0/#5!!"#$%+18,./0.-E&!M$%"!H1'4#&!,&!0(+4!$3!#=2#%,#3.#8:!$*$%8C*,33,3'!<(1%3$/,&+!$38!$!&1%;,;(%!(-!+4#!-,%#&5![)!*$&!&+$''#%#8!$+!*4$+!,+E&!/,G#!+(!0#!(3!+4#!%#.#,;,3'!#38!(-!+4#! -##8,3'! -%#3d":E! 4#! &$,8! (-! 0#,3'! +4#! &10<#.+! (-! 7#8,$! .(;#%$'#5! [L3#! (-! +4#!/#&&(3&! )! /#$%3#8! ,&! 4(*! 8%$,3,3'! ,+! ,&! -(%! &(7#(3#! *4(E&! 0##3! ,3;(/;#8! ,3!&(7#+4,3'!+(!',;#!$!7#8,$!,3+#%;,#*5!)+E&!,3.%#8,0/"!8%$,3,3'!#7(+,(3$//"5!9"!*,-#!$38! 8$1'4+#%:! )! *$&! ;#%"! .$1+,(1&! $0(1+! ,3;(/;,3'! +4#7! $38! 4(*! 71.4!,3;(/;#7#3+:! 0#.$1&#! *4#3! 2#(2/#! +$/G! $0(1+! ,3-(%7#8! 8#.,&,(3&:! +4$+! *(%8!e,3-(%7#8fg!)!4$;#3E+!/#+!(+4#%!7#8,$!3#$%!7"!8$1'4+#%:!*4,.4!,&!2%(0$0/"!$!&$8!,38,.+7#3+!(3!(1%!2%(-#&&,(35E!

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`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

L3#!&$,8:![N!.(12/#!(-!8$"&!/$+#%:!)!%#$/,&#8!J!)!4$8!3(!'%$&2!(3!%#$/,+"!J!+4$+!(1%!2,.+1%#&! *(1/8! 0#! ,3! #;#%"! 7$<(%! 3#*&2$2#%! $.%(&&! +4#! .(13+%":! +4$+! 7"! 3,#.#!h(;#%&#$&i!*(1/8!&##!7#!(3!b(1610#g!N38!4#%#!)!*$&!,3!3#*&2$2#%&!$38!(3!h+4#i!3#*&!$.%(&&! +4#!.(13+%"!&7,/,3'!0#.$1&#! )E8! -(138!7"!41&0$38!$38!)!*(38#%#8!

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In a career spanning three decades Michael Gawenda has won numerous journalism awards, including three Walkley Awards. He is the author of American Notebook: A Personal and Political Journey (2007) and Rocky and Gawenda: The Story of a Man and His Mutt (2009), both published by MUP. He was the inaugural director of the Centre for Advanced Journalism at the University of Melbourne, where he is now a senior research fellow.

MICHAEL GAWENDA: Informed consent 65

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FICTION

Ghost town Colin Mills

I DIDN’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

9+,/,!"#-!#!-+&<%!3/&2!&$,!&3!%+,!*85-!8$!%+,!<$8%!%"&!5&&/-!5&"$0!!

LG8/,3>8,-S.!!

E,!'&%!<7!#$5!"#>*,5!&4,/!%&!%+,!>8%%>,!-%/,#2!%+#%!/#$!5&"$!%+,!+8>>!#>&$'-85,!%+,!-)+&&>0!A:!+,#5!-"#20!C,$,#%+!%+,!%/,,-6!%+,!5#/*$,--!"#-!#!)</%#8$!1!7<-+,5!#%!"8%+!2:!+#$5-0!1!+,#/5!&$,!&3!%+,!7#/,$%-!)#<%8&$!#!)+8>5!$&%!%&!3#>>!8$%&!%+,!"#%,/0!!

LG8/,3>8,-S!N#$!:&<!-,,!%+,2T.!#$&%+,/!*85!-+&<%,50!LG8/,3>8,-S.!

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

9#*,-+8! <-,5! %&! "&/*! 8$! #! 2#)+8$8$'! -+&7! %+#%! 7/&),--,5! 2,%#>! 7#/%-! 3&/! #!-<()&$%/#)%&/!%&!&$,!&3!9&:&%#.-!-<()&$%/#)%&/-0!F/!-&2,%+8$'!>8*,!%+#%0!Q,!"#-!#!>&$'!"#:!5&"$!%+,!3&&5!)+#8$0!Q,!-+&",5!2,!"+#%!"#-!>,3%!&3!+8-!)&27#$:.-!>8%%>,!3#)%&/:0!9"&!&3! %+,! 3&</!"#>>-!",/,!'&$,6! %+,!(>#5,-!&3! %+,! >#%+,-! /,5!#$5! /<-%:0!O&2,+&"!%+,!3&/),!&3!%+,!"#%,/!+#5!(,$%!&$,!&3!%+,20!!

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LE,!585$.%!/,#>8-,!"+#%!",!",/,!-,,8$'6.!+,!-#850!Q,!%"8/>,5!+8-!38$',/!8$!%+,!#8/!$,J%!%&!+8-!,#/0!LD&</!28$5!-&2,%82,-!)#$.%!7/&),--!%+8$'-0!E,.4,!+#5!58-#-%,/!5/8>>-!-8$),!",!",/,!*85-0!1!%+8$*!",!;<-%6!:&<!*$&"6!3&/'&%!"+#%!%+,:!",/,!3&/0.!

68 GriffithREVIEW35

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1$!%+&-,!3,"!2&2,$%-!U!%+,!>#-%!8$!"+8)+!%+,/,!"#-!#$:!+&7,!3&/!%+,!%&"$!U!%+,!7,&7>,!&$!%+,!+8>>!#--<2,5!,4,/:&$,!2<-%!+#4,!2#5,!8%!&<%6!%+#%!%+,/,!"#-!$&(&5:!>,3%!5&"$!%+,/,!8$!%+,!+&-78%#>-!#$5!$</-8$'!+&2,-0!9+,:!"#8%,5!3&/!%+,!(>#)*!"#%,/!%&! -%&76! 3&/! 8%! %&!5/#8$! (#)*! 8$%&! %+,! -,#! #3%,/! -"#278$'! %+,! %"&!&/! %+/,,! (>&)*-!)>&-,-%!%&!%+,!(/,#*"#%,/0!!

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!WHEN I GOT!(#)*!%&!9&*:&!#3%,/!%+#%!38/-%!%/87!$&/%+6!D<*&!585$.%!"#$%!%&!+,#/!#(&<%! "+#%! 1.5! -,,$0! 1%! "#-! #-! 83! %+,! -2,>>! &3! %+,! 7>#),! "#-! -%8>>! &$! 2,0! V8*,!,4,/:(&5:!,>-,! -+,! -%#:,5!'><,5! %&! %+,! %,>,48-8&$! 3&/! %"&!&/! %+/,,!5#:-! #3%,/! %+,!"#4,!(<%!%+,$!5,)85,5!%&!(>&)*!8%!&<%0!1%!<7-,%!+,/!%&&!2<)+0!O+,!"#-!3/&2!W:<-+<!#$5!*$,"!$&(&5:!8$!%+,!%-<$#28!=&$,6!(<%!8%!585$.%!-%&7!+,/!+#48$'!$8'+%2#/,-0!!

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!TAKESHI AND I!",$%!&<%!#'#8$!8$!%+,!2&/$8$'0!Q,!-#85!+,!"#-!>&&*8$'!3&/!+8-!3#%+,/.-!-#3,0!1!585$.%!#-*!"+#%!"#-!8$!8%0!1!5&$.%!,4,$!*$&"!83!+,!*$,"0!9"&!-#3,-!+#5!#>/,#5:!(,,$!5/#'',5!3/&2!%+,!/<((>,!(:!%+,!/,)&4,/:!%,#2-!U!1!%+&<'+%!%+#%!'#4,!+82!%+,!85,#0!9+,!2,%#>!(&J,-!$&"!-#%!#%!%+,!>&)#>!,4#)<,,!),$%/,6!"#8%8$'!%&!(,!)>#82,50!F%+,/!-</484&/-!",/,!5&8$'!%+,!-#2,!%+8$'6!)&2(8$'!%+/&<'+!"/,)*#',!3&/!%+,!-2#>>,-%!7>#%,!&/!7+&%&'/#7+!&/!7&%!%&!/,28$5!%+,2!&3!"+#%!"#-!'&$,0!!

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!

THE DAY BEFORE!1!",$%!(#)*!%&!9&*:&6!9#*,-+8!#$5!1!",$%!%&!48-8%!-&2,!&3!%+,!&>5!7,&7>,!"+&!+#5!2&4,5!3/&2!%+,!':2$#-8<2!8$%&!%+,8/!&"$!7/,3#(!+<%-0!9+,!2#:&/! +#5! 58-%/8(<%,5! 7#27+>,%-! #-*8$'! /,-85,$%-! %&! )+,)*! <7! &$! %+,! &>5,/!,4#)<,,-0!A&-%! >84,5! #>&$,0!@3%,/!",,*-! ->,,78$'! $,J%! %&! #! +<$5/,5! &%+,/-6! &$,!"&2#$!"#-! 3&<$5!5,#5! 8$! +,/! $,"!<$8%0! 9+,! '&4,/$2,$%! +#5! #-*,5!7,&7>,! %&!)&$-,/4,!,$,/':6!-&!-+,!-"8%)+,5!&33!+,/!#8/K)&$58%8&$,/!#$5!58,5!&3!+,#%-%/&*,0!!

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!

!

Colin Mills spent most of the period from 1986 to 2005 in Tokyo, apart from brief stints in Singapore and London. He spent ten years as a Japanese equity analyst for several international investment banks before co-founding a Japanese equity hedge-fund management company. His writing has appeared in Griffith REVIEW editions 25 and 30.

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ESSAY

Disappeared This disaster was not televised

Sophie Cunningham

‘On opening the bathroom door, I saw that the roof was off that part of the house and when I opened the door the ceiling of the room also disappeared; we then went to the

toilet which was next door to the bathroom and as I opened the door, I saw the outside wall of the toilet disappear; I then went to the main bedroom of the house and saw that the end outside wall had disappeared and that the side walls of the room were moving

under the pressure of the wind… My wife and I attempted to hold the bathroom and toilet doors shut and we placed our two children between our bodies to protect them.’

– Detective Sergeant Thomas C Baker1 BY! "#$!$%&!'(! "#)"!%*+#",!-#.*/"0)/!12$!3456,!7$"$8"*2$!9$.+$)%"!:);$.!#)&! <'/"!0'.$!"#)%!#*/!=)<</,!#*/!.''(,!#*/!#'>/$?!#*/!$%"*.$!"'=%!#)&!&*/)@@$).$&,!)%&!=#$%!#$!/8.)0A<$&!'>"!'(!"#$!=.$8;)+$!'(!#*/!#'0$!)"!&)=%!'%!-#.*/"0)/!7)B,!7).=*%!<'';$&!)/!*(!*"!#)&!A$$%!#*"!AB!)!A'0AC!!

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

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM: Disappeared 73

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L$"/!/>(($.$&,!)<'%+/*&$!"#$*.!'=%$./C!G#$!&)B!)("$.!"#$!8B8<'%$!:).A).)!d)0$/,!)!W'>.%)<*/",!('>%&!#$.!8)"!V!)<*2$!V!*%!"#$!=)/#*%+!0)8#*%$,!=#$.$!*"!#)&!=)*"$&!('.!"#$!/"'.0!"'!@)//C!:$8)>/$!'(!($)./!"#)"!#>%+.B!)%&!".)>0)"*/$&!&'+/!='><&!('.0!@)8;/,!"#$B!=$.$!/#'"!V!'("$%!=*"#'>"!=).%*%+!)%&!*%!(.'%"!'(!"#$*.!'=%$./C!`*<;*$!&$/8.*A$/!)!.$8>..*%+!/8$%$!).'>%&!7).=*%?!H'%$!&)B!)%!'((*8$.!8)0$!).'>%&,!)%&!"#$.$!=)/!)%!'<&!&'+!*%!'>.!@<)8$!V!#$!=)/!)!%*8$!'<&!($<<'=!V!)%&!"#$!I@'<*8$0)%K!/)*&?!e_'>!+'"!)!&'+!"#$.$Yf!)%&!J!/)*&?!e_$/C!b$E/!%'"!#>."*%+!)%B!'%$fQ!N>"!#$!8)0$! )%&! A)%+,! "#)"! =)/! *"CE! [)=.*$,! *%! 8'%".)/",! 0)%)+$&! "'! +$"! #$.! @>@@B!$2)8>)"$&! )%&! #*&! #$.! :'F$.! A*"8#! /'! /#$E&! />.2*2$C! L$"/,! /#$! .$)/'%$&,! =$.$!*0@'.")%"!"'!.$A>*<&*%+!)!/'8*$"BC9!

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L$"$.! 7$.0'>&B! */! '%$! '(! /$2$.)<! =#'! /)B! "#$B! ='><&%E"! #)2$! 0*//$&! "#$!8B8<'%$!('.!"#$!='.<&?!HJ"!8<$)%/$&!0$CE17!G#'/$!=#'!<'/"!"#$*.!8#*<&.$%,!"#$*.!<*0A/,!"#$*.!0*%&/,!($<"!'"#$.=*/$C!1*"#$.!=)B!*"E/!%'!$)/B!"#*%+!"'!#)2$!<*($,!)/!B'>!;%'=!*",!&*/)@@$).!*%"'!"#*%!)*.C!

The memories in this essay are drawn from archival records.

Sophie Cunningham is a former editor of Meanjin and the author, most recently, of Melbourne (NewSouth Books, 2011). Her novels, both published by Text, are Geography (2004) and Bird (2008). She is working on a book about Cyclone Tracy.

1 Northern Territory Archives Service, NTRS 2999, Reports by police officers of personal experiences relating to Cyclone Tracy, 1974–1975, BAKER, Detective Sergeant Thomas C. 2 NTAS, NTRS 2999, SMITH, Constable Dane. 3 NTAS, NTRS 2999, TOWNSEND, Constable G. 4 NTAS, NTRS 226, Typed transcripts of oral history interviews with “TS” prefix, 1979 – ct, O’SULLIVAN, Clem, TS 447. 5 NTAS, NTRS 226, Typed transcripts of oral history interviews with “TS” prefix, 1979 – ct, WILKIE, Ray, TS 675. All further quotes from Ray Wilkie come from this interview. 6 NTAS, NTRS 2999, SIMPSON, Sergeant C. 7 NTAS, NTRS 226, Typed transcripts of oral history interviews with “TS” prefix, 1979 – ct, SANDERS, Donald, TS 503. 8 NTAS, NTRS 226, Typed transcripts of oral history interviews with “TS” prefix, 1979 – ct, BEARE, Hedley, TS 917. All further quotes from Hedley Beare come from this interview. 9 NTAS, NTRS 226, Typed transcripts of oral history interviews with “TS” prefix, 1979 – ct, LAWRIE, Dawn, TS 505. 10 NTAS, NTRS 226, Typed transcripts of oral history interviews with “TS” prefix, 1979 – ct, COLE, Echo, TS 508. 11 NTAS, NTRS 226, Typed transcripts of oral history interviews with “TS” prefix, 1979 – ct, MCCANN, David, TS 451. All further quotes from David McCann come from this interview. 12 NTAS, NTRS 2999, STEPHENSON, Constable. 13 NTAS, NTRS 226, Typed transcripts of oral history interviews with “TS” prefix, 1979 – ct, FEJO, Lorna, TS 757. All further quotes from Lorna Fejo come from this interview. 14 NTAS, NTRS 2366, Steedman, Pete, Transcripts of interviews relating to Cyclone Tracy, 1975–1975, BOWDITCH, Jim, TS 7902. 15 NTAS, NTRS 226, Typed transcripts of oral history interviews with “TS” prefix, 1979 – ct, CAROLL Elizabeth, TS 762. 16 NTAS, NTRS 226, Typed transcripts of oral history interviews with “TS” prefix, 1979 – ct, ROBERTS, Sally, TS 567. 17 NTAS, NTRS 226, Typed transcripts of oral history interviews with “TS” prefix, 1979 – ct, DERMOUDY, Peter, TS 833.

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ESSAY

Ear to the ground Learning to make a fuss

Nic Low

‘If I am what I have and if what I have is lost, who then am I?’ – Erich Fromm

‘He aha te mea nui? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.’

– traditional Maori proverb

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-)#*)*#!,%$!9);7$/%!(1(%$-!&,%*! .,%!2'1:%!-.$'/:0!?,%!1*9! .,%!/7'$.!/5%$:! 45'*#!.,%<-%5;%-!'*9%$!.,%!.1>5%0!A.7:$)*3!-,%!.,7'#,.0!?,%!$%1/,%9!>1/:!'(3!#$1>>%9!.,%!(1(%$-!1*9!-)#*%9!.,%<!1*=&1=3!.,7'#,!.,%!-)#*1.'$%!)-!'*5):%5=!.7!<1./,!.,%!7*%!7*!,%$!5)/%*/%0!B,%*!.,%!)<<%9)1.%!-,7/:-!-'>-)9%9!-,%!1*9!.,%!/5%$:!$1*0!B,%*!-,%! 4)*155=!#7.!,7<%3! -%;%*!:)57<%.$%-! .,$7'#,! .,%!<'93!,%$! =7'*#%-.!91'#,.%$!-1)93!UB,1.!.77:!=7'!-7!57*#Q8!

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e'%%*-51*9!&).,!.,%!/=/57*%0!D"E$D"E$F@$"5.'#$)'$6#'*&5@#6$G$-@$3)>#$)'$5/#&;$D"E$D"E8!!

".!&1-!1$7'*9!.,)-!.)<%!.,1.!.,%!&7$9!U<'*.%98!#1)*%9!15<7-.!'*);%$-15!/'$$%*/=3!'-%9!>=!%;%$=7*%!'(!.7!1*9!)*/5'9)*#!.,%!J%&!V%151*9!F$)<%!6)*)-.%$!.7!9%-/$)>%!.,)*#-!.,1.!&%$%!-%;%$%5=!91<1#%90!F@$"5.'#$)'$-.1*#6;$!"#$'#<,4#$'@'*#-$)'$-.1*#6;$H#,"+$ *"#$ 7)*@='$ -.1*#6;! E,%! &7$9! )-! >5'*.3! 451.3! ,%1;=! )*! .,%! <7'.,3! &).,7'.!($%.%*-)7*!7$!<%579$1<10!".!-%%<%9!(%$4%/.!47$!.,%!*%&5=!%<%$#)*#!+,$)-./,'$/,0!

H-!(%7(5%!&7$:%9!.7!/5%1$!.,%!$'>>5%3!.,%=!.15:%90!E,%$%!&1-!1!-%*-%!74!9)->%5)%4!.,1.!/7'59!7*5=!>%!&,)..5%9!1&1=!.,$7'#,!.15:)*#0!d*9%$*%1.,!.,%!-(%/)4)/-!74!%1/,!)*9);)9'15!-.7$=3!"!)<1#)*%!.,7-%!/7*;%$-1.)7*-!&%$%!155!.,%!-1<%0!E,%=!>7)5%9!97&*!.7!(%7(5%!.%55)*#!%1/,!7.,%$3!7;%$!1*9!7;%$3!*")'$)'$'",&#63!1*9!*")'$)'$&#,30!!

!I WAS IN!.,%!>'-,!7'.-)9%!+1-.5%<1)*%!&,%*!"!#7.!.,%!*%&-0!6=!4$)%*9!615/75<!577:%9!'(!4$7<!,)-!51(.7(!1*9!-1)93!U?)@!(7)*.!47'$3!)*!+,$)-./,'$/,0!D1.15).)%-3!.,%=!W8!1*9!"!&1-!#7*%3!7'.!.,%!977$3!$'**)*#!.,$7'#,!.,%!>'-,!.7!#%.!(,7*%!$%/%(.)7*0!"!>5'*9%$%9!)*.7!1!.,)/:!-()9%$8-!&%>!.,1.!/5'*#!.7!<=!41/%3!#'<<%9!<=!%=%-!1*9!<7'.,! -,'.0! +,$)-./,'$/,!&1-!<=! 41<)5=3!<=! (1$%*.-3!<=! >$7.,%$3! #$1*941.,%$3!'*/5%3!/7'-)*-3!759!4$)%*9-!1*9!759!451<%-0!"!-.779!7*!.7(!74!.,%!,)55!>%,)*9!<=!,7'-%!)*!(%$4%/.!-'*-,)*%3!1*9!/155%9!1*9!/155%9!1*9!/155%90!"8;%!*%;%$!4%5.!-7!-)/:0!

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".! .77:!91=-! .7!#%.! /7*4)$<1.)7*! .,1.!%;%$=7*%! "!:*%&!&1-!7:1=3!1*9! )*! .,7-%!91=-!"!7>-%--);%5=!/7*-'<%9!.,%!*%&-0!G*%!;)9%7!-.1=%9!&).,!<%3!74!.,$%%!=7'*#!&7<%*!<7;)*#!-57&5=!.,$7'#,!.,%!$')*-0!"!:*%&!.,7-%!&7<%*!1!#%*%$1.)7*!%1$5)%$0!L5%#1*.5=!9$%--%9!)*!1-=<<%.$)/15!>51/:3!.,%=!&%$%!.,%!7*%-!-%55)*#!J7<fX!/57.,%-3!7$!<1:)*#!/744%%-!1.!+O!7$!7'.!47$!1!91*/%!1.!6)*)-.$=0!E,%!7*%!)*!.,%!<)995%!,19!57-.!,154!,%$!41/%0!".!,'*#!744!)*!1!>5779=!/5'<(!.,1.!-1##%9!1-!-,%!&15:%90!!

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d<g&,1.!97!&%!97!*7&Q8!

"!&%*.!&15:)*#0!E,%! /).=!9)9! 577:!1*9! 4%%5! 5):%!1!&1$!R7*%0!E,%! -.$%%.-!&%$%!-)5%*.0!E,%!/).=8-!7*/%!($);1.%!,7<%-!&%$%!;)-)>5%!)*!)*.)<1.%!/$7--A-%/.)7*3!&,%$%!1!4155%*!&155!7$!/,)<*%=!,19!.7$*!.,%!-)9%!74!.,%!>')59)*#!7(%*0!?759)%$-!)*!.1*:-!1*9!.$77(!/1$$)%$-!-.779!#'1$9!1<7*#!.,%!&)557&-!1*9!71:-0!H*!759%$!&7<1*!&).,!1!5)(! $)*#!1-:%9!&,1.! .,%! .1*:-!&%$%! 47$0! UB%8$%!1! .1*:!'*).38! )*-)-.%9! .,%! -759)%$0!UE,1.8-!C'-.!7'$!$)9%08!!

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88 GriffithREVIEW35

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90 GriffithREVIEW35

Page 91: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

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Nic Low is a Melbourne-based, New Zealand-born writer and installation artist of Ngai Tahu Maori and European heritage. His recent work has appeared in the Big Issue, Art Monthly, Cordite, Australian Book Review and Dumbo Feather. He was a winner of the 2011 Griffith REVIEW Emerging Writers’ Prize, and has written for Griffith REVIEW editions 23 and 34. www.dislocated.org

NIC LOW: Ear to the ground 91

Page 92: Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING€¦ · quarT Cover image and design by WH Chong/Text. erly journal ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian GriffithReviewsu35

MEMOIR

How to survive an earthquake Moments of solidarity amid the turmoil

Tom Bamforth

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TOM BAMFORTH: How to survive an earthquake 93

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Tom Bamforth lives in Melbourne, and has worked with humanitarian agencies in Pakistan and Sudan. His articles have been published in The Age, Granta and the Journal of Humanitarian Assistance. He currently works in disaster management in the Pacific. 1 Now known as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in deference to Pashtun ethno-nationalist aspirations 2 In Pakistan today, there is a remote area called the Kalash Valley inhabited by an animist tribe of fair-skinned, light-eyed people who drink wine from amphorae and who are said to be the descendants of Alexander’s armies.

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POEM

Crime scene investigation Maria Takolander

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

Maria Takolander is a lecturer at Deakin University. Her first collection of poems, Ghostly Subjects (Salt, 2009), was shortlisted for a Queensland Premier’s Literary Award, and her poetry is regularly included in The Best Australian Poems. In 2010 she won the inaugural Australian Book Review Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Competition, and in 2013 a collection of her stories, The Double, will be published by Text. ‘The red wheelbarrow’ appeared in Griffith REVIEW 26: Stories for Today.

MARIA TAKOLANDER: Crime scene investigation 101

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REPORTAGE

Life and death on the high seas

Haunting a community

Sally Neighbour

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SALLY NEIGHBOUR: Life and death on the high seas 103

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108 GriffithREVIEW35

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110 GriffithREVIEW35

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114 GriffithREVIEW35

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Sally Neighbour is a freelance journalist and former reporter with ABC TV’s Four Corners who has won three Walkley awards for excellence in journalism. Her most recent book is The Mother of Mohammed: An Australian woman’s extraordinary Journey into Jihad (MUP, 2009). She has written extensively for The Australian and The Monthly.

116 GriffithREVIEW35

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MEMOIR

Passion in a time of war On the road with Saddam and Miriam

Lee Kofman

‘I went off with my hands in my torn coat pockets. My overcoat too was becoming ideal.

I travelled beneath the sky, Muse! And I was your vassal. Oh dear me! What marvellous loves I dreamed of!’

– Rimbaud!

!

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Lee Kofman is the recipient of an Australia Council grant, several writing residencies and an ASA mentorship, and holds an MA in creative writing. She is the author of three books in Hebrew, and her writing has appeared in publications in the US, UK and Australia. This is her seventh piece in Griffith REVIEW.

LEE KOFMAN: Passion in a time of war 125

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POEM

Auntie May, 1953 Geoff Page

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GEOFF PAGE: Auntie May, 1953 127

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Geoff Page is an award-winning poet who has published eighteen collections of poetry, as well as two novels, four verse novels and several other works, including anthologies, translations and a biography of the jazz musician Bernie McGann.

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ESSAY

Europe’s Trojan horse Portrait of a wounded nation

Jorge Sotirios

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130 GriffithREVIEW35

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1%)!6)+"',!+)"):=!>9+!&%)!6+))I!.+#-#-!%'-!?)),!$'88#,$0!V6+))I-!"5-&!.%',$)!&%)#+!.58&5+)!',:!-9.#)&=B7![)+8#,!%'-!:).8'+):0!1%)!-&)+)9&=/#.'8!(#)*!#-!&%'&!6+))I-!'+)!8'L=B!8#I)!&%)#+!-95&%)+,!N5+9/)',!.95-#,-B!&%)!A&'8#',-!',:!P/',#-%0!;!O+9&)-&',&!*9+I!)&%#.B!'88'=):!&9!>#-.'8!/+5:),.)B!#&!#-!#"/8#):B!.958:!+)"'I)!6+)).)0!!

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!WHEN MY PARENTS! +)&5+,):! &9! P=:,)=! &%)=! 899I):! +'$$):B! %'(#,$!"#--):! '!.9,,).&#,$! >8#$%&! #,! Z5?'#B! ?5&! '! :'=! 8'&)+! &%)=! /)+I):! 5/0! 1%)! -.),&! 9>! ?'-#8B! &%)!.95+&='+:! ?',&)+! 9()+! .5/-! 9>!*'+"!6+))I! .9>>))! ',:! &%)! ,)()+D),:#,$! /'+':)! 9>!>'"#8#)-!'89,$!&%)!-)'-#:)!'$9+'!%':!"':)!>9+!'!,9-&'8$#.!&+#/0!N(),!&%)!+)/8'.)"),&!9>!-/8#,&)+):!*99:),!-%5&&)+-!*#&%!'85"#,#5"!9,!@9&%)+7-!',.)-&+'8!%9")!#"/+)--):0!!

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[5&!#&!*'-!'8-9!'!&+#/!&#,$):!*#&%!&%)!-':,)--!9>!>5,)+'8-0!1%)!:)'&%!&%'&!'>>).&):!")!"9-&!*'-!&%'&!9>!%)+!'5,&B!1%#'!O9&'0!\#(#,$!&9!,#,)&=D>#()!*#&%!%)+!"#,:!V4337!J&%)!<&&9"',!*)#$%&!9>!433!65"-,"B!"'I#,$!5/!'!*%98)!(+"U!&%'&!#-B!-%)!/9--)--):!'88!%)+!"'+?8)-KB!O9&'7-!,9D,9,-),-)!'//+9'.%! &9! 8#>)!*'-!,9&! &%'&! >'+! +)"9():! >+9"!M)-#9:7-!/9+&+'='8! #,!4(5+&!"*6!7"3&0! A&!*'-! &%)! 89&!9>! &%)! >'+")+! &9!.58&#('&)!%#-!8',:B!*'#&!>9+!&%)!-$/'$-,!&9!'++#()!*#&%!+'#,-!',:!&%),!%'+()-&!&%)!+)-58&-0!

Y%),!A! 8'-&!(#-#&):!O9&'B! #,!233QB!-%)! 8'=! #,!?):B!%)+!?9:=! #,>#+"!',:!%)+!%'#+!.+9//):!&9!&%)!-I5880!A!>)8&!/+#(#8)$):!&9!%)'+!%)+!-&9+#)-B!)-/).#'88=!'-!-%)!+)>)++):!&9!")!'-!Ve#9+='I#7!9>&),0!P%)!%':!&),:):!%)+!98#()!$+9()-B!*'&.%):!)()+=!:+'.%"'B!?+95$%&! 5/! '! 8'+$)! >'"#8=! ',:! -5//9+&):! %)+! +)8'&#()-! *#&%! 8#&&8)! >5--0! P%)!+)")"?)+):!&%)!$),)+'&#9,!9>!=95,$!"),!*%9!/5-%):!@5--98#,#7-!&+99/-!?'.I!#,&9!;8?',#'! :5+#,$! &%)! %'+-%! FG43! *#,&)+B! ',:! %#:#,$! >+9"! 6)+"',! -98:#)+-! *%9!/'&+988):!&%)!"95,&'#,-!'+95,:!S'/)!@'8)'-0!M)+!8#>)!%':!?)),!'!:#$,#>#):!9,)0![5&!A!'8-9!I,9*!9>!&%)!'"?#('8),.)!9>!O9&'7-!"#8#)5!&9*'+:-!&%)!S989,)87-!b5,&'B!>+9"!FGRg! &9! FGg40! 1%)! b5,&'! *'-! &98)+'&):! #,! \'.9,#'! ?).'5-)! &%)=! +#:! &%)! :)?&-! 9>!>'+")+-B!?5#8&!+9':-!&9!#,'..)--#?8)!(#88'$)-!',:!('8#:'&):!.9,-)+('&#-"B!'!>#)+.)!&+'#&!9>!\'.9,#'!',:!@',#0!1%#-!*'-!9,)!9>!&%)!+)'-9,-!&%)!@),L#)-!$9()+,"),&!-95+.):!&%)!O)89/9,,)-)U!%'+:*9+I#,$!/)9/8)B!I,9*8):$)'?8)!'?95&!'$+'+#',!/+'.&#-)-!',:!#:)989$#.'88=!.9"/8#',&0!!

@=!"9&%)+!5-):! &9! &%#,I! &%)!6+))I-!*)+)! 8'L=! W! '! ?)8#)>! &%'&! .'")! >+9"!%)+!6)+"',#.! -#:)B! ,9! :95?&! J")',#,$! '! O+9&)-&',&! *9+I! )&%#.! &%'&! @'E! Y)?)+!#:),&#>#):!=)'+-!?)>9+)K0![5&!&%#-!&%+))D"9,&%!&+#/!&)"/)+):!%)+!(#)*0!\#>)!*'-!%'+:0!f'&#,$!'$),.#)-B!-9()+)#$,!:)?&B!%):$)!>5,:-B!.9,&'$#9,B!:)+#('&#()-B!?9,:-B!.+):#&!-*'/-!',:!V%'#+.5&-7U!'88!&%#-!).9,9"#.!b'+$9,!*'-!6+))I!&9!%)+0!A,-&)':!-%)!?95$%&!,5")+95-! /'#+-! 9>! >8',,)8)&&)! /=b'"'-! '&! h"'+&B! -&5>>):! &%)"! #,! ',! ),9+"95-!O9-&/'I!',:!"':)!")!'::+)--!&%)"!&9!+)8'&#()-!#,!?8'.I!&)E&'0!1%),!-%)!"'+.%):!9>>!&9!;5-&+'8#'!O9-&0!@9&%)+!I,)*!'!?8)'I!*#,&)+!8'=!'%)':!>9+!6+)).)0!

Jorge Sotirios’s Lonesome George, C’est Moi! is published by Big Sky Publishing. His essay ‘Lost city of the Amazon’ appeared in Griffith REVIEW 20: Cities on the Edge; this is his fifth publication in Griffith REVIEW.

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MEMOIR

No Jesus man The comfort of strangers

David Francis

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136 GriffithREVIEW35

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I’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DAVID FRANCIS: No Jesus man 137

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138 GriffithREVIEW35

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!AND HERE I!$*!-0+,+!-+3!*'3-0,!#$-+%4!)':#(3@-!8++2!*1,+#5!$.$19!Q:37+%/37!5'%!-0+!,':3(,!-0$-!,'$%+(4!-0+1!.+%+!+K:#-$3-!$3(!<!8+2-!$22+$%/374!:3-/#!<!0:37+%+(!5'%!*'%+9! <3! -0+!6$)8!2+.! /3!*1!,:/-! 5%'*! -0+!'55/)+4! +$B+,(%'22/37!'3!+B+3/37!%+0+$%,$#,4! ,/#+3-! $,! $! )0/#(4! .$/-/37! -'! 6+! 2$%-! '5! ,'*+-0/374! -'! 6$-0+! /3! -0+!:383'.34!2%'-+)-/'3!'%!,'*+!,-$-+!'5!7%$)+9!E0+1!7%++-+(!*+!./-0!)$:-/':,4!'2+3!$%*,4!$3(!.0+3!<!.$,!$.$1!5%'*!0+%+!<!1+$%3+(!5'%!-0+!-/*6%+!'5!-0+/%!B'/)+,4!-0+/%!

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!

Originally from West Gippsland, in Victoria, David Francis has lived mostly in the US since 1985. His first novel, Agapanthus Tango (2001), was published internationally in seven languages and in the US as The Great Inland Sea. David’s second novel, Stray Dog Winter (2008), was named Australian Novel of the Year in the Australian Literary Review, was a finalist for the LAMBDA Literary Award and received the American Library Association Stonewall Literary Award for 2010. His writing has appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Wet Ink, The Best Australian Stories and Harvard Review.

140 GriffithREVIEW35

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ESSAY

When bystanders fail ‘I just did my job and minded my own business’

Kathy Marks

WINTER!"#!$!%&'("'!(")&!*+!,"('$"-+!.#/$+01!(%&!$--*2-**(!'-*3!"#!-&$04!5*-!%$-6&#("+78!$#! $-&! (%&!2"/0! 9&$+#! (%$(! #3-*:(! "+! 3-*5:#"*+8! '/$)9&-"+7! *6&-! 9:#%&#! $+0! (2"+"+7!(%&)#&/6&#!$-*:+0!(-&&!(-:+;#<!=%&!#:7$-'$+&8!(**8!#($+0#!($//!"+!(%&!2"+08!$+0!*+'&!':(!%$#!(*!9&!3-*'&##&0!2"(%"+!0$4#8!*(%&-2"#&!"(!#($-(#!(*!/*#&!"(#!#2&&(+&##<!

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=2*!(&$'%&-#!(-"&0!(*!2$-+!(%&!H-"("#%!7*6&-+)&+(!"+!(%&!EFfG#!(%$(!#*)&(%"+7!2$#!$)"##8!9:(!2&-&!+*(!($;&+!#&-"*:#/4<!C+0!(%$(!2$#!"(1!+*+&!*5!(%&!*(%&-!*:(#"0&-#!3*#(&0!(*!,"('$"-+!"+!$!3-*5&##"*+$/!'$3$'"(4!&6&-!-&/$4&0!(%&"-!'*+'&-+#<!=%&!'%"/0-&+!2&-&!/&5(!(*!(%&"-!5$(&8!$+0!2%&+!(%&!6&"/!*5!#"/&+'&!2$#!5"+$//4!/"5(&08!"(!2$#!+*(!94!$!3$-&+(8!*-!(&$'%&-8!*-!)"+"#(&-!*5!(%&!'%:-'%8!9:(!94!H&/"+0$8!(%&!7"-/!"+!(%&!9$+$+$!7-*6&<!?%&!2$#!#("//!B:#(!5"5(&&+!4&$-#!*/0<!

!ANCIENT PETROGLYPHS GOUGED! "+(*! $! '/"55! 5$'&! "+0"'$(&! (%$(! ,"('$"-+8!3&-'%&0!)"02$4!9&(2&&+!U&2!_&$/$+0!$+0!K%"/&8!2$#!*'':3"&0!94!,*/4+&#"$+#!5-*)!$9*:(!\GG!(*!EJGG!C[<!V%4!(%&4!0&3$-(&0!"#!+*(!'/&$-N!$(!$+4!-$(&8!(%&!3/$'&!

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H:(!2%"/&!(%&!'*)):+"(4!0"#3/$4&0!$!6"-(:*:#!5$'&!(*!6"#"(*-#8!-&3*-(#!5"/(&-&0!*:(!*5! "+'&#(8! -$3&#8! $9*-("*+#8! 2"5&>9&$("+78! "//&7"(")$(&! 9"-(%#! $+0! :+&A3/$"+&0!b$''"0&+($/D!0&$(%#N!94!(%&!&$-/4!(2&+("&(%!'&+(:-48!$!3$((&-+!*5!7"-/#!9&"+7!b#&0:'&0D!*-!b9-*;&+!"+D!94!$0:/(!)&+!%$0!&#($9/"#%&0!"(#&/5<!=%*#&!7"-/#8!"+!)*-&!-&'&+(!(")&#8!"+'/:0&0!(2*!#"#(&-#8!.#*9&/!$+0!a&$+"&8!2%*)!.!"+(&-6"&2&0!"+!U&2!_&$/$+0!"+!IGGP<!V%"/&!($/;"+7!(*!.#*9&/8!.!-&$/"#&0!2&!2&-&!$/)*#(!(%&!#$)&!$7&8!$+0!.!'*+(&)3/$(&0!(%&! '-:&/! /*((&-4! *5! 9"-(%<!L+&! #3"+! *5! (%&!2%&&/! $+0! 4*:!2&-&! '*+0&)+&0! (*! $!+"7%()$-"#%!'%"/0%**0!*+!,"('$"-+N!$+*(%&-!#3"+!$+0!4*:!7-&2!:3!"+!$!/*6"+7!5$)"/4!"+!M+7/$+0<!

W-*)!(%&!$7&#!*5!+"+&!$+0!#&6&+8!-&#3&'("6&/48!.#*9&/!$+0!a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b:+"X:&D!'"-':)#($+'&#8!(%&!B:07&#!%$0!9&&+!&A(-$*-0"+$-"/4!/&+"&+(< !̂

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The names of all victims in this piece have been changed.

Kathy Marks is The Independent’s Asia-Pacific correspondent and the author of Pitcairn: Paradise Lost (HarperCollins, 2008), which won the Ned Kelly Award and was shortlisted for the CAL Waverley Library Award. Her essays have appeared in Griffith REVIEW editions 28 and 29, and been included in The Best Australian Essays.

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FICTION

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156 GriffithREVIEW35

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Real characters and events inspired this story.

Nikola Gurovic was born in Yugoslavia and is a freelance journalist living in Brisbane. He previously worked for Television Sarajevo and Radio Free Europe in Prague and Washington. His memoirs have appeared in Griffith REVIEW editions 22 and 27.

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MEMOIR

Occupying armies The Chatham Islands and an incest family

Sydney Smith

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b/'3(/0! )..! "#(&! F! "#(/;! ':! 6=! 0$)/5:)"#%$! >0)3#)$%3("(-! 3#'! 3)&! >0)"(!,+"+/0)-!)/5!6=!0$)/56'"#%$!9'/0'-!3("#!#%$!,'$('$(!*.''5!"(%&-!)/5!F!6)$4%.!"#)"! "#%=! 6)$$(%58! F! 5'/H"! &%%! "#(&! )&! )! &(0/! ':! #'2%! '$! +/("=-! ':! 2%)7%! *%"3%%/!7'/P+%$'$&!)/5!&.)4%&8!F!5'/H"!;/'3!3#)"!("H&!)!&(0/!':8!@%$4%$&("=-!2%$#)2&8!G$!"#%!&#%%$!3(..!"'!&+$4(4%-!/'!6)""%$!3#)"8!C..!F!;/'3!(&!"#)"!6=!6'"#%$!3)&!)&#)6%5!':!#%$!,'$('$(!7'//%7"('/-!%4%/!6'$%!)&#)6%5!"#)/!&#%!3)&!':!#%$!,)'$(!*.''58!

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9#%!&"'$=!F!3)&!3'$;(/0!'/!3)&!%6*)$$)&&(/0.=!S+4%/(.%!A!)*'+"!)!7'66+/("=!':!3'6%/!7+"!'::!:$'6!"#%!$%&"!':!"#%!3'$.58!C/!(/"$%2(5!%O2.'$%$!4%/"+$%&!'+"!':!"#%!7'66+/("=8!>'"!"#)"!&#%!&%%&!#%$&%.:! (/!"#'&%!"%$6&8!T#%!&%%&!#%$&%.:!)&!5$(4%/!"'!

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'77)&('/&8!,'"#%$!#)5!/'!7'6:'$"!"'!'::%$!)/='/%-!/'!3)$6"#-!/'!$%)&&+$)/7%8!C..!&#%!#)5!3)&!7'.5/%&&8!R+"!F!5(&.(;%5!,)!:'$!$%S%7"(/0!#%$!)/5!*.)6%5!#%$8!F:!,)!#)5!0(4%/!,'"#%$!3#)"!&#%!/%%5%5-!2%$#)2&!,'"#%$!7'+.5!#)4%!*%7'6%!"#%!2%$&'/!F!#)5!).3)=&!3)/"%5!#%$!"'!*%8!F!;/%3!("!3'+.5/H"!#)4%!#)22%/%5!*+"!F!7'+.5/H"!&"'2!=%)$/(/0! :'$! "#)"! 6="#(7! 6'"#%$-! "#%! '/%! 3#'! #)5! 3("#%$%5! (/! )/! (/#'&2(")*.%!7.(6)"%8!

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!THE THIRD STORY!F!;/'3!':!"#%!,'$('$(!(&!':!)!5%"%$6(/%5!&%)$7#!:'$!S+&"(7%!)/5!$%2)$)"('/8! C."#'+0#! "#%! ,)'$(! #)5! &"'.%/! "#%($! .)/5! )/5! %/&.)4%5! "#%6-! "#%!,'$('$(!/%4%$!:'$0'"!"#)"!"#%=!#)5!2$%&%$4%5!"#%($!1$'$!*=!)5#%$(/0!"'!>+6+;+H&!.)38! 9#%=! "'.5! "#%($! &"'$=! "'! I+$'2%)/&-! 3#'! $%7'$5%5! ("! :)("#:+..=8! 9#%=! &%/"! )!2%"("('/!"'!"#%!0'4%$/'$!':!>%3!?%).)/5-!2$'"%&"(/0!)"!3#)"!#)5!*%%/!5'/%!"'!"#%68!9#%=!3%$%!&"(..!)$0+(/0!"#%($!7)&%!(/![``d-!3#%/!)!"$(*+/).!3)&!#%.5!)"!9%!C3)2)"(;(-!"#%!4%$=!2.)7%!3#%$%-!(/![\]^-!"#%!,'$('$(!6%/!#)5!0)"#%$%5!"'!5(&7+&&!3#)"!3)&!"'!*%!5'/%!)*'+"!"#%!,)'$(!(/4)&('/8!!

>'! :+..1*.''5%5! ,'$('$(! &+$4(4%5! *=! "#(&! "(6%8! L#)"! 3)&! .%:"! 3%$%! 6%/! )/5!3'6%/!3#'!(/&(&"%5!'/!"#%($!,'$('$(!#%$(")0%!)/5!(5%/"("=!(/!"#%!:)7%!':!)!7'/7%$"%5!)""%62"!(/!>%3!?%).)/5!"'!5%/=!"#)"!"#%($!:'$%*%)$&!#)5!%4%$!%O(&"%58!!

,=! 6'"#%$! )/5! #%$! :)6(.=! 5(5! /'"! &(5%! 3("#! "#%&%! 2%'2.%<! "#%=! 3%$%! >0)"(!,+"+/0)!"#$'+0#!"#%($!:)"#%$8!C/5!=%"!"#%=!/%4%$!5%/(%5!"#)"!"#%!,'$('$(!%O(&"%5-!"#%!3)=!'"#%$&!5(58!9'!,'"#%$-!#%$!,'$('$(!*.''5!3)&!)!&#)6%:+.!6)$;!"#)"!6+&"!*%!)7;/'3.%50%5!*%7)+&%!("!7'+.5!/'"!*%!(0/'$%58!F"!3)&!"#%!&("%!':!)/!'/0'(/0!&"$+00.%!*%"3%%/!$%).("=!)/5!)!.'/0%51:'$!(5%).8!

!

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

!

Sydney Smith is the director of the Victorian Mentoring Service for Writers. Her writing has previously appeared in Griffith REVIEW editions 17, 22 and 26. The Lost Woman, a memoir, will be published by Text in June 2012.

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MEMOIR

My mother and murder Matters of life and death

Virginia Peters

I’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!

Gladys Mary Rees, née Pettersson, died at 2.30 am on 30 September 2010.

Virginia Peters’ short stories have appeared in various publications, including Sleepers, Overland, New Australian Stories and Kill Your Darlings. She has an MA in writing from UTS and is living in Oxford with her partner and three children, where she is working on a non-fiction book in the area of true crime for her PhD in creative writing.

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POEM

The sleepers (from the Futures Museum) Lisa Gorton

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

Lisa Gorton is an award-winning poet and the author of an acclaimed novel for children, Cloudland (Pan Macmillan, 2008). She was the 2010 poet in residence at the Australian Poetry Centre.

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ESSAY

The meaning of a disaster Making sense of random events

Sidney Dekker

‘NO!"#$%&'!

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!WE HAD ARRIVED!-0!,%-$!4./01-0/5-/0!8/01!/!9)/"!)/"8-)"&!<,!%/1!+))0!$#77)";!,%)0! /$! 0*=&! (%)! $#0! %/1! +))0! $%-0-02! *+$.)0)89;! #0")$)"5)189&! (%)! 2"/$$!=/$!%-2%;!,%)!/-"!,%-.:!/01!2*81)0!/01!6-88)1!=-,%!8-2%,!/01!8/#2%,)"!/01!7*$F#-,*)$&!H9!=-6)!/01!<!%/1!+))0!68*=0!#3!6*"!J*+!-0,)"5-)=$;!/01!7-0)!=/$!.*01#.,)1!-0!/!8-,,8)!")$,/#"/0,!*5)"8**:-02!/!./0/8;!/!+-,!*#,!*6!,*=0&!<!=/$!,*81!,%/,!,%)!./0/8!=/$!1#2!/!.)0,#"9!/01!/!%/86!)/"8-)"!+9!)08-$,)1!7)0;!+#,!*5)",/:)0!+9!,%)!"/-8"*/1!/!6)=!9)/"$!/6,)"!,%)!1-22-02!=/$!1*0)&!(%)!./0/8!0*=!$))7)1!7/-089!,*!:))3!K)"7/0!,*#"-$,$!

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SIDNEY DEKKER: The meaning of a disaster 187

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SIDNEY DEKKER: The meaning of a disaster 189

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SIDNEY DEKKER: The meaning of a disaster 193

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SIDNEY DEKKER: The meaning of a disaster 195

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SIDNEY DEKKER: The meaning of a disaster 197

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SIDNEY DEKKER: The meaning of a disaster 199

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200 GriffithREVIEW35

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SIDNEY DEKKER: The meaning of a disaster 201

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Sidney Dekker is professor and director of the Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance at Griffith University. He is the author of several bestselling books on system failure, human error, ethics and governance, including most recently Patient Safety: A Human Factors Approach (CRC Press, 2011).

202 GriffithREVIEW35

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Text Publishing, Melbourne AustraliaTexTPublishing.coM.Au

out february

‘Her insistence that women should be women first and mothers second is refreshing: unapologetic and confident.’ Newsweek

‘France's modern-day answer to Simone de Beauvoir.’ Australian

A savage critique of motherhood in the twenty-first century.

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Text Publishing, Melbourne AustraliaTexTPublishing.coM.Au

out february

A powerful collection of stories from the author of the international bestseller Crime.

'He does for crime what Oliver Sacks does for neurology: uses his own cases to explore the strangeness of the human heart and mind.'

Australian

'A wonderful storytelling voice, dry, clear, restrained; but beneath the unshockable surface, a current of indignation and compassion.'

Helen Garner

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‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ Weekend Australian

GriffithReview35 surVIVInG

SuR

viv

iNG

GriffithR

eview

35

RePORTAGeMaTTHeW Condon Flooding plains, bursting rivers, human sufferingsally neIGHbour life and death on the high seas

eSSAYMara bún The path to resiliencesopHIe CunnInGHaM disappearedsIdney dekker The meaning of a disasterMICHael GaWenda Informed consentToM GrIFFITHs The language of catastrophenIC loW ear to the groundkaTHy Marks When bystanders failjulIanne sCHulTZ life in a time of disastersjorGe soTIrIos europe’s Trojan horse

MeMOiRToM baMForTH How to survive an earthquakedaVId FranCIs no jesus manasHley Hay Walking underwaterlee koFMan passion in a time of warVIrGInIa peTers My mother and murdersydney sMITH occupying armies

FiCTiONnIkola GuroVIC babo ColIn MIlls Ghost town

POeTRYlIsa GorTon The sleeperslloyd jones suddenlyGeoFF paGe auntie May, 1953MarIa Takolander Crime scene investigation

griffithreview.comread more surVIVInG articles online and purchase previous digital and print editions

A quARTeRlY OF New wRiTiNG & ideAS35

RANdOM ACTS OF NATuRe ANd MANMatthew Condon, ashley Hay, Tom Griffiths,

lloyd jones, sally neighbour, sophie Cunningham, david Francis, Michael Gawenda, kathy Marks,

nic low, Mara bún, sidney dekker

surviving

GR35_cover_PT.indd 1 12/12/11 10:01 AM


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