Book Launches and Events 2009

AIATSIS Conference
Wednesday 30 September, 12:30–1:30pm Manning Clark Centre
Book Launch

Murray River Country, Jessica K Weir
Join us to celebrate the launch of ASP’s new title as Dr Payi-Linda Ford from the MakMak clan launches this important book. The book has received glowing endorsements from Dr Ford, Donna Haraway, Richie Howitt and Libby Robin.

Thursday 1 October, 9:00–10:30am Manning Clark 1
Plenary

The diversity of the urban experience will feature Bill Simon, whose recently published autobiography Back on the Block reveals his experiences in the Kinchela Boy’s Home and later in Redfern’s the Block.

Thursday 1 October, 3:30–5:00pm Manning Clark 5
Notions of Aboriginality in cross-cultural training

Join Robyn Forester and Naomi Parry talk about the use of The Little Red Yellow Black Book in a range of programs and services. This session will be invaluable for people working in Indigenous client-service provision and policy development. Also, visit http://lryb.aiatsis.gov.au/.

Brisbane Writers’ Festival, 7–13 September

Murris and non-Indigenous Australians heard from Bill Simon, an Aboriginal pastor on Redfern’s The Block, talk about his life. His tale of life in the notorious Kinchela Boys’ Home had the Sydney Writers Festival audience in the palm of his hand, both horrified by the brutal realities of his life and moved by his faith and redemption. In Brisbane he spoke along with co-writer, Des Montgomerie.

Melbourne Writers’ Festival

John Doyle and Yorta Yorta woman, Monica Morgan, launched Jess Weir’s new publication Murray River Country: An ecological dialogue with traditional owners at the Melbourne Writers’ Festival on Saturday 29 August. The book is creating a lot of interest and with the subject being the Murray-Darling Basin, there’s sure to be interest from a range of organisations and people.

NAIDOC Week 5–12 July 2009 Children’s Book Pack

Aboriginal Studies Press is proud to re-release four of our children’s titles in paperback, as part of our Children’s Pack to celebrate this year’s NAIDOC week. There will be teachers’ notes available on-line, posters and bookmarks. Our pack provides schools and libraries with a wonderful set of resources and books to support school engagement with NAIDOC Week 2009. The NAIDOC theme for 2009 is Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth. Please contact NewSouth Books for more information on (02) 9385 6689 or orders@tldistribution.com.au.

Past Matters Festival

Aboriginal Studies Press authors Jeremy Beckett, Melinda Hinkson, Jon Altman and Alberto Fulman, An Appreciation of Difference, took part in the 2009 Past Matters Festival in May, as did Back on The Block authors, bill Simon and Jo Tuscano.

Sydney Writers Festival

Bill Simon, author of Back on the Block was in conversation with John Maynard at the 2009 Sydney Writers Festival. He also took part in the session Bruce Pascoe, author of Convincing Ground and co-author of The Little Red Yellow Black Book took part in the First Australians session. Anita Heiss, author of Dhuuluu-Yalawas also be part of this year's Festival, reading at Celebrating the Voice 9 - Indigenous Writers Night.

Between Indigenous Australia and Europe: John Mawurndjul
Book Launch, Canberra ACT

Between Indigenous Australia and Europe: John Mawurndjuledited by Claus Volkenandt and Christian Kaufmann, was launched by Brenda Crofts at the opening of a major survey exhibition of John Mawurndjul at the Drill Hall Gallery, ANU April 16th, 2009.

Two Fires Festival

Professor John Maynard (Fight for Liberty and Freedom and Aboriginal Stars of the Turf) appeared at the 2009 Two Fires Festival at Braidwood, March 27-29 as part of the Aboriginal Literature panel with Peter Minter on the Saturday afternoon. The AIATSIS chairperson, Mick Dodson also spoke at this year's Festival. A wide range of Aboriginal Studies Press's publications were for sale at the Festival shopfront on Wallace Street.

Perth Writers’ Festival

Professor John Maynard (Fight for Liberty and Freedom and Aboriginal Stars of the Turf) and Dr Yasmine Musharbash (Yuendumu Everyday) were guests at the Perth Writers’ Festival in February 2009. Visit http://www.perthfestival.com.au/perthwritersfestival/ for more information.


Book Launches and Events 2008

An Appreciation of Difference
New Zealand

An Appreciation of Difference by Melinda Hinkson & Jeremy Beckett was launched by Professor Marilyn Strathern at the Ownership and Appropriation conference, Auckland New Zealand on Tuesday 11 December 2008.

Yuendumu Everyday
New Zealand

Yuendumu Everyday by Yasmine Musharbash was launched by Professor Diane Austin-Broos at the Ownership and Appropriation conference, Auckland New Zealand on Thursday 13 December 2008.

Holding Men
Broome and Melbourne

With promotional help from the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health, and support from the Lingiari Foundation and Melbourne University, Brian McCoy's Holding Men was launched in Broome and Melbourne.

Patrick Dodson officially launched the book in Broome in front of an audience which included local politicans and academics, while Professor Ian Anderson launched the book in Melbourne to a crowd of about eighty people, including academics and health practitioners. Sales were strong at both launches and print reviews and author interviews on radio have ensured ongoing interest in the book.