Somebody now: The autobiography of Ellie Gaffney, a woman of Torres Strait

by Ellie Gaffney

134 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Ellie Gaffney (1932–2007) grew up on Thursday Island and Cape York Peninsula. She trained as a nurse and worked in various hospitals in Brisbane, Darwin and Thursday Island. When, despite her better qualification, a white male nurse got a job instead of her, she gave up her nursing career and became a campaigner and advocate for improving Torres Strait Islander conditions. Ellie was a founding member of the Mura Kosker Sorority, the Torres Strait Islander Media Association and Star of the Sea Home for the Aged. Her books include Somebody Now (Aboriginal Studies Press, 1989) and Mura Solwata Kosher: We Saltwater Women (Verdant House, 2007), and her autobiographical essay ‘Determination to Succeed’ was published in In Our Own Right: Black Australian Nurses’ Stories (Routledge, 2005). She was awarded the Order of Australia medal in 1990 in recognition of her service to the community.