Saltwater fella

by John Moriarty, Evan McHugh

One of the Stolen Generation, Australian Aborigine John Moriarty to returns to the remote outback in the Northern Territory to find his family and a place in the world.

285 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2000

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

John Kundereri Moriarty is an Indigenous Australian artist, government advisor and former football (soccer) player. He is most famous, as founder of the Balarinji Design Studio, for painting two Qantas jets with Aboriginal motifs. In 2000 he wrote an autobiography Saltwater Fella.

Reviews

[Carmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a literary work, but an excellent first hand account of the very difficult path the author, and our first nations people have had to navigate.

[Kamil · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Moriarty recounts his story as an Aboriginal-Irish person growing up in mission homes after being taken from his mother and community, eventually finding success in politics and business. The early chapters offer an interesting account of life in 1940s and 50s Australia, particularly the mistreatment and challenges faced by indigenous people. He continues to focus on these injustices as he moves into politics to advance the Aboriginal cause. And yet, the book falls short where it should be strongest – with little context provided about the movement for Aboriginal equality, Moriarty's narration often leaps between detached personal anecdotes, at times glossing over important issues with frustrating vagueness and throw-away comments.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the different insights into First Nations culture imbued in this text. I could hear Moriarty's voice clearly, strong and confident, easily; there was no "wishy-washy" tone to it. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about what's has happened and should happen in Australia.

[Joan Garvan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a present to me some years ago and so glad to have finally read this life story by John Moriarty.