Maralinga's Long Shadow: Yvonne's Story

by Christobel Mattingley

The powerful story of Yvonne Edwards, artist and community leader, who lived on or near the Maralinga lands, and the cost of the fall-out for herself and her family from the nuclear tests in the 1950s.

Grandfather and Grandmother telling lots of stories. They had to live at Yalata. Their home was bombed. That was their home where the bomb went off. They thought it was mamu tjuta, evil spirits, coming. Everyone was frightened, thinking about people back in the bush. Didn't know what bomb was. Later told it was poison. Parents and grandparents really wanted to go home, used to talk all the time to get their land back.

Yvonne Edwards was just six years old when the first bombs of the nuclear tests at Maralinga were detonated in 1956. The tests continued until 1963 and their consequences profoundly affected her family and community.

This powerful book, by award-winning author Christobel Mattingley, honours Yvonne Edwards' legacy as a highly respected artist and community elder.

Genres: Indigenous, Historical

197 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Christobel Mattingley has been writing since she was eight years old and had her first pieces published in the children's pages of magazines and newspapers. Her first book, The Picnic Dog, was published in 1970, when she had three young children. While they were growing up she worked as a librarian in schools and in a teachers' college. She has been self-employed as a writer since 1974 and has travelled widely in Australia and overseas, speaking in schools and libraries. Christobel Mattingley has published over 30 books for children. Some of her works have been translated into other languages, have won various awards in Australia and the USA, and have been made into films for ABC Television. For most of the 1980s she worked with Aboriginal people and researched the history Survival in Our Land. In 1990 she received the Advance Australia Award for Service to Literature, and in 1996 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to literature, particularly children's literature, and for community service through her commitment to social and cultural issues. No Gun for Asmir received a High Commendation in the Australian Human Rights Awards of 1994.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maralinga’s Long Shadow: Yvonne’s Story is a book I picked up from the NAIDOC week display at the Parkdale branch of Kingston Libraries, and it raises an interesting issue in terms of authorship.

This week is Indigenous Literature Week, and I’ve always wanted it to be about books authored by Indigenous people. But in this instance, Yvonne Edwards died unexpectedly just as – after a long and busy life as an artist and activist – she had at last begun working with author Christobel Mattingley on writing her story. Mattingley has therefore constructed Yvonne’s story from interviews and conversations with Yvonne, an interview on ABC Radio’s Message Stick and some input from Yvonne’s family and friends. It is profusely illustrated with beautiful art works by Yvonne and there are some photographs as well.

While the artworks tell the vivid story of Yvonne’s people, the Anangu people of what is now known as Maralinga, the book is written in the third person in English that is simple and direct, and includes some use of Pitjantjatjara. It does not purport to be Yvonne’s own voice but it does appear to be written entirely from her perspective. Although there is a comprehensive author’s note at the back of the book which explains its genesis and her method, still, it’s not possible to glean from any signals in the text whether this perspective or parts of it have been inferred by the author or drawn directly from Mattingley’s interviews and conversations. The reader has no way of telling which of the opinions expressed are the sympathetic opinions of the author or the recorded opinions of the subject. The tone is always respectful of the subject and the draft was approved by members of Yvonne’s family. So it seems to me that the book sits awkwardly in a space between a rather naïve way of writing biography written for the children’s or YA market, and a genuine attempt to reproduce the story that Yvonne would herself have told, in words she would have used, and telling a story that otherwise might not have been told.

To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2017/07/06/m...

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really what I was expecting, this was more a story about Yvonne Edwards (an aboriginal artist) than about Maralinga. I would have liked much more information and history about Maralinga, but I guess I'll need to look a bit further for something suitable. A nice little book with lots of images, but a bit too brief and lacking detail.

[Kylie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Classified as Junior? Reading for Reconcilation list. Better editing could have improved this book about an incredibly important and dark part of Australian history. Beautiful illustrations.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story. I didn't previously know anything about the nuclear testing in South Australia, but I am not surprised at the injustices against the aborigines. What a loss to the entire world when these people lose their connection to their lands and all of the knowledge and understanding that goes along with it. We are fortunate that people like Yvonne and her family are doing what they can to preserve it. I loved the paintings and photos that accompanied the story. I also appreciate the way the author helped us feel the story from the point of view of the aborigines even though she herself is white.

[Tina Jameson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A biography of a life lived through the most appalling of circumstances. A powerful recount - told simply, honestly and without gratuitous frills. This book is a must 'have for' school libraries, and I feel it is a book that should be read by all Australians. For readers beyond Australian shores; you may well be shocked at what was allowed to happen in this 'democratic' country.

The life of Yvonne Edwards is presented sympathetically, and is at a suitable level for middle / senior school, and is content rich enough to engage an older readership.

[St Stephen's C C]

The powerful story of Yvonne Edwards, artist and community leader, who lived on or near the Maralinga lands, and the cost of the fall-out for herself and her family from the nuclear tests in the 1950s.

[David Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sad story of the very hard life of an aboriginal woman who was severely affected by the atomic tests at Maralinga. In a way her life was quite heroic as she overcame setback after setback. The book is liberally sprinked with examples of the lady's art and photographs from her life.

[Annie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story to know. Decision makers in England and Australia have a lot of death on their hands and a lot to answer to the Aboriginal people. We can learn very much from Evonne.