Outlaw: The Story of Joe Flick

by Greg Barron

When anthropologist Robert Morris arrives at the old Doomadgee Mission, at Bayley Point near Burketown in 1934, he's intent on learning local languages and customs. One very old woman living there, he discovers, was originally from outback New South Wales, and is something of an outcast amongst the Waanyi and Gangalidda locals.On delving deeper, Morris discovers that the old woman was the 'wife' of a white stockman for more than thirty years in the frontier days, and claims to be the mother of one of the north's most notorious outlaws. Determined to record the facts of her son's crimes from her perspective, he sits with her each afternoon.This is the story she told ...

141 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2020

About the author

Crime, terrorism, history, international politics and the wide open spaces of outback Australia are all passionate interests of author Greg Barron. He has lived in North America, New South Wales and in and around Katherine, Northern Territory. He once crossed Arnhem Land on foot, and has a passion for the Top End landscape.

His books, published by HarperCollins Australia and Stories of Oz Publishing, are gutsy pageturners that tell the truth about the world. Rotten Gods was long listed for the prestigious Ned Kelly awards, and has been lauded as "one of the most sophisticated geopolitical thrillers ever written." Savage Tide was described by ABC Radio reviewer Rob Minshull as; "Both supremely intelligent and written at breathtaking pace."

Camp Leichhardt is the first of his Australian stories to see print, and was serialised in 2016 to wide acclaim. Rotten Gods, Savage Tide, Voodoo Dawn and Lethal Sky all feature Marika Hartmann, the Australian intelligence agent who has won the hearts of readers all over the world.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty, the elderly Aboriginal woman living at the mission at Bayley Point, near Burketown, had a story to tell, and when anthropologist Robert Morris arrived in 1934 and befriended Kitty, the story she told both fascinated him, and appalled him. Kitty was married to a white stockman, living in the area, and when Joe was born, they were both ecstatic. Kitty loved Joe, and as he grew, he idolised his father, learning all he could about the outback and its ways, learning to shoot and take care of himself. But the day he had to defend his mother was the beginning of Joe Flick's life as an outlaw...

Outlaw: The Story of Joe Flick is another enticing story about early Australia, the harshness of the outback, the brutality of the police and the prejudice the whites had against the Aboriginals. Aussie author Greg Barron always writes an enjoyable story, and this one was no exception. Recommended.

[Linda Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greg Barron is on my hit list of excellent writers that recount tales from early Australian settlement and the abhorrent treatment of aboriginal people.
This story captures the story of Joe Flick, a young lad who, in defending his mother, ends up on the wrong side of ‘the law’.
Barron weaves an in depth account of young Joe’s life story. It could be MANY young aboriginal men’s story, but this is Joe’s and it definitely shines a light on the madness of the pioneers and their lust for power.
Side note:
During the read I found myself researching some of the incidents around Lawn Hill Station, situated on Waayni country, where the owner Frank Hann and his side kick Jack Watson are actually recorded for their ‘trophy ears’ nailed to the walls, as well as other horrors! Whilst some regarded these facts as tales, it was proven through the late discovery of the diary by Emily Caroline Creaghe. Pretty gruesome!

ThankYOU Greg Barron, definitely not the last book I read of yours. Whistlers Bones stayed with me for months.

[michelle o'flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly intriguing historical story of a young indigenous man who was pushed into becoming a criminal purely by colonial racism and devaluation that tragically is being repeated to this day. Kitty is a strong woman whose love for her son and her sorrow for his treatment captivated my mind and I wonder at the ability of elders and their story telling. It’s a skill that educates but also records everything from geography, history and experiences.
Greg Barron weaves this factual tale with sensitivity and great story telling himself

[barna richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting story of Australian outback

This writer does an excellent job describing his and other'',s experiences in the out back well written and enjoyable reading.

[Jim Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0*

My rating criteria is..
I round down

5.0 - Amazing
4.5 - I loved it
4.0 - I liked it a lot
3.5 - I Liked it
3.0 - It was OK
2.5 - Just
2.0 - I wouldn't bother
1.5 - I didn't like it much
1.0 - I disliked it