Finding Ullagundahi Island

by Fabienne Bayet-Charlton

Creating new boundaries for fiction and memoir, this fresh, lively narrative about family, place, identity, and a sense of belonging relates the story of a young Aboriginal woman searching for her roots. Ullagundahi Island is the land where Fabienne's grandmother and grandfather were born, began a family, and separated; it is the land where her tribe, the Bundjalung, still live. It is here, on this island in the middle of the Clarence River in northern NSW, that the author sifts through memories of her beloved grandmother while searching for her family's untold history and Aboriginality.

252 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2002

Reviews

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘A story of family, place and belonging.’

In her Author Note, Ms Bayet-Charlton wrote that ‘... although this book is strongly autobiographical, it is not an autobiography.’ She wanted to make it clear that it is written from her perspective.

‘Memories fade, like a drought of the mind…’

This is a deeply personal story, a quest for knowledge, for identity, for family history. Ms Bayet-Charlton, then a young Aboriginal woman, travelled to northern NSW, to the Clarence River. She was in search of Ullagundahi Island where her grandmother and grandfather were born. Records were sparse, and those with memories of her grandmother were few. But she never stopped searching. The book is presented as a letter to her daughter, Ashlyn May.

‘Sometimes I feel like a door between two rooms, a fence dividing two pieces of land, two countries, two universes.’

I was halfway through this book when an online search for a particular detail led me to an obituary notice. I was shocked. This talented, intelligent, vibrant young woman died in 2011.

In The Advertiser, on 3 September 2011, Stephen Orr wrote an obituary, from which the following is quoted:

‘She journeyed into a heart of darkness from which, ultimately, she couldn't escape. She created all-too-real fictional characters, struggled with depression, and the fracturing of her family, past and present.’ and

‘Fabienne was torn between two worlds - black and white, academic and creative, the past and present, death and resilience.’

I kept reading, saddened by the knowledge that this bright, articulate woman is no longer with us.

Her story of dispossession is not unique, but her telling of it is so very powerful. A beautifully written autobiographical book. I wish I’d read it earlier.

Adrienne Bayet-Charlton (1970-2011) was born and died in Adelaide.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Katrina Kellett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great memoir, beautifully written about belonging, Aboriginality and growing up in Australia.

[Toni Umar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely wonderful, I could not put it down. I just loved the authors writing style. I learnt so much as she shared her experiences- the racism she herself suffers let alone her family she is researching. So wrong. But the story itself is beautiful and the reader strongly feels the bonds between grand daughter and grandmother - I’m feeling very lost now I’ve read the final page. Thank you for writing and allowing us to learn.

[Zoe Creelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great high school level text. It introduces some of the complexity of being an Aboriginal person in modern Australian society. The bit-sized chapters and beautiful writing style mean it does some heavy lifting educating about our country's history, but with a gentleness that leaves the reader wanting to know more rather than feeling bruised.

[VinitaF · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exquisitely written memoir/autobiography. Teaming with beauty, truth, pain and family. What a gorgeous book!