Digger J Jones by Richard J Frankland
Louis
Braille Audio, Melbourne, 2007 ISBN 978 0 7320 3329 3
(2 CD's, 2
hours)
(Age 10+) The listener is immediately immersed in the story of Digger,
as he writes his diary telling of the days' happenings with his
extended family in Melbourne in the early part of 1967, a significant
year for the Aboriginal population of Australia, the referendum rightly
giving them a legal place in society. Digger's brother, Paul has died
in Vietnam; he fights his school nemesis, Darcy, kisses Sue behind the
bike shed and talks to Tom, a young man about to join up, at meetings
at the Aborigines Advancement League.
An amazingly astute and hilarious story, Digger is eleven, old enough
to ask questions without embarrassment or subterfuge, young enough for
people to answer honestly. And he asks some rippers, why don't we have
the vote, why are black and white people arguing, why is that black boy
kissing that white girl, and on and on. Each one underlining for the
listener the discrimination that was a normal part of life 4 decades
ago, and so begging the question about how much has changed.
The author is also the reader on this excellent pack of 2 CD's,
totaling two hours of listening hilarity, and he reads with
authenticity, his snarly rough voice, deeply ingrained with Aboriginal
history. The listener will feel akin to Digger's search for what he
believes and values in life, be aware of the political forces behind
the story, brought to a street level with Digger, the nuns and
supporters striding along in the demonstrations, holding their banner
before them. For those students looking at Australia's history, those
who want to know more about Aboriginal history and specifically the
granting of citizenship, and those who want to listen to a good story
well told, then this is for them.
Fran Knight
© Pledger
Consulting, 2007