Richard Trudgen ran a seminar in Adelaide earlier this year (2007) in which he sought to provide some answers to questions about Aboriginal health and education and why they are proving to be continuing problems. While the examples given are from Yolngu culture they also ring a bell with other Aboriginal communities. To begin to understand the issues and stop trying to inflict western answers the reader is encouraged to see it all from the 'other side'. The culture and language divide causes misunderstandings which when understood provides fresh answers and hope for Aboriginal communities.

Absolutely compulsory reading for any who wish to traverse the cultural divide.

Lewis was born at Point Pearce Mission in 1930. In this book he tells his remarkable story of growing up, his determination to identify with his Aboriginal ancestory despite being able to pass for a European and his passion for learning about his Aboriginal culture and everything else. This passion which was exhibited from a young age gave rise to him being nicknamed 'Prof'. The book is full of sensible comments and observations on life in general and projects the importance of education and life long learning. It is also provides background about the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains.

Highly recommended.

For anyone wishing to understand the the story of Aboriginal people in the South Australian context this is essential reading. It is a largely depressing story of the decline in the health of a people who were largely equal with the settlers in health terms at the time of first settlement. It is also a stark story of the continued failures of well-intentioned policy makers in attempting to bring Aboriginal people along with them in the journey of the 'development' of this state.

The story is told largely through the documents and reports recorded by the early colonists but there are few instances of any 'Aboriginal voice' being recorded in these documents.Despite the laudable objectives expressed in the early days, Aboriginal people, were always viewed as 'not part of the public' which view continually hampered and destroyed any meaningful attempt to treat them as equals or advance their social and economic status in the European society.

For me the story of Poonindie was gut wrenching. Poonindie was a settlement or mission established near Port Lincoln before any extensive white settlement had occurred on Eyre Peninsula where young Aboriginal people who had already had their culture stolen from them were sent to get them away from the influence of the elders. Here they were educated in all the arts and crafts of the Europeans and made the settlement largelyself-sufficient and a success only to have all their achievements destroyed because the settlement had some of the best land in the district and it was coveted by white settlers.

"NOT PART OF THE PUBLIC argues that health - the state of well-being that allows human beings to flourish and engage positively with societies of which they are part - is historically and politically determined. It can be withheld from or undermined in groups within a population according to how power and opportunity are shared." It provides a lesson to all those who hold power that Aboriginal people will not enjoy better health until we build a more just and equal society.

A highly recommended read.

Dr Judith Raftery is the Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Public Health at the University of Adelaide. She is a member of Pilgrim Uniting Church

Available from Dymocks, Imprints, Angas & Robertson or direct from the Wakefield Press.