My story is not about blame. It's about sharing history that belongs to all of Australia. I needed a push, but I am happy to finally give little Rhonda a voice, so that my words will live on after I leave this world.'

In 1954, aged three, Rhonda Collard-Spratt was taken from her Aboriginal family and placed on Carnarvon Native Mission, Western Australia. Growing up in the white world of chores and aprons, religious teachings and cruel beatings, Rhonda drew strength and healing from her mission brothers and sisters, her art, music and poetry, and her unbreakable bond with the Dreaming.

Alice's Daughter is the story of Rhonda's search for culture and family as she faces violence, racism, foster families, and her father's death in custody; one of the first deaths investigated as part of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

Written in Rhonda's distinctive voice, Alice's Daughter is fearless, compelling and intimate reading. Coupled with her vibrant and powerful paintings and poetry, Rhonda's is a journey of sadness, humour, resilience and ultimately survival.

Production Details

• Paperback
• 230mm x 152mm x 12mm
• 196pp
• Released April 2017
• ISBN 9781925302936

Excerpt

Contents

Cultural warning

Map

Acknowledgments

Preface

Author’s note

Chapter 1: A black girl in a white world

Chapter 2: Childhood games and mission ways

Chapter 3: The birds and the bees

Chapter 4: Finding country

Chapter 5: Scared in the city

Chapter 6: A family at last

Chapter 7: Death in custody

Chapter 8: Terrorised

Chapter 9: The brolga and other stories from Mother

Chapter 10: Sorry business

Chapter 11: Finding identity

Chapter 12: Through Yamatji eyes

Epilogue: Speaking my truth

Glossary

Bibliography

Notes

About The Author

Rhonda Collard-Spratt is a strong Yamatji and Noongar woman from Carnarvon, Western Australia. A visual artist, storyteller, poet, singer-songwriter, dancer, and art teacher, Aunty Rhonda speaks out against injustices against her people and Mother Earth. Rhonda conducts cultural and art workshops at high schools and has worked in prisons with young women around suicide prevention, helping them reconnect with their Aboriginality.

As a representative of the Stolen Generations, Rhonda officiates at National Sorry Day events in Brisbane and Ipswich. In 1954, aged three, Rhonda was taken from her Aboriginal family and placed on Carnarvon Native Mission in Western Australia. Despite growing up in the white world of chores and cruel beatings without family, culture or love, Rhonda has emerged as a strong Aboriginal woman who has found her voice.

In 2013, Rhonda began writing her life story, Alice’s Daughter: Lost mission child (2017), in honour of her mission brothers and sisters. She hopes they too might find healing, and that those working in health, justice, and community services become more aware of the trauma of Australia’s Stolen Generations and the transgenerational impacts that these policies have on every Aboriginal person today.

Brisbane-based writing coach and editor Jacki Ferro of Raw Memoirs specialises in non-fiction, especially memoir, self-help, spiritual, and business genres. She believes in the power of well researched stories to both educate and entertain, and in the importance of preserving our memories and stories for future generations. Through structural and copy edits, appraisals and co-writing, Jacki helps writers produce high quality books and reach their publishing goals. Jacki clarifies messages, develops themes, and uncovers transformative lessons that inspire personal growth and social change, while remaining respectful of each author’s raw voice. A highly-skilled communication professional, together with Rhonda Collard-Spratt, Jacki is the co-author of Alice’s Daughter: Lost Mission Child (2017).

About The Cover

Front cover: 'Treasured Memories' (2015); Rhonda aged sixteen.

Back cover artwork: 'Coming Together' (2011). This artwork is about coming together as people, and resecting each others differences; taking the time to sit around and hear each others stories without judgement. It's about finding  that we are the same in many ways, and trying to bridge that gap between us on a cultural level. It's about understanding each others different journeys in life and how that has shaped us. Listen with your heart then go on your different path from our sacred circle where we have passed on what we've learnt from each other.