Foreword
My
mother Ivy moved from Bloomfield to Hope Vale when she married
and would often pine to visit her family, including her
Uncle Norman. Even if the mission authorities approved her
application to visit, Hope Vale Bama were not allowed to
own vehicles. This made it almost impossible to maintain
contact with family. By the time we could leave Hope Vale
freely many of our old people had passed on.
One such elder was my grandfather Norman Baird.
I never met Grandfather Norman but through his legacy I have
gained an understanding of him and I can now say I know him
well. When I talk to my aunties, Polly and Annie, and they
tell me what a great man their father was, I can agree. He
was a great Maja, a leader of the Kuku Yalanji people.
What is remarkable about Grandfather Norman was his level
of education and how it enabled him to avoid removal and give
voice to Bama concerns. It was a taxing responsibility and
in his voice you can hear the loneliness he felt as he struggled
with the injustices around him.
Grandfather
Norman was a person with ‘soft hands’ who helped
people because he believed in social cohesion. He encouraged
self sufficiency in places like Buru and Dikarrba as he understood
the benefits of such a lifestyle.
Norman Baird - a spark within is
a personal and emotional chapter of our history but I feel
confident Grandfather Norman would be honored to share his
life with you.
Foreword by Gerhardt Pearson | An extraordinary Australian | The Western Front | The Act | Not be interfered
with |
A nomadic life | Men of the Jungle | Disarmed altogether |
