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Opening up the worldof Down syndromeAward-winning noveltakes us back in timeSally serves upsome soulHistory graduate and AssociateProfessor Jan Gothard has drawnheavily on her own experiencesto pen her first bOOk, GREATERExPECTATIONS – LivING with DOWNSyndrome in the 21ST Century.The book explores the varied attitudesand approaches that make up the richexperience of living with Down syndromein a changing society.Based on more than 60 personalinterviews and supported by scholarlyresearch, it was launched by FremantlePress to mark the 25th anniversary ofthe Down Syndrome Association ofWestern Australia and International DownSyndrome Day.Professor Gothard, whose daughterMaddie has Down syndrome, said herown story provided the foundations forthe book but the interviews highlightedhow different the experience can be foreach family.“Until Maddie was born, disability wasan invisible area to me,” she said. “Ourfamily’s experience opened my mindto disability and made me aware ofwhat some of the issues are for otherindividuals and families.“For all of the people I interviewed themain focus was doing the best thing fortheir child.“People with disability are fighting fortheir right to be included, but the rest ofsociety has got to be prepared to opendoors,” Professor Gothard said.Graduate Kim Scott delves intoAustralia’s early and oftenconfronting history in his latest,award-winning literary offering.That Deadman Dance – which wonKim the prestigious 2011 Miles FranklinLiterary Award – is a historical tale set inthe early 19th century in Albany, WA.Through the story of young Nyungarman Bobby, who falls in love with thedaughter of a wealthy white family, itexplores the relationships and tensionsbetween early European settlers and theAboriginals.As the Europeans impose ever-stricterrules and regulations, friction increasesand Bobby is forced to take sides.Critics describe the book as historical andmagical, as it drifts between the settlerworld and the Aboriginal world.“We see and feel the hardship, tragediesand aspirations of the settlement, and atthe same time we are transported intothe mystical and spiritual life worlds ofWabalanginy and his people,” they said.This is Kim’s second Miles Franklin award.In 2000 he was the first Indigenousauthor to win the prize for his novelBenang, tying for first place with fellowwriter Thea Astley.Kim graduated from Murdoch with aBachelor of Arts in 1979 and a GraduateDiploma of Education in 1984.Hailing from the south-east coast ofWestern Australia, he is also the author ofTrue Country.Literature and cOMMunicationgraduate SaLLy Collings hascOMbined her skiLLs as a wordsmithwith her newfound passion forparenting to build a thriving careerFollowing the success of Sophie‘s Journey,Positive and The World According to Kids,Sally has just released her fourth bookcalled Parenting with Soul.Her latest offering is a wonderful guidefor parents who feel that purpose andmeaning have been lost under a pile ofnappies, crayons and odd socks.“Parenting with Soul shows how to makespirituality part of your family‘s everydaylife,” said Sally.“It‘s about seeing the sacred in ourhomes and turning the things we doeach day into opportunities to practisemindfulness, gratitude, love, generosity,and other virtues.“It means living a life that is rich, deep,authentic, heartfelt – complete with allof the flaws and imperfections that makeus who we are.”Sally’s first foray into university studieswas an undergraduate degree injournalism and radio production at theUniversity of Technology in Sydney. Shethen embarked on a Masters in Literatureand Communication at Murdoch, whichshe completed in 1987.“Perhaps, because of that grounding,I’m passionate about words flowing in anatural way,” she said.19