2011 - Theses - Flinders University

White Lives in a Black Community: The lives of Jim Page and Rebecca Forbes in the Adnyamathanha communityTracy SpencerVolume One Creative Writing Component: Excerpted Chapters from Volume Three Appendix OneA STOP PRESS is printed at the back of The Messenger:In the midst of our Christmas festivities a great sadness has fallen on us in word justreceived of the death at Nepabunna of our brother, Mr J Page. A telegram was at oncedespatched to Mr F Eaton, of Oodnadatta, to proceed to Nepabunna instead of coming tothe city, as he was planning to do, with Mrs Eaton and six native children for the holidaycamp. Mr Eaton has replied by wire to say that he would leave for Nepabunna thefollowing day (the day on which this report is being written). What this will mean to ourwork here can scarcely be realised, and we ask prayer for the bereaved ones in England,and for the natives of Nepabunna in this sudden blow.It is surrounded by thick black lines.Copley, 2005There have been so many deaths in the Adnyamathanha community that the Pika WiyaAboriginal Health Service has instituted ‘Sorry Days’ where funeral cards and photographsare laid gently on the white tableclothed trestles, and family and friends move slowlyamongst them as Slim Dusty sings endlessly over Umeewarra Radio speaker system. We areall fed with platters of chicken and salad, and sometimes I am asked to say a prayer, for themall. This year, a stone monument has been erected at Copley.140