Book Review
Mura Solwata Kosker: We Saltwater Women
Ellie Gaffney
ISBN: 978-0-977574-20-9; 2007; 112 pages; Verdant House, Queensland;
Sue Forsyth
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW
In Mura Solwata Kosker: We Saltwater Women, Ellie Gaffney, a Torres Strait Islander woman and registered nurse, recounts her personal story as a pioneer fighting for Indigenous women's rights in the Torres Strait Islands (TSI) over the past 24 years. Gaffney's reflections provide insight into the considerable problems that TSI women faced in relation to their health, including poor and fragmented services, discrimination, and resistance from patriarchal values in their own culture and from the bureaucracy. In 1988 under Gaffney's leadership, the TSI women established the Mura Kosker Sorority (All women are sisters). The aim of this group was to 'take steps to meet the social, emotional, housing, educational, economic, health, cultural, spiritual and welfare needs' (p.16) of TSI women.
It is quite clear from Gaffney's account that this very quickly became an effective organisation. It contributed to the Health Services in the Torres Strait Islands chapter of the 1989 National Aboriginal Health Strategy, provided services for the frail aged, and resulted in Gaffney and other key members attending important women's conferences on behalf of TSI and Northern Peninsula Area women. Most notably, Gaffney had the opportunity to address the United Nations Indigenous Working Party Conference in Geneva on behalf of Australian Indigenous women. Her landmark presentation included a plea for the recognition of Indigenous heritage and rights, and requested the United Nations to send a Statement of Concern to the Australian Government regarding health, education and employment problems facing Indigenous Australians. Despite the obvious success of the Mura Kosker Sorority for over a decade, since 1999 the organisation has faced continuing financial hardship and management problems.
There is no doubt Gaffney has been a key figure in empowering TSI women, and in putting their health issues on the political agenda in Australia. Her book bears testament to her pioneering work as an Indigenous organiser, leader and lobbyist on behalf of TSI women. Gaffney generously acknowledges the Indigenous and non-Indigenous support she has received, but in writing this book at a time of failing health, some of the detail and storytelling evident in her earlier work is missing. Nevertheless, this book makes an important contribution to those interested in Indigenous history, women's health and issues of social justice.
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