Walton, Merrilyn --- "Book Review - Against All Odds" [1985] AboriginalLawB 40; (1985) 1(14) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 13

• Book Review-Against All Odds

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Book Review - Against All Odds

Edited by M. Dawson, H. Radi

Hale and Iremonger, Sydney, Australia, 1985

Reviewed by Merrilyn Walton

Michell's Tall Poppies and Carter's Nothing to Spare are two examples of the growing number of books that are continuing to establish a tradition of telling about women's work and lives through stories and diaries. Even though the formal study of women's experiences has mainly followed a traditional sociological methodology, there is an ever increasing collection of material that relies on story telling as a valid way of contributing to knowledge and theory. Against All Odds is such a book. It is a collection of essays written by fifteen professional women who reflect on their lives and careers. The obvious link among the women is that all have either studied or worked at the University of Sydney. Other more subtle links are of process and consequence rather than discipline or chosen careers.

The editors, Marge Dawson and Heather Radi, also contributed their own stories. This collection portrays the differences of the women's interpretations of events leading to their success though a common thread was the evidence of sheer determination and commitment to their work.

Pat O'Shane, Secretary and Permanent Head of the NSW Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, talks of the happy and easy childhood that laid the foundation for her later visions and aspirations. She recounts her struggle through marriage and tertiary studies without a shred of self pity. It was the criminal law that first attracted Pat OShane; no doubt influenced by the gross over representation of Aboriginies in Australian gaols. She was admitted to the Bar soon after graduation and one of her first briefs was to appear on behalf of Women Behind Bars before the Royal Commission into NSW prisons. She cites this as an invaluable experience where she learnt the art of cross examination and the rules of formal systems.

After her time at the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Service, she left the criminal law and went into the Mental Health field.

But the grounding for her present job came when she accepted the position as Co-ordinator of the Task Force convened by the Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly upon Aborigines.

As Secretary of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs in NSW, Pat O'Shane became the administrative head responsible for government decisions relating to Aborigines. This job she laments has not been easy especially the opposition she has received from within `one's own camp'. Upon reflection, she sees her success coming from having a healthy sense of identity.

Both my parents left me in no doubt that I was a person as good as any other person; that as an Aboriginal child, I had inherited a history of which I could be proud; that I should always hold my head high; that as a female, I was capable of achieving as well as any other person.

None of the women were apologetic about their successes and believe that they succeeded because they were essentially good at their jobs.

Their stories abound in anecdotes affirming each of the writers' self worth. A happy childhood with opportunities to explore the wider world seems to bean essential ingredient if one wants to elicit a common recipe for their successes. Though some came from privileged backgrounds, it certainly did not rate as essential.

Gill Bottomley, anthropologist, writes of the rural poverty around Kempsey and the effects this had on her childhood:

Many of the students had to stay home to help on the farms, and academic excellence was an alien and somewhat urban concept.

It's clear from the stories that their achievements have not been obtained without cost.

All have suffered set backs of one sort or another, personal problems, poverty, children, work, but they seem to have accepted these interruptions as normal life events. Circumstances such as these explain in many cases the reasons for their embarking on careers later in life.

Another similarity is that most of the writers seem to latch on to lessons learned in childhood, and not unexpected, note their mothers as being very influential.

Marge Dawson's lesson given to her was 'when you marry, never give up work'. Her mother thought that fulfilment for a woman is not confined to marriage but needs expression in the independence of work. All the women recall how marriage and children were expected life ambitions, and in retrospect, seem surprised of their achievements.

As Ann Morgal, historian, says in her story 'The Happy Warrior':

Professions are rarely deliberate choosing especially in a woman's case.

In the main, the stories dwell on each of the writers' professional lives describing the crisis periods when crucial decisions were made that were to later affect their life and careers.