Griffith REVIEW Edition 35: SURVIVING
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Griffith 35 A quARTeRlY OF New wRiTi NG & ideAS GriffithReview35 surVIVInG RePORTAGe MaTTHeW Condon Flooding plains, bursting rivers, human suffering sally neIGHbour life and death on the high seas Re eSSAY Mara bún The path to resilience v sopHIe CunnInGHaM disappeared sIdney dekker The meaning of a disaster ie MICHael GaWenda Informed consent ToM GrIFFITHs The language of catastrophe w nIC loW ear to the ground kaTHy Marks When bystanders fail 35 julIanne sCHulTZ life in a time of disasters jorGe soTIrIos europe’s Trojan horse MeMOiR SuRviviNG ToM baMForTH How to survive an earthquake daVId FranCIs no jesus man asHley Hay Walking underwater lee koFMan passion in a time of war VIrGInIa peTers My mother and murder sydney sMITH occupying armies FiCTiON nIkola GuroVIC babo ColIn MIlls Ghost town POeTRY lIsa GorTon The sleepers lloyd jones suddenly GeoFF paGe auntie May, 1953 MarIa Takolander Crime scene investigation PiCTuRe GAlleRY surviving dean saFFron High water marks RANdOM ACTS OF NATuRe ANd MAN Matthew Condon, ashley Hay, Tom Griffiths, griffithreview.com lloyd jones, sally neighbour, sophie Cunningham, read more surVIVInG articles online and purchase previous digital and print editions david Francis, Michael Gawenda, kathy Marks, nic low, Mara bún, sidney dekker erly journal erly ‘as engaging as it is prescient.’ T Cover image and design Cover by WH Chong/Text. by Weekend Australian quar GR35_cover_PT.indd 1 12/12/11 10:01 AM Praise for Griffith REVIEW ‘This is a small literary magazine that amazingly – it is now in its eighth year – keeps getting better.’ Sydney Morning Herald ‘A varied, impressive and international cast of authors.’ The Australian ‘An always vibrant mix of creative writing, essays, photography and ideas, Griffith REVIEW has gone from strength to strength.’ Adelaide Review ‘At once comfortable and though-provoking, edgy and familiar, [it] will draw the reader through its pages.’ Australian Book Review ‘Griffith REVIEW represents “the long game” in journalism, providing quality analysis in an age of diminishing journalistic integrity.’ Walkley Magazine ‘Griffith REVIEW is a wonderful journal. It’s pretty much setting the agenda in Australia and fighting way above its weight…You’re mad if you don’t subscribe.’ Phillip Adams ‘Once again, Griffith REVIEW has produced a stunning volume of excellent work. The pieces are diverse, the stories unique and real. But one thing remains constant – superb writing.’ Weekend Herald (NZ) ‘Griffith REVIEW would have no trouble competing on an international stage.’ West Australian ‘Griffith REVIEW is the best literary journal in the country. Editor Julianne Schultz attracts writing of superior craftsmanship, intellectual and creative depth. If you care about writing, this is compulsory reading.’ The Age SIR SAMUEL GRIFFITH was one of Australia’s great early achievers. Twice the premier of Queensland, that state’s chief justice and the author of its criminal code, he was best known for his pivotal role in drafting agreements that led to Federation, and as the new nation’s first chief justice. He was also an important reformer and legislator, a practical and cautious man of words. Griffith died in 1920 and is now best remembered in his namesakes: an electorate, a society, a suburb and a university. Ninety-six years after he first proposed establishing a university in Brisbane, Griffith University, the city’s second, was created. His commitment to public debate and ideas, his delight in words and art, and his attachment to active citizenship are recognised by the publication that bears his name. Like Sir Samuel Griffith, Griffith REVIEW is iconoclastic and non-partisan, with a sceptical eye and a pragmatically reforming heart and a commitment to public discussion. Personal, political and unpredictable, it is Australia’s best conversation. GriffithREVIEW35 SURVIVING Edited by Julianne Schultz GriffithREVIEW35 INTRODUCTION 9 Life in a time of disasters JULIANNE SCHULTZ: Counting the toll REPORTAGE 12 Flooding plains, bursting rivers, human suffering MATTHEW CONDON: The 2010–11 Queensland floods 102 Life and death on the high seas SALLY NEIGHBOUR: Haunting a community ESSAY 33 The path to resilience MARA BÚN: More haste, less speed 45 The language of catastrophe TOM GRIFFITHS: Forgetting, blaming and bursting into colour 58 Informed consent MICHAEL GAWENDA: The quest for a story 73 Disappeared SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM: This disaster was not televised 80 Ear to the ground NIC LOW: Learning to make a fuss 129 Europe’s Trojan horse JORGE SOTIRIOS: Portrait of a wounded nation 141 When bystanders fail KATHY MARKS: ‘I just did my job and minded my own business’ 186 The meaning of a disaster SIDNEY DEKKER: Making sense of random events MEMOIR 30 Walking underwater ASHLEY HAY: Salvage along the Plimsoll line 92 How to survive an earthquake TOM BAMFORTH: Moments of solidarity amid the turmoil 117 Passion in a time of war LEE KOFMAN: On the road with Saddam and Miriam 135 No Jesus man DAVID FRANCIS: The comfort of strangers 164 Occupying armies SYDNEY SMITH: The Chatham Islands and an incest family 175 My mother and murder VIRGINIA PETERS: Matters of life and death FICTION 66 Ghost town COLIN MILLS 152 Babo NIKOLA GUROVIC POETRY 42 Suddenly LLOYD JONES 101 Crime scene investigation MARIA TAKOLANDER 126 Auntie May, 1953 GEOFF PAGE 185 The sleepers LISA GORTON griffithreview.com The day the earth shook IAN LOWE Tragic intimacy DAMON YOUNG Surviving peace OLIVERA SIMIC Ground cover ALAN VAARWERK What does Fukushima mean? ADAM BROINOWSKI Adapting for hope DOUG HENDRIE Developing an Australian bushfire narrative CATHERINE GOUGH-BRADY COVER IMAGE: WH Chong/Text. Griffith REVIEW gratefully acknowledges the support and ongoing generosity of our founding patron Margaret Mittelheuser. GriffithREVIEW35 AUTUMN 2012 GriffithREVIEW is published four times a year by Griffith University in conjunction with Text Publishing. eISSN 1839-2954 Publisher Marilyn McMeniman AM Editor Julianne Schultz AM Deputy Editor Erica Sontheimer Picture Editor & Production Manager Paul Thwaites Associate Editor David Winter, Text Publishing Publication & Cover Design WH Chong, Text Publishing Text Publishing Michael Heyward, Kirsty Wilson, Stephanie Stepan Proofreader Alan Vaarwerk Editorial Interns Harry Brumpton, Michelle Chitts, Coco McGrath Administration Andrea Huynh Typesetting Midland Typesetters Printing Ligare Book Printers Distribution Penguin Australia Contributions by academics can, on request, be refereed by our Editorial Board. 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Chose from a range of subscription packages, including Digital, Print or Premium (digital+print) Subscriptions. Or treat yourself to the value-packed Super Subscription and receive four editions of Griffith REVIEW plus four advance copies of the most interesting titles from Text Publishing throughout the year. Subscribe at www.griffithreview.com with the promo code EPUB2012 to save at least 20% off the retail price. ‘It cannot be said often enough: Griffith REVIEW is the best literary journal in the country ... Each essay and memoir is like a great meal. It fills the reader with thoughts and leaves them deeply satisfied.’ – Sydney Morning Herald ‘It’s a cracker, a reminder of how satisfying on ever level good quality non-fiction can be.’ – New Zealand Herald INTRODUCTION Life in a time of disasters Counting the toll Julianne Schultz IN! "#$! %$&'()*! "+! ,#-./"0&/! 1233! "#$! )/)&%! 0.4! +5! 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