Meet Dr Anita Heiss - Brisbane Square Library

What does it mean to be Aboriginal? Why is Australia so obsessed with notions of identity? Anita Heiss, successful author and passionate campaigner for Aboriginal literacy, was born a member of the Wiradjuri nation of central New South Wales, but was raised in the suburbs of Sydney and educated at the local Catholic school.

Anita, amongst other proud Aboriginal Australians was publicly called out as too ‘fair-skinned’ to be an Australian Aboriginal. Such accusations led to Anita’s involvement in one of the most important and sensational Australian legal decisions of the 21st Century when she joined others in charging a newspaper columnist with breaching the Racial Discrimination Act. He was found guilty.

In this deeply personal memoir, told in her distinctive, wry style, Anita Heiss gives a first-hand account of her experiences as a woman with an Aboriginal mother and Austrian father, and explains the development of her activist consciousness.

Books will be available for purchase on the day, or bring your copy from home to be signed.

Presented as part of the Lord Mayor's Writers in Residence series.

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Host or Publisher Brisbane City Council