WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following material contains images and stories of a deceased person.

MEETING WILLIAM (BILL) BROWN, AM, ( 1940 - 2022)

During earlier research, Aunty Suzie told me that her cousin, Diane Brown (my second cousin) had married a Palawa man named Bill.

Bill was essentially part of my extended family, however back then I could not talk with him due to University ethics approval. I appreciate that ethics are there to protect; however, they can force dialogue further into whiteness, continuing to restrict the voice of First Nations people.

Re-visiting the project outside of the institutional setting, without these boundaries - every moment, every encounter continues to shape the project.

Human exchange had become fundamental to making the work, thus presenting new opportunities. With this new creative freedom, it became really important to meet with Bill.

Bill is sitting in a big arm chair. His home is in Claremont and overlooks the river. The seat next to Bill is empty and I was welcomed to sit.
The setting brought back memories, reminiscent of my grandfather and his beloved chair. It was as though my Pop’s presence was in the room that day. We were never permitted to sit in Pop’s chair. This moment of re-connection to the familiar, eased the unknowing.
Looking out across the blue mass, Bill and I started to talk about the Derwent River. Re-imagining the time before, when the river would have been abundant with whales and dolphins.
I was holding the A Guide to Remembering book and I started to explain the background of the project. Raw emotion started to surface as he listened, while his generous heart provided a sense of warmth.
I asked Bill if he would like to read the book. It was not long after he opened the first page that an overwhelming sadness emerged.
There was deep pain here.
Page by page the pain was revealed through a constant flow of tears.
Uncertain if I was doing the right thing, being at the house, being a white girl talking about a shared history and bringing up the dark memories.
Suzie asked if we should stop. Diane said to leave him it was ok.
Bill continued to read the book, each page revealing more pain, more sadness and deep trauma. We sat there together, quietly with our eyes full until the very last page.
I felt a sense of gratitude from Bill that the truth was being shared. It’s a moment I will never forget.
It was an incredibly emotional day and a really special day. I am forever grateful.
Thank you Bill x