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Jump to navigationJump to searchThe Woolgrower's Companion by Joy Rhoades (view source)
Revision as of 15:01, 29 June 2017
, 15:01, 29 June 2017no edit summary
When it comes to the Aboriginal people, there have always been indigenous men working on the Dowd land and of course Daisy, their young housekeeper, is also Aboriginal. Kate has always treated them with humanity and hasn't thought much about how these people on poor pay would live and survive away from the station.
OK, Daisy isn't officially permitted to cook... or rather if she did, no self-respecting white person would touch her food. But this isn't a problem for the Dowd'sDowds; Daisy is an accomplished cook and the family just keep quiet about the source of the wonderful tea time treats that the local callers consume with gusto. Things change though. In this case something happens which opens Kate's eyes – and ours - to practices and views that are particularly savage.
Indeed this is a novel that combines entertainment with some big questions. As the 'dangerous' Italian aliens are brought onto the farm we start to wonder who the real problem people are, especially when we witness small town Australia in full flow.
Starting gently but going on to deliver some big punches, this isn't your average woman-fighting-the-odds-with-a-shot-at-romance we first assumed it to be. It brings out ideas that we may recognise in this perpre-Trump era, making us look at our world anew. We may try to pass off the prejudices and results as history and the fact that we think we know better now, yet the conscience niggles remain. Looking no further than the strangers or those different from us in our midst is as dangerous as it is deeply unfair and inhumane. The novel is also enhanced by Joy's avoidance of a Hollywood ending amongst the signposts towards a possible sequel.
On the lighter side, the recipes at the end are also a nice touch. (I can recommend the Anzac biscuits!) Yet it's the theme that will remain in our minds: one person's struggle against life and expectations that gradually change her world, how she feels about it and how others feel about her.
