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Wisdom Man
Banjo Clarke was an elder of the Kirrae Whurrong, a people of the Gunditjmara nation, and was a direct descendant of Queen Truganini. He was born in 1922 near Warrnambool, and by the time he passed away in March 2000 he was known and loved by thousands for his wisdom and compassion. Wisdom Man covers Banjo’s life from his childhood on a mission, through the grim years of the Depression, his solo travels in search of work, the birth of his eleven children, and his embrace of the Baha’i faith, which he found very close to Aboriginal spirituality. His story is one of remarkable forbearance during terrible encounters with racism, cruelty and the loss of loved ones, and is made all the more extraordinary by his lack of bitterness and anger. Wisdom Man also distils the essence of Aboriginal Banjo constantly points to those aspects which he sees as relevant to all humanity, particularly in terms of our relationship with the land. Banjo Clarke embodied the spirit of reconciliation in its most generous and forgiving form, espousing and living it long before it was given a name, long before it became fashionable. Includes a foreword by former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, who knew Banjo, and tributes by Archie Roach, Martin Flanagan, Judith Durham, among others – a sample of the wide range of people whose lives he touched. Countless people from all over the world came to Warrnambool to seek him out, and his door was always open to the homeless and the troubled.
- GenresBiography
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 9, 2016
You have to read this biography.
The story is well-written. And I did not put this book down many times because it was not engaging. It's just the horror that 1st Nations people have had to put up with, and still put up with.
There are many quotes in this book I'll revisit. This one particularly pertinent to people who are subjected to the psychiatric regime due to talking about intuition. (The psychiatric regime has been going on around the same amount of time as the abusive English invaders.) Page 217, 'White people get intuitive feelings like that too, but it don't mean a thing to them if they don't listen to it. They say, "I had this funny feeling", but they shut it off.'
Paying homage to homeland. Respect.
So much I rarely get to hear about Australia in books, while publishers are churning out migrant stories. To say the book is validating, as an Australian, is to say Banjo Clarke's story speaks to an audience of many and resonates with those who live here, and should be read widely across the globe.
In biographies like this, sometimes it's one faceless white monster after another. But it's easy when the narrator is focusing on love of humanity, while using wisdom, building alliances, to fight the monsters so that people can be.
The story is well-written. And I did not put this book down many times because it was not engaging. It's just the horror that 1st Nations people have had to put up with, and still put up with.
There are many quotes in this book I'll revisit. This one particularly pertinent to people who are subjected to the psychiatric regime due to talking about intuition. (The psychiatric regime has been going on around the same amount of time as the abusive English invaders.) Page 217, 'White people get intuitive feelings like that too, but it don't mean a thing to them if they don't listen to it. They say, "I had this funny feeling", but they shut it off.'
Paying homage to homeland. Respect.
So much I rarely get to hear about Australia in books, while publishers are churning out migrant stories. To say the book is validating, as an Australian, is to say Banjo Clarke's story speaks to an audience of many and resonates with those who live here, and should be read widely across the globe.
In biographies like this, sometimes it's one faceless white monster after another. But it's easy when the narrator is focusing on love of humanity, while using wisdom, building alliances, to fight the monsters so that people can be.
May 25, 2010
Great bloke!! Still missing ya mate!!
November 6, 2014
Fond of:
I get a little nervous when reviewing biographies/autobiographies as I feel like I am judging their life. Although something about Banjo Clarke's story struck me, and sounded like an interesting life was to be told. If I could describe Wisdom Man in one word it would be perseverance. He persevered through racism, death and the fight for his beloved bush. I really enjoyed learning about the intricacies of Aboriginal culture, their life in the bush, morals and thoughts towards the Earth and Banjo Clarke's story in general. While his time(s) in gaul and building roads for the army was interesting it was the little antidotes that brought the story to life, such as his son Ian catching the biggest fish Banjo had ever seen. It was obvious that he lived a very full life.
Not Fond of:
The ending got a little Chicken Soup of the Soul. A agreed with what Banjo Clarke said which was very Golden Rule but he got a little spiritual towards the end of the book or perhaps it was just reminiscence
Final Thoughts:
I would recommend Wisdom Man to anyone who is looking for a unique story and has an interest in cultural events. In short something that has more substance than a Miley Cyrus biography. Although Banjo is very moral oriented (not critiquing that) but if a book on "doing the right thing" isn't your cup of tea than I would suggest a biography on Miley Cyrus.
I get a little nervous when reviewing biographies/autobiographies as I feel like I am judging their life. Although something about Banjo Clarke's story struck me, and sounded like an interesting life was to be told. If I could describe Wisdom Man in one word it would be perseverance. He persevered through racism, death and the fight for his beloved bush. I really enjoyed learning about the intricacies of Aboriginal culture, their life in the bush, morals and thoughts towards the Earth and Banjo Clarke's story in general. While his time(s) in gaul and building roads for the army was interesting it was the little antidotes that brought the story to life, such as his son Ian catching the biggest fish Banjo had ever seen. It was obvious that he lived a very full life.
Not Fond of:
The ending got a little Chicken Soup of the Soul. A agreed with what Banjo Clarke said which was very Golden Rule but he got a little spiritual towards the end of the book or perhaps it was just reminiscence
Final Thoughts:
I would recommend Wisdom Man to anyone who is looking for a unique story and has an interest in cultural events. In short something that has more substance than a Miley Cyrus biography. Although Banjo is very moral oriented (not critiquing that) but if a book on "doing the right thing" isn't your cup of tea than I would suggest a biography on Miley Cyrus.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews