Last night I went to the launch of Dylan Coleman’s novel “Mazin Grace“. It is the fictionalised story of her mother, Mercy Glastonbury, who was raised at Koonibba Mission, halfway between Ceduna and Penong on the west coast of SA. Both Mercy and Dylan are Kakatha Aboriginal women and the story was of great interest to me as I taught at Koonibba Aboriginal School in the 70’s and was involved in the family as I was married to Dylan’s uncle in my former life!
“Mazin Grace” is the story of Mercy’s life at Koonibba Mission told through the eyes of young Grace.I have only just begun to read it but it brings back many memories of my time at both Koonibba and Ceduna and I am amazed at how many Kokatha words I still remember! It is a very brave move of Mercy’s to lay bare her life and I can imagine it must have been painful at times.
Dylan Coleman is a talented writer and this manuscript won the David Unaipon Award in 2011 and has been published by UQP and a second manuscript of hers was shortlisted in the same year. “Mazin Grace” is Part 1 of a trilogy telling the story of Mercy’s life.
It was great to make contact with Dylan after 30 or more years.
Photos below are of the launch held at the SA Writer’s Centre.
