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3pm Saturday 9 December 2023
ABOUT THE BOOK
This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island, learning its history and culture, and shares stories of others with whom she lived in a time of great change…
During a period when East Timor was occupied by a harsh Indonesian military regime and a fierce resistance movement challenged it, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for the community.
Supported by the university, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions.
It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island, its people and an Indonesian co-worker, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island amongst an amazing community of people.
Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country struggled for, and achieved, its independence.
“A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa, Readalot Reviewer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gabrielle, a writer of fiction and memoir, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia, Indonesia, PNG, and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes, reads, grows bonsai, listens to music and attempts playing it. Gabrielle teaches Indonesian language locally and is a member of the Carindale writers group. Gabrielle’s memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) will be published in October, 2023.
Carindale Writers Group 