Paul Richards

Adventures with Agitators Paul Richards

Adventures with Agitators is a tribute to the resilience, determination, patience and tolerance of the Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders of Queensland. In a series of short yarns about their battles in the justice and political systems, this book exposes the cruelty and hypocrisy of the ruling elite of Australia in pursuing policies of segregation and marginalisation. While Australia pointed the finger at South Africa, it maintained the same policies for our Indigenous peoples. The book is not a history, a biography or a legal or anthropological text. It is an easy read for those wanting to understand the recent past. The author has had the advantage of being privy to their tragedies and dramas - as well as their humour and humanity. The word "agitator" was applied politically and judicially to any of them who sought justice. In a celebrated High Court case involving Percy Neal, Justice Lionel Murphy opined that, without agitators, "there would be no advance towards civilisation". These are stories of the adventures of these brave agitators, to share with people of good heart.