Robert ‘Goupong’ Anderson, was once the fastest man in Australia and world-record holder. Goupong, his little sister Dot, and his best friend Jonathan belong to the Ugarapul people and the Green Tree Frog tribe. They live with their families and others within the harsh confines of the Deebing Creek Mission – a place run by the malevolent Boss Man.
Goupong and Jonathan are focused on winning the mission’s biggest running race that year. But when mysterious noises, unexplained occurrences and biblical events begin to plague the local area they are forced to investigate. Weaving fact with fiction, Robert Runs explores the tough reality of mission life. The book also tackles the events leading up to the fateful day of the Deebing Creek Massacre.
In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Mariah Sweetman about honouring the life and stories of her ancestors. Mariah discusses finding the character of the young Goupong through her research, and adopting a story structure that brings different perspectives together to reveal the complexity of our shared history.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mariah Sweetman is a proud descendant of the Ugarapul people. She is passionate about First Nations histories and engaging young people with stories. She loves to create with words and paint; often writing poetry and painting in her free time. She is a teacher by trade with Bachelor in Education and Arts, Master of Education, specialising in Indigenous Education.
