Girl Detectives Just Wanna Have Fun by Philippa Kaye

Author:Philippa Kaye
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shawline Publishing Group Pty Ltd
Published: 2023-05-09T06:44:59+00:00

Pale blue sky, red dirt and footsteps scattered like ants, walked the eye along panels of story board; metres of it adorned the brick wall in front of Birdie. It ran the length of a bridge that went across the tracks at Redfern Station. She was struck first by the snake. Its fierce fangs and twisted body stretched itself throughout the painting; its curly, wavy tail finishing the piece. Then she focused on the pair of feet, obviously Aboriginal, that symbolised the taking of this journey? First settlers’ tall ships, conflict, death and then a small boy in front of an institution. Birdie knew this part: The Stolen Generations. She crossed the road and lifted her hand to touch the boy’s sad face, empty and lost, alone.

‘Story of my people, teach.’

‘Who’s the lady?’ Birdie moved to where a middle-aged lady, modern clothes and a scarf, was pictured in front of the Aboriginal flag.

‘Aunty Mona Donnelly.’

‘Was she an activist?’

‘Amongst other things. She cares for the people round here. Still fighting.’

‘Did your mum know her?’

‘Everyone knows everyone.’

‘And the football team?’ Birdie moved to the end where a painting of what looked like a photograph of a football team, complete with ball boys, finished the panel.

‘The Redfern All Blacks. League. They won the Knockout in ’79. But this photo is from ’74 when they won the South Sydney Cup.’

She moved back to the beginning. ‘And this poem… about 40 000 years being a long time?’

‘Line from a song by Joe Geia. Aboriginal singer.’

She should research his songs, introduce some to the students. ‘Who painted this?’

‘Carol Ruff.’

Birdie turned to look at Herb. ‘Same lady who painted the one on the way to the beach in Randwick?’

‘Yep, and Gadigal woman, Tracey Moffett and some Koori TAFE students from the local Eora Centre. And others.’

‘Is this why you parked the car at Sydenham and we caught the train?’

‘Thought you’d like it.’ He came and stood beside her.

‘Is this The Rainbow Serpent?’ she said. He raised a questioning eyebrow. ‘There was a book in the library at school. Its cover was bright, vibrant, the whole page was covered in splashes of paint. I loved that book, even though it was a bit scary.’ She smiled at Herb. ‘Do you know it?’

He grinned back. Of course he knew it. ‘Remind me,’ he said.

Birdie looked at the snake again and ran a finger down its sharp teeth.

‘Um… he ate two brothers. Their friends cut the serpent open to get them out.’ She looked up at him. ‘That was the scary part.’ He nodded. ‘How’m I going so far?’

‘Let’s hear the end.’

‘Everyone turns into the birds and animals and the serpent’s eye becomes a star watching that the people are looking after the earth.’ She traced a huge swirling section of body. ‘A creation story.’ She continued her tracing. ‘He’s big, isn’t he?’ She grinned. Herb was staring at her. The grey specks in his ever-changing hazel eyes sparkled blue against the sky. ‘I went to a Catholic school. I had no idea there were other creation stories till I read it.

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