Dying Rose [Bolinda]

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Description

An investigation into the deaths of six Aboriginal women and the police responses that left families reeling

'If you think it's hard being a white woman in Australia, try being a black woman.'

These were the words that set a team of journalists at the Adelaide Advertiser on an investigation into the mysterious deaths of six young Aboriginal women.

Each year dozens of Indigenous women or girls die by murder or suicide. Rose Hunter-Hebberman was one of them. When her mother, Courtney, uttered those words at an International Women's Day lunch, she had been craving answers for three years as to how her 19-year-old daughter, who had so much to live for, came to die in a run-down back yard shed, apparently by suicide.

Inspired by Courtney's courage and grief, The Advertiser team hoped to shed light on Rose's death and put Courtney's mind to rest. But what they found, as their investigation of one death rolled into another five, was disturbing. Lack of urgency, sloppy searches, poor communication, and racist assumptions by police were just some of hallmarks that surrounded the deaths of these girls.

As the team probed further, the answers, or lack thereof, gave rise to even bigger questions about whether Aboriginal Australians, especially women, have a voice, and if they are heard when they speak.

Based on the podcast Dying Rose, this is a compelling look at what it means to be an Aboriginal woman in a world where family love, cultural connection and hope for a better future can be eroded by prejudice, mistrust and danger.

Author Bio

Douglas Smith is a descendant of the Mirning and Kokatha peoples. He is an award-winning journalist who started his career at The Advertiser in 2014 before moving to Sydney in 2018 to work for SBS and NITV as a video journalist. He has been both Queensland and South Australian correspondent for NITV, and now covers Indigenous affairs for The Advertiser. Kathryn Bermingham is state political editor at The Advertiser. She covers everything from legal affairs to the disability sector, industrial relations and the public service. She began working in South Australia in 2017 and, since then, has also spent time at AAP and the ABC. Emily Olle is a specialist digital reporter at The Advertiser with a background in television, radio and AFL. As a journalist, she has a focus on youth affairs, politics and social issues. Gemma Jones is the Editor of The Advertiser in Adelaide and is responsible for South Australia and the Northern Territory across News Corp Australia's digital and print assets. She has more than 20 years' experience in the media industry and held positions previously at the Daily Telegraph as deputy editor, The Australian as national chief of staff and has worked in Sydney, Canberra and New York as a reporter. Gemma is passionate about storytelling, innovation and campaigns which improve the lives of Indigenous people.