Coober Pedy launch of Talking Straight Out
Story from the Irati Wanti campaign office

On Saturday October 15 over 100 people gathered in the gardens of Umoona Aboriginal Aged Care for the premiere book launch of Talking Straight Out hosted by the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta – Senior Aboriginal Women's Council of Coober Pedy.

On this morning in 1953 Totem One, the first atomic bomb tested on the Australian mainland, was detonated at Emu Junction 280 kms north- west of Coober Pedy.

Fifty-two years have passed, and times sure have changed; children have grown up and had children of their own. It is the future
generations that the Kungkas, many who survived Totem One, were fighting for as they took on the Federal Government's plan to build a national nuclear waste dump in South Australia. And won.

And it is the future generations that the book Talking Straight Out:
Stories from the Irati Wanti campaign is written for. The 120 page
full-colour book published in Coober Pedy follows the stories of the
Kungkas' battle to look after their country, and their future.

The Kungkas' families, friends and supporters came from Coober Pedy, Port Augusta, Adelaide and Melbourne for the special book launch. MC Karina Lester facilitated the ceremony with style and confidence, sharing the job as Yankunytjatjara interpreter with her mother Lucy Lester.

The launch started with Inma—traditional song about leaving the irati— poison in the ground. Each Kungka introduced herself and spoke about her involvement in the campaign; many touching on their hopes for the younger generations to now learn how to look after the country.

Eileen Crombie's son Ian Crombie then welcomed everyone to Coober Pedy, paying homage to the courage of his mothers and aunties. Rather than the usual VIP attending the ceremony and officially launching the book; Georgia Brown, Emily Austin's granddaughter, and Kelly Warren, Eileen Crombie's granddaughter, opened a box of books and presented each Kungka with a book. Passages of the book were read out, followed by each Kungka calling up a member of their family to receive the book. More books were given to special supporters, speeches were made and the official part of the launch was over.

Everyone moved inside to enjoy a beautiful lunch prepared by Mary
Harms and Pat Clifford. The next hour saw people mingle, buy a copy or two of the book (some even managing to get a few signatures) and check out some of the colourful displays around Aged Care.

Only an hour after the launch ended, talk began about heading up to Alice Springs in early November for the big NT launch.

Thank you to everyone at Umoona Aboriginal Aged Care. The Elders for hosting the event in their home, we are eternally grateful; Leigh Cleghorn for his unwavering support; Pat Clifford and Mary Harms for the delicious spread; David Thomas for filming and Colleen Darr for selling books and t-shirts.

Thank you also to the Lions Club for lending us a lot of chairs, the
Mud Hut Hotel for putting up our VIP guests for half-price and to our
financial sponsors Dalva Brown, Samantha Sowerwine, Eva Squire and MP Stephanie Keys.