Coralie Kay Cassady – October 14 2018

National Carers’ Week – October 14-20 2018

Coralie is a poet and activist. She holds diplomas in Communications, Radio Broadcasting and Mental Health studies and has been a volunteer columnist for the Innisfail Advocate as well as hosting a volunteer radio program on Murri radio in Townsville. Coralie has been a Board Member on both the North Queensland Land Council (NQLC) and Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS). She is currently a member of the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation and Badjuballa. Coralie has read her poetry at NAIDOC and Survival Day celebrations and at multicultural events in Townsville. She used to read her poetry at DV events and mental health meetings. Her poetry is based on life experiences, including but not restricted to identity, inequalities and social justice. It covers all aspects of Aboriginal life offering a rare insight into her culture and her personal circumstances. She has written a third, unpublished, collection of similar poetry as well as a medical scene skit accompanied by mental health related poetry which was performed by the TAIHS-sponsored women’s group WOW (Women of Wisdom) in Townsville during Mental Health Week 2018. Coralie is a full-time Carer for her son who was diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia over 20 years ago. His behaviour became more concerning after finishing Year 12, and eventually a case worker suggested she read Anne Deveson’s Tell Me I’m Here, a book she still has and suggests other people read. Writing poetry gives Coralie release and helps let other Carers know they are not alone.

Poetic Perspective
Coralie Cassady, 2001; ISBN 9780957909809
This poetry collection, dedicated to Coralie’s mother, does indeed cover a broad perspective on life, with sections on ‘Mental Illness’, ‘Indigenous Issues’, ‘Family’, ‘Alcoholism’ and others. In Dr Roberta (Bobbi) Sykes’ words, “Coralie writes from her personal experiences of life and struggle – of having been foolish in love, becoming a single mum, a battered woman, a daughter and sister, and of the pain of discovering schizophrenia.” It includes her first poem, ‘I am Me, an Aborigine’, originally published in the Land Rights Queensland newspaper, and ‘No Disgrace’, which became part of the Australian high school curriculum in 2012. Coralie “holds nothing back. Indigenous readers will identify with much of her work. Non-Indigenous readers will find it difficult to read, BUT READ IT WE MUST!” (Dr Betty McLellan) The volume includes artwork by local Indigenous artists James H Doyle (‘Bunjinja’) and James Onus.

Proper Deadly Poetry
Coralie Cassady, 2007; ISBN 9780957909809
Coralie’s second published collection, Proper Deadly Poetry, is also divided into sections and covers the serious topics of ‘Grief’ and ‘Physical Violence’, as well as lighter moments in life as found in the section, ‘Humour’. Many of these poems have been published separately, including ‘Person Going Nowhere’, (Synergy, Multicultural Mental Health Australia’s magazine); ‘No More Tears’ and ‘Mental Health Inadequacy’ (Koori Mail); and ‘Moon Dreams’ (Northern Newsletter, Carers QLD Australia), all from the ‘Mental Health Memo’ section of the book. This volume also is beautifully enhanced with artwork by Karen Elsie Doolan and James H Doyle (‘Bunjinja’).
“Coralie has a strong intelligence, and a deeply rooted sense of her own place upon country…. she has a wonderful subtlety that plays through her verses on silken feet.” – Sam Watson, ATSI Studies, University of Queensland