dear D

just a quick note to explain why i havent prepared the letter you're waiting for ....

life here has become extremely intense in terms of my developing relationships with local Aboriginal people ..just in the past 2 weeks there has been the tragic suicide of a young woman, the beating of an older man which has him in hosipital with a ffractured skull (i'm doing daily hospital visits), the savage beating last friday nite of the boyfriend of the suiide girl by local police (me and a girlfriend are helping him prepare a legal case against the cops), the death of one of the women i took to the detox centre on xmas night, 3 other deaths .... it goes on and on

at night i go to bed and read books on Aboriginal deaths in custody, secret women's business, land rights claims etc etc

it's impossible to step back from the daily intensity at this point to write 'the letter' altho i have managed to scribble a few notes while ive been in the hospital....but with the help of a good friend who is an excellent passionate letter writer i hope to get something to you in the next little while (how's that for vague!)

best for now

francesca