Kerry Reed-Gilbert: The Cherry Picker’s Daughter

Please note: Aunty Kerry has passed away and approval has been granted to display her picture.

Aunty Kerry Reed-Gilbert was a Wiradjuri poet, elder, editor, educator and a champion of up-and-coming Indigenous writers. Her contribution to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander literary community – and to Australia’s rich literary landscape more broadly – is hard to overstate. Aunty Kerry co-founded the First Nations Australian Writers Network (FNAWN) and edited many indispensable books of Indigenous poetry and prose.

When Aunty Kerry died in July this year, she’d just completed the manuscript for her memoir, The Cherry Picker’s Daughter. In the book, she tells the story of growing up Aboriginal on the fringes of outback towns in New South Wales. It’s a story about poverty, racism and persecution and about the bravery and resilience of Aboriginal women, particularly her father’s sister, Aunty Joyce Hutchings, who raised her along with her own children.

At this very special panel event, hosted by Jeanine Leane, we’re bringing together some great guests – writers, friends and academics – to celebrate Aunty Kerry’s life and legacy.

Neighbourhood Books will be our bookseller for this event.