The Rock Looking Into Australia's 'Heart of Darkness' from the Edge of Its Wild Frontier

Journalist Aaron Smith's new memoir holdsup a unique mirror to Australia. What he sees is at once amazing, disturbingand revealing. The Rock explores the failings of ournation's character, its unresolved past and its uncertain future from thevantage point of its most northerly outpost, Thursday Island. Smith was the last editor, fearlessjournalist and the paperboy of Australia's most northerly newspaper, the TorresNews, a small independent regional tabloid that, until it folded in late2019, was the voice of a predominantly Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginalreadership for 63 years across some of the most remote and little understoodcommunities in Australia. The Rock is a story of self-discovery where Smith grapples tounderstand a national identity marred by its racist underbelly, where he istransplanted from his white-boy privileged suburban life to being a racial andcultural minority, and an outsider. Peppered with his experiences, Smithgradually and sensitively becomes embedded in island life while vividlycapturing the endless and often farcical parade of personalities andpoliticians including Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott. Smith pulls no punches while he reflectson the history of Terra Australis incognita, dissecting whatis truly Australia, and its gaping cultural and moral divide. 'A credit to regional journalism,Aaron carried on the fine tradition of the Torres News holding governments toaccount and telling stories of everyday life in the Straits, never shying awayfrom controversies, lifting all the rocks and even out foxing prime ministerTony Abbott on his visit to Mabo's grave.' --Stefan Armbruster, SBS 'AaronSmith makes a huge and extremely valuable contribution to journalism in Australia. With insight and committment he brings issues of national andinternational significance to audiences in Australia and beyond.' -- DrTess Newton Cain, Griffith Asia Institute 'Aaron's journalism has provided a rare and valuable insight into issuesaffecting the Torres Strait Islander community. Navigating cultural protocolsand geographical challenges, he has given a voice to some of Australia's mostmarginalised people and shared important stories that would otherwise have goneunheard.' -- Ella Archibald-Binge, SydneyMorning Herald