Author Talk; Mel Brown presents Shades of Me

Waverley Library is is proud to host (Ngunnawal woman) Author Melinda Brown for the 2024 ">span> - Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud. Mel will share the story of discovering her heritage and how the journey to understand her culture gave her the strength to find her place in the world.

Growing up white, Mel always felt that there was another shade to her soul.

Despite an early life marred by moments of sheer despair and the agony of domestic violence, somehow Mel found the strength to survive. Then, as a young mother, she unlocked her ancestry's secrets without realising the challenges that came with identifying as Aboriginal in Australia.

Shades of Me follows Mel's journey as she redefines who she is and how she sees her place in the world. As Aboriginal families are being torn apart, this is a story of one woman's fight to keep them together – one family at a time. And in helping others, finds her true path in life.

Mel's memoir is not just one of black or white or even a single shade in between: as she has discovered in her work for the community, everyone's story is different; hers is simply Shades of Me.

Books will be available to sale and signing .

Terms and conditions:

• Library events may be photographed, and images used for promotional purposes on Library's website or social media.
• If you do not wish your image (or the image of your child) to be published, please notify staff before the event.
• Do not attend the event if you are feeling unwell.
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• If you join a waitlist, we will contact you if a ticket becomes available.
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">span> is an accomplished author, artist and clairvoyant who has written and illustrated many popular spiritual titles. Mel has a Masters in Indigenous Healing and Trauma from the Southern Cross University in Lismore, NSW, Australia, and many years’ experience of working with children at risk. Acclaimed for her expertise in cultural competency and lateral violence both nationally and internationally, she draws on her personal and professional experience to work with families and organisations ensuring Aboriginal children who are unable to live at home are not excluded from cultural connection to their families.

Mel is a former manager of the Aboriginal Child Protection Unit. She has spent over 20 years providing Aboriginal counselling, spiritual healing and well-being programmes for Aboriginal communities across Australia.

Mel was recognised for her work with Aboriginal families, and was awarded an ACT Public Service Award for the ‘Most Improved Services to Aboriginal Children and Families in the ACT’, by the ACT Chief Minister, and in 2011, NSW Industry & Investment recognised Mel as one of the Top 3 Aboriginal business women in NSW.

Mel lives in Northern NSW.

Michaela Kalowski is an interviewer, moderator and presenter.

She’s interviewed writers and thinkers from the worlds of arts, science and politics. Highlight interviews include Margaret Atwood, David Mitchell, Amos Oz, Colum McCann, Trent Dalton, Robert Jones Jr, Stan Grant, Turia Pitt, Holly Ringland, Anthony Horowitz, Daniel Mendelsohn, Sarah Krasnostein, Etgar Keret, Zia Haider Rahman, Sasha Sagan and Laura Marling.

She has conducted radio interviews for Australia’s national broadcaster ABC on programs such as The Music Show and Big Ideas, for ABC Classic and has also presented programs on ABC Radio National, Local Radio and for ABC TV. She regularly facilitates panels and conducts interviews at Sydney Writers’ Festival, Brisbane Writers Festival, Sydney Jewish Writers Festival, UNSW, Sydney Film Festival, for local libraries and community organisations.