Pilawuk was born on the coast of Northern Territory to an Aboriginal mother and a white father. At an early age she was taken from her mother, sent first to a mission in Northern Territory and then later to Adelaide in South Australia where she lived with different families. Pilawuk was one of the ‘stolen generation’.

In spite of her difficult childhood, Pilawuk remained a positive personality. She now lives and works in Adelaide and has a son, Niwili. In 1996, Era Publications was developing a series of innovative non fiction titles for schools and decided to do an oral history – a text in which a person recounts their life experiences. Pilawuk was interviewed by Era’s author, Janeen Brian, who recorded Pilawuk’s statements about her history and then wrote the text for the book ‘Pilawuk: When I Was Young’. Pilawuk’s story was the first of its kind told for primary school students.

Pilawuk made some very frank statements in the book about the government policy that affected her life in a serious way. The book was unusual because it dealt with a difficult topic to be presented to students in primary schools.

The book was a huge success. In 1997 it was the Honour Book for the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Eve Pownall Award for Information Books. Since then it has been reprinted seven times as a big book and nine times as a classroom reader.

Read about Pilawuk’s separation from her family and how she eventually found her mother many years later. You will be amazed at how this woman survived such a difficult childhood and yet remains a positive, vibrant personality. She is an inspiration.

Go to:
Pilawuk: When I Was Young (big book)
Pilawuk: When I Was Young (small book)