AustLit

'Sam Watson, aka Cham, youth worker and writer, was born in 1972 at Mt. Gravatt, Brisbane, family moving to Caboolture Qld in the early 1980's. He speaks of his family life; his culture as a Murri (Australian Aboriginal); being unaware of his parents involvement in the Vietnam War Moratorium & the Black Panther Movement ie. Aboriginal political activists, during 1970's; talks of increasing divisions between Torres Strait Islander & Aboriginal peoples; effects of multiculturalism on his commitment to the Indigenous communities; police harassment of his father having a profound affect on his lifestyle choices. His focus is more personal, Cham's priority being a good relationship with his son. After leaving university & film school Watson speaks of his work with youth for the Australian Legal Service (ALS), Police Liaison in Qld.; affect his work has had on his family life during volatile periods of Queensland's police history. Watson identifies the Daniel Yock killing in 1998 as the catalyst for a career change to writing; describes the Commission into Yock's death, commenting that community expectations were unrealistic; abduction of 3 Aboriginal children by the Police at Pinkinbah Qld; difficulties associated in his job with the ALS. Watson speaks of his writings, predominantly young adult Aboriginal literature & it's inspirations; development as a poet; the political, cultural & literary influence Sam Senior's( his father) work has had on his own ambitions; his work on the Board of the Queensland Writers Centre & the Queensland Writers Festivals; Australia's internal political & cultural politics, the welfare system & what he feels is necessary to be done to improve life for Indigenous peoples.' (Source : Libraries Australia)