
Issue No 122		07 December 2001

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Satire

Demidenko Releases New Book About Her Life As Afghan Refugee

Controversial author Helen Demidenko has written a brand new novel based on her gripping true life experiences as an Afghan refugee.


	The Chaser

The book outlines her harrowing childhood growing up in Kabul, and charts her treacherous plight from war-torn Afghanistan all the way to her gullible publisher's office in Brisbane.

"It was very difficult for me to write," the author confessed from under her veil. "It just evoked so many painful memories for me of the last time I tried this hogwash. But I'm quietly confident that this time I'll get away with it."

Dame Leonie Kramer, on behalf of the Miles Franklin Award judging committee, has already remarked on the book's "wonderful honesty." She said it was rare to find such emotional truth in Australian literature.

Demidenko's novel has also been awarded the prestigous and lucrative Victorian Premier's Prize for Literature, whose judges dismissed the recent announcement of Peter Carey as the winner as "another most unfortunate typo".

Helen (Mohammed) Demidenko said she expects to start work on her next novel, titled "Aboriginal Dreaming: Memoir of a Stolen Child", just as soon as she finishes her Ashes tour diary.

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Issue 122 contents

Interview: Reality Bytes
Labor's IT spokeswoman Kate Lundy on how a third Howard Government will hurt the IT industry.

Unions: My Way or the Highway
Since 1997, workers employed by Serco/Great Southern Railways, have been locked in a struggle with their employer to have their choice of industrial instrument recognised.

Legal: Three Degrees of Contract
Marian Baird argues there is a need to more fully understand what workers, employers and our society expect from the employment relationship.

International: Bogota Terror
The assassination of a Colombian unionist has prompted international outrage.

History: Freedom or 'Federation'?
Mark Hearn and Greg Patmore argue that the journey to federation was not a one-way street.

Health: Wearing the Right Genes to Work?
Matt Brooks tracks the DNA trail to discover genetic testing in the workplace is already here.

Satire: Demidenko Releases New Book About Her Life As Afghan Refugee
Controversial author Helen Demidenko has written a brand new novel based on her gripping true life experiences as an Afghan refugee.

Review: Can Blinky Bill Save Unions?
Neale Towart browses the kiddies' shelves to find an Australian icon with a union-friendly message.

» Unions Raise Labor Stakes

» Standards Breakthrough in Call Centres

» Hotel Cleaners Told: Bring Your Own Mops

» Corporate Giant Sponsored IT to India Report

» New Front in Battle for Compo Rights

» Progress in Email Privacy Push

» Christmas Progress on Sweatshops, Truckies

» BHP Steel Workers Fight for Security

» Union Concerned At New ASIO Powers

» Workers Call for Patrons Before Pokies

» Overtime Deal Helps Rural Hospitals

» Writers in New Chapter for Unionism

» CFMEU Backs Standards Inquiry

» Mining Company Moves To Ban Fiji Film

» Unions Choir Sings Up Storm

» 2002: Where to Now?

» Activists Notebook

» The Soapbox

» The Locker Room

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» Apology to Tim Harcourt

» Tom is Gobsmacked

» Who was Gordon Freeth?

» More Compo Feedback

» Trains of Treasure

» The Great Tuckpointer Debate Revived

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