It takes an extraordinary human being to retain both their innocence, and a perpetual belief in justice, when they have been through the 'wringer' ...as Stephen has. This book has been an inspiration to read.

for his effort and resilience in keeping this n-word issue on the table, stephen does in deed deserve to be recognised and praised.

and also for his efforts here on this site, for in the digital world there are very few aboriginal people who participate on this level to speak on aboriginal issues and to challenge long held misinformed views of the general australian public as stephen does.

i havent read the book and to be honest didnt know that it had even been written/published. now that i know i'll be sure to get a hold of a copy to have a read myself.

big pat on the back for you stephen and keep up the good works, you got one goorie here who forwards to reading your papers on this site

I am a League fan who grew up in Toowoomba and have followed Mr Hagan's campaign in the local (Brisbane) press. I am dumbfounded by the pigheaded bigotry of the Toowoomba League fraternity and the small-minded scrupulosity of the Court system. Of course the public display of the word "Nigger" on a football ground stand is racist and w-r-o-n-g, wrong. That it was the nickname of a local rugby league great after whom the stand is named is no reason for it to be used. I am offended by it's presence and am as white as a sheet. Toowoomba is a beautiful city with a dark seam running through it. Witness the recent violent crimes of which locals and Mr Hagan would be aware. It does the people of Toowoomba no credit to allow their shortcomings to be publicly displyed. I for one, as a rugby league follower, former Toowoomba resident, and Australian citizen, would like to see the sign amended.

Aden,
You are right, the R word is alive and well in Australia.

I remember an article written by Mr Hagan where he said he follows Brisbane Lions, Port Adelaide, etc because they have aboriginal players.

Singling out someone because of their skin colour and heritage is racist.

And saying that aboriginals have to manage their own affairs is divisive. Separating people into tribes will create even more differences. We are all Australians

I also see the AFL is naming an Indigenous team of the century in August.

I am looking forward to them naming a Greek Australian team of the century and Anglo team of the century as well.

t.u.s.

dont forget the cowboys, which im sure stephen and his family would be huge fans of, lots of murri magic in that line up.

cant wait for state of origin - GO QUEENSLANDER, and more importantly (to me and other murris/gooris/bamas etc) GO WEBBY, BOWEN, SING, THURSTON AND ALL U MURRI BOYS!

How apt your nickname is, the usual suspect. It's always the usual suspects who cry out about reverse racism and 'special treatment' of Aboriginal (yes, that's with a capital A) Australians, and of concerns about 'divisiveness' whenever we dare to suggest Indigenous self-governance.

First Australians do deserve special recognition. And we're just in the process of healing from over 200 years of 'special(mis)treatment' inflicted on us, thank you. People need to get over their insecurities and have some respect for this country's forbears who have been through atrocious discrimination.

An Anglo team of the century? Not needed. Most of the role models we see in the media are Anglo Australians - that's apparently what 'reflects' Australia. Greek Australian team of the century? I'm open to that but then that would mean having a team of the century for every other nationality in Australia which might get messy. Why does having an Indigenous team not ALSO mean needing to have teams for every other 'nationality' in Australia? Because Indigenous people are the First Australians and have special significance to this country, as well as deserving recognition in areas where previously our contribution was ignored due to the aforementioned history of atrocious discrimination, special mistreatment, aimed solely at us. Greek Australians and other non-Anglo Australians have also copped racism and atrocious treatment, however it was dished out on a larger and more widely damaging scale to our Indigenous people (I'm not aware of Greek-Australian children being stolen, for example). That's why we have every right to expect a little redressing of the balance.