cover image The Hungry Heart

The Hungry Heart

Max Griffiths. Kangaroo Press, $0 (176pp) ISBN 978-0-86417-486-4

From 1964 to 1985, Griffiths worked for the Australian Inland Mission, helping to develop medical, educational and social services among the scattered communities in the Outback. This engaging account chronicles his experiences during years marked by change as new mines--mostly iron, copper and coal--were opened in ``instant'' towns, and the health problems of Aborigines were brought to light. He notes with admiration the efforts of dedicated nurses who staff local clinics, working in communities that are separated by vast distances, some of which are accessible only by small plane. Recounting in vivid detail the devastation wrought in the city of Darwin by a cyclone in 1974, Griffiths affectingly portrays individuals whose lives are marked by a harsh climate and isolation. Photos. (July)