Good Reading Podcast

Mariah Sweetman on the thrilling story of her great-great grandfather in 'Robert Runs'

February 25, 2024 Good Reading Magazine
Mariah Sweetman on the thrilling story of her great-great grandfather in 'Robert Runs'
Good Reading Podcast
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Good Reading Podcast
Mariah Sweetman on the thrilling story of her great-great grandfather in 'Robert Runs'
Feb 25, 2024
Good Reading Magazine

Robert ‘Goupong’ Anderson, was once the fastest man in Australia and world-record holder. Goupong, his little sister Dot, and his best friend Jonathan belong to the Ugarapul people, the Green Tree Frog tribe, and live with their families and others within the harsh confines of the Deebing Creek Mission – a place run by the malevolent Boss Man.

Goupong and Jonathan are focused on winning the mission’s biggest running race that year, but when mysterious noises, unexplained occurrences and biblical events begin to plague the local area they are forced to investigate. Weaving fact with fiction, Robert Runs explores the tough reality of mission life and the events leading up to the fateful day of the Deebing Creek Massacre.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Mariah Sweetman about honouring the life and stories of her ancestors, finding the character of the young Goupong through her research, and adopting a story structure that brings different perspectives together to reveal the complexity of our shared history.

Show Notes

Robert ‘Goupong’ Anderson, was once the fastest man in Australia and world-record holder. Goupong, his little sister Dot, and his best friend Jonathan belong to the Ugarapul people, the Green Tree Frog tribe, and live with their families and others within the harsh confines of the Deebing Creek Mission – a place run by the malevolent Boss Man.

Goupong and Jonathan are focused on winning the mission’s biggest running race that year, but when mysterious noises, unexplained occurrences and biblical events begin to plague the local area they are forced to investigate. Weaving fact with fiction, Robert Runs explores the tough reality of mission life and the events leading up to the fateful day of the Deebing Creek Massacre.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Mariah Sweetman about honouring the life and stories of her ancestors, finding the character of the young Goupong through her research, and adopting a story structure that brings different perspectives together to reveal the complexity of our shared history.