SANDRA GOBBO REVIEWED FREE RADICAL

‘Free Radical – A Memoir’ by Gabrielle (Gay) Walsh is an important work from an activist who has dedicated her life to the creation of a better society. As she says “Change is a profoundly social process. It is so much more than ‘the individual’, the ‘me’: ‘taking a selfie’. Margaret Thatcher was quite wrong when she said that “there’s no such thing as society”. There really is and without society we cease to be human. Equally, in my humble opinion, our humanity may be measured by the quality of the society that we create.”

The value of such a carefully crafted record as an educational tool for younger readers cannot be overlooked, with the book containing a huge amount of background information provided on the origins of many campaigns and the activists involved. The book is a collection of both amusing anecdotes and political observations, all told from the perspective of Gay’s own experiences reflecting both her personal growth and the changes as they occurred in Australian society around her.

The opening chapters contain a perfectly rendered depiction of a childhood spent growing up in Brisbane and other Australian places in the 50s and 60s with a loving family, religious schooldays (with corporal punishment) and days packed with outdoor adventure and curiosity. The story moves quite quickly through her teenage years and the changes in Gay’s outlook as access to education increases and curiosity becomes guided by her growing intellect.

The story of what ‘Coming out’ and being a lesbian meant in the 60s is here and covers both the writer’s own confusion and discovery as well as the reactions of family and friends. Through the story of Gay’s experiences we learn about the fight to change the traditional role of women and the societal changes made possible by the Whitlam years.
There are backstories to many campaigns the origins of the various protest movements from the Anti-war marches to the Anti-Apartheid movements, and the rise of the gay and lesbian rights movement. The book is a great reminder that activists had to travel all over Australia to meet and plan and to attend meetings and conferences in the days of no email, no social media and no internet.

“We were on a mission to change the world in which we lived. We wanted to make peace and not war. We pursued liberation. We stormed the barricades and toppled the citadels. This was a fight for our lives on so many levels and in so many ways. Our struggles empowered us. We were potent and brave in our pursuit of sexual pleasure, emotional fulfilment and the recognition of our sexuality. We invented the language, the dialogue, the meaning of sexual liberation. We made it possible to be authentic human beings, without the horrible homophobic “crap” in our heads. We loudly proclaimed that “Gay is Good” and “Lesbians Ignite”. The “yes” vote in the postal survey could never have occurred were it not for past gains; who we really were back then and what we dared to do.”

Gay’s mentions of friends and colleagues throughout the book read like a roll-call of some of the pioneers of activism in Australia. There are so many stories of travels, memories and portraits of lovers and lifelong friendships – and there are some beautiful tributes to friends who are no longer here.

The list of unions, campaigns and legislative changes Gay Walsh has been involved with is huge, and there appears to have been no change of pace at any point. A tenacious fighter through decades of opposition, it must be noted that Gay continued to fight non-stop for a more just society while suffering various disabling illnesses. The final chapter is dedicated to the happiness of her relationship with Aurora and the well-deserved contentment found within.

Gay Walsh has always been a fearless activist and a force to be reckoned with, and this is a wonderful memoir of such a huge life.
Watch out for details of the launch of Gay’s book at the Victorian Pride Centre on 14 October 2021 and in other state capitals in the following weeks.

Available from Booktopia: Free Radical by Gabrielle (Gay) Walsh | 9781528948647 | Booktopia.

Link to Gay Walsh’s blog: https://gabriellegaywalsh.ampbk.com/blog/welcome-to-my-very-first-blog-on-my-brand-new-authors-website-so-exciting/.
Sandra Gobbo
78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Member

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