Parish priest of Redfern in Sydney for over thirty years, Ted Kennedy became
part of modern Aboriginal history in Australia. He committed his life to the
aboriginal cause and they responded by giving him an honoured place in their
story. He became a witness to the world and the church of their claims on
justice. With incisive historical skill, Edmund Campion follows Kennedy's growth
into legendary status. Far from being a seamless progression towards greatness,
his narrative reveals a chequered career punctuated by disappointment failure
and loss. At his death in 2005, many called Kennedy a saint. If so, this
biography displays him as a human saint of flesh and blood.
Ted Kennedy had many co-workers in Redfern who are given proper recognition.
Never a one-man band, the Redfern parish attracted people who should not be
forgotten. They include the feisty nuns who challenged police lines, generous
men and women who gave their lives to serving the poor, and middle class
university people who followed Kennedy in flocks. The book restores them to…
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