A Stolen Life: The Bruce Trevorrow Case

On Christmas Day 1957, Joe Trevorrow walked through the blistering heat to seek help for his sick baby boy. When relatives agreed to take Bruce to hospital, Joe was relieved – his son was in safe hands – but within days Bruce would be living with another family and Joe would never see his son again. At the age of 10 Bruce would be returned to his Indigenous family, sparking a lifelong search for an identity that could never truly be known and a court case that made history.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

‘… a moving and at times heart-breaking story of one Aboriginal man who experienced forcible separation from his family … A Stolen Life is no dry legal textbook – it is a living story.’ Queensland Reviewers Collective

‘A Stolen Life should be read by students of law or anyone interested in studying law; by every public servant working in areas of policy that affect First Nations people; by anyone with an interest in Australian history; by Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians alike. It is a devastating and important part of our truth-telling as a nation.’ National Indigenous Times

‘Buti’s treatment of this important case is masterful for a number of reasons … There has been much written about the importance of the Trevorrow case. This book gives a detailed insight into the life of the plaintiff written with compassion and empathy but not shirking the hard reflections. Buti is a fine writer. It is a hard story to read but so well written it is hard to put down and enriching with every page.’ Brief (journal of the Law Society of Western Australia)

‘… an account of the ruining of a child that is all the more devastating for the careful precision of its language.’ Sydney Morning Herald

‘A Stolen Life is a triumph of marrying incredibly detailed research with deep characterisation and narrative intrigue. Written in a clear style that belies the complexity of the material, A Stolen Life is also an insiders’ view of how the legal system operates and a fitting testament to the heroic efforts of Trevorrow, his family and legal team in the face of apparently insurmountable odds.’ Writing WA

‘… writer and politician Antonio Buti meticulously and empathetically chronicles the story of Australia’s first and only successful Stolen Generations claimant, the irreversible anguish of a broken family, and a 13-year battle for justice.­’ Good Reading

‘Buti’s treatment of this important case is masterful for a number of reasons … There has been much written about the importance of the Trevorrow case. This book gives a detailed insight into the life of the plaintiff, written with compassion and empathy but not shirking the hard reflections. Buti is a fine writer. It is a difficult story to read, but so well written it is hard to put down, and enriching with every page.’ Psychiatry, Psychology and Law

‘As a lawyer and legal academic Buti, is well credentialled to provide insights into what transpired in the Adelaide courtroom, and why and how former Justice Tom Gray found in favour of Trevorrow. Buti draws extensively on court transcripts, interposing clarifying aperçus and giving a strong sense of the legal arguments and tactics.’ Australian Book Review

‘Buti writes with integrity and honesty and provides a well-researched and, on the whole, gripping narrative of this landmark case.’ Journal of the Historical Society of South Australia