Media
Welcome to Spirit Dreaming's media page, your gateway to the latest updates and stories from our dedicated team
Here, you'll find informative articles, and the latest news about our initiatives and events. Stay connected with us to learn more about how we are making a positive impact in the lives of families, fostering healing, understanding, and collective growth within our communities.
Shades of Me
Media
2SER, Breakfast with Danny Chifley
MEL BROWN TALKS ABOUT HER HERITAGE, IDENTITY AND HER NEW MEMOIR
-INTERVIEW-
live-to-air IN-STUDIO Friday 5th July, 8:20am
Despite an early life marred by moments of sheer despair and the agony of domestic violence, Mel Brown found the strength to survive.
As a young mother, she unlocked the secrets of her ancestry, and learned in real time the challenges that come with identifying as Aboriginal in Australia.
Mel’s recently published memoir Shades of Me follows the author’s journey as she redefines who she is and how she sees her place in the world. Mel visited Danny Chifley on 2SER Breakfast for a chat about the writing process, the difference between identity and heritage, and how spirituality continues to guide her.
Mel Brown’s memoir Shades of Me from Gelding Street Press, is available now. Catch Mel while she’s in town promoting the book – further information available from Mel’s site, Spirit Dreaming.
QBD Channel 7 Book Club
INTERVIEW
Vic sits down with inspirational author Mel Brown to discuss her powerful new memoir Shades Of Me
1st July
A beautiful and profound biography, “Shades Of Me” from Mel Brown is a must-read this July.
Mel Brown is a proud Australian Aboriginal Ngunnawal woman who tells her incredible story of her complex childhood, the challenges as identifying as Aboriginal in our country and the fight to keep her family whole despite these hardships. As a young child, Mel faced the anguish of domestic violence. Then as a young mother, she discovered the mystery of her ancestry without first knowing the adversity that comes with an Australian Indigenous identity. Mel takes you on a fascinating and at times heart-aching journey of her life and finding her place in the world.
“Shades Of Me” is a memoir full of discovering your self-worth, the importance of family and being an active member in your community, and how our beautiful and complicated world contains a lot more shades than just black and white.
NITV Radio with Bertrand Tungandame
Shades of Me: Mel Brown's fight to keep Aboriginal families together.
Monday 8th July
INTERVIEW
In her gripping memoir, "Shades of Me," Ngunnawal woman Melinda Brown shares her profound journey of self-discovery and cultural awakening, set against the backdrop of NAIDOC Week. As Aboriginal families continue to face challenges, Mel’s story stands as a testament to one woman's relentless fight to preserve and protect her community.
"Shades of Me," published to coincide with NAIDOC Week, delves into Brown's journey as a Ngunnawal woman navigating a world where her identity wasn't always clear.
Mel Brown will be talking about her memoir throughout NAIDOC Week, from Brisbane to Sydney.
Authorised Podcast with Kevin Hillier
Monday 8th July
INTERVIEW
Naidoc Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and is an opportunity for all Australians to discover the unique stories our First nations people have to share. Shades of Me is Mel Brown's story, warts and all, and it is a compelling, thought provoking and at times shocking tale of one woman's journey to find her place in the world. Mel chats candidly to Kevin about the ups and downs of her life and the challenges of putting it into the public arena. It is an important conversation about a very important book.
Mel Brown will be talking about her memoir throughout NAIDOC Week, from Brisbane to Sydney to Canberra.
Bumma Bippera Media (BBM) 98.7FM, National Talkblack
3rd July
INTERVIEW
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA Radio)
3rd July
INTERVIEW
MALENY EVENT Queensland Writers Centre – Pen & Pixel Newsletter
Date: 25th June
MALENY EVENT MEDIA: Glasshouse Country & Maleny News
NAIDOC Week Book Launch Event
SPEAK Up Now, Rosetta Books and Gelding Street Press are hosting a special NAIDOC week book launch at Maleny Neighbourhood Centre, 17 Bicentenary Lane on Monday July 8.
Best selling author, and former award winning manager of the Aboriginal Child Protection Unit, Ngunnawal woman, Mel Brown, will be in conversation with Michele Gusman.
Mel will be discussing her memoir ‘Shades of Me’, which shares her experiences of family and domestic violence and how she found the strength to not only survive, but also to go on to help Aboriginal communities and children at risk.
The Byron Shire Echo
26th June
AD
BYRON BAY Book Launch Event @ Planet Corroboree – Author Talk
Celebrate the launch of Mel Brown’s memoir, Shades of Me
Tuesday 2nd July,
Planet Corroboree, Byron Community Centre, 1/69 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW
ORAN PARK Library
"Shades of me "
– Author Talk -
Thursday 4th July,
Oran Park Library, 70 Central Avenue
"Shades of Me"
Author Talk
-Mosman-
NAIDOC Week, Thursday 11th July
Mosman Library, 605 Military Road Mosman NSW
"Shades of Me"
Author Talk
-Brisbane-
Tuesday 9th July,
Brisbane Square Library, 266 George St Brisbane QLD
"Read Than Dead"
Mel Brown in conversation with Ashlee Donohue
-Newtown-
NAIDOC Week, Thursday 11th July
Better Read Than Dead, 265 King St Newtown
Mel Brown is an Indigenous author, artist and clairvoyant who has written and illustrated many popular spiritual titles. Mel has a Masters in Indigenous Healing and Trauma from the Southern Cross University in Lismore, NSW, Australia, and many years experience of working with children at risk. Acclaimed for her expertise in cultural competency and lateral violence both nationally and internationally, she draws on her personal and professional experience to work with families and organisations ensuring Aboriginal children who are unable to live at home are not excluded from cultural connection to their families.
Ashlee Donohue, is a proud Aboriginal woman from the Dunghutti nation, born and raised in Kempsey, New South Wales. She is an author, educator and media commentator advocating domestic and family violence awareness. Ashlee has created a platform to share lived experiences, as well as a safe place and support network for many women. Ashlee has appeared on the ABC (The Drum), NITV and SBS, and has written for publications such as Mamamia, IndigenousX and The Guardian, and appeared on many podcasts. She is the author of Because I Love Him (Magabala Books, 2024)
WAVERLEY Library: Mel Brown in conversation with Michaela Kalowski
NAIDOC Week: Friday 12th July
I would love to thank you for the opportunity to run this amazing event. It went very well. Please thank Mel again on behalf of our program team and patrons. We had 35 pp and some good questions at the end. I was busy talking to people but saw some people buying books.
Thanks again and looking forward to working with you again!
“Heya meant to text you earlier to say the event today was a great one. Mel was wonderful - wise, generous, honest. A solid turn out who were captivated by her and her stories and perspective. She’s just who we all needed to hear from this NAIDOC week. It was a joy to be in conversation with her and to meet her.
CANBERRA National Archives of Australia: Mel Brown in conversation with Dianne Collins | Welcome to Country by Selina Walker
NAIDOC Week: Saturday 13th July
"We had 37 bookings – and 17 showed up. We sold 12 books.
It was an intimate event – well received by the audience.
Selina’s Welcome was excellent.”
"Shades of Me"
Author Talk
-Coffs Harbour-
Wednesday 24th July,
The Gallery, Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance, 6 Park Avenue, Coffs Harbour
Mel Brown in conversation with Peta Joy Williams
-Marrickville-
Tuesday 13th August,
Marrickville Library, 313 Marrickville Road, Marrickville NSW
3KND, Drive Radio Station interview
17 July
The Pulse Radio, The Blurb with Bernard Ryan
interview
The Booklist, Jason Steger
Lit Ed, The Age
Friday 12th July
The Carousel – interview
Oran Park District Gazette – interview
The District Reporter, Camden – interview
Inner Sydney Voice Magazine – interview
Northerly – interview
National Indigenous Times – interview
The Weekend Australian: Better Reading ‘Notables – review
Good Reading – review (August Issue)
Northerly – interview
ABC Radio Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast with Sheridan Stewart
interview
8 July
The Curious Life Podcast
with Jana Firestone
JOY FM, Drive
interview
live-to-air
Wednesday 10 July
Mel’s publisher (Gelding Street Press) has described her as ““perhaps one of the most important people I have ever met. What she gives back to the Australian Aboriginal community has been immeasurable.”
She has single handedly kept hundreds of families together and whole communities from unravelling.
Mel is not only an author, she is also an artist and clairvoyant. Mel talks about her new memoir, Shades of Me.
The Weekend Australian – ‘Notable Books’
Saturday 27th July
By CHERYL AKLE of BETTER READING
“’Our trauma can destroy us or define us,’ Mel Brown says in this moving memoir, starting with her unsettled early years shuttling between western Sydney and Canberra. The shifting family dynamics mean she and her sister are repeatedly torn from the relatives she loves, as she witnesses complicated family struggles and violence. Later, Brown delves into her ancestry and realises the challenges of being Aboriginal in modern Australia. In facing her trauma, she is able to help others through her work in spiritual healing, child protection, and tackling lateral violence. Brown recognises there is no easy fix to the issues she explores here but emphasises the pressing need to address layers of unhealed intergenerational trauma.”
PS News - Review
18 August
Shades of Me: Heritage and culture found in ‘my many lives through many Dreamings’
BY RAMA GAIND
“A compelling read.
Shades of Me delves into Mel Brown’s journey as a Ngunnawal woman navigating a world where her identity wasn’t always clear. It follows Brown’s absorbing journey as she re-evaluates who she is and how she sees her place in the world. Her memoir is about growing up white, but she always felt there was another shade to her soul. Despite an early life marred by moments of sheer despair and the agony of domestic violence, she somehow found the strength to survive.
As a young mother, Brown then unlocked her ancestry secrets without realising the challenges that came with identifying as Aboriginal in Australia. As Aboriginal families are being torn apart, this is a story of one woman’s fight to keep them together – one family at a time. In helping others, she finds her true path in life.
In her gripping biography, Brown shares her profound journey of self-discovery and cultural awakening, giving some insights into her transformation from a survivor of abuse to a determined advocate for First Nations children and families. Her experiences highlight the need for reform within the child protection system and the importance of culturally sensitive care.
Brown’s expertise in cultural competency and lateral violence has been recognised with numerous accolades including the ACT Public Service Award and recognition as one of the top Aboriginal businesswomen in NSW.”
