"Deadly Unna?" by Phillip Gwynne, is a novel that is set in a sleepy coastal town, known as "the Port", in South Australia. It focuses on many tragic and disturbing events largely arising from racism between the white community and the nearby Aboriginal community. However out of these negative incidents and themes comes a message of hope and optimism for the future. The main character of this novel Gary Black, or "Blacky" as he is known, is involved in many of these traumatic events but through courage and strength of character manages to achieve a positive outcome for both himself and perhaps the community as a whole.
             The death of one of Gary's close friends, Dumby Red, is obviously a tragic part of the story. There is in the end however a postive outcome for both Gary and the grieving family of Dumby Red. Gary is gutted when he hears of his Aboriginal friend's death and is confronted with a choice whether to go to the funeral or not. His friends react with disgust and racist comments however Gary decides to be the only white person to attend Dumby's funeral despite his family forbidding him to do so. When Gary arrives at the funeral Dumby's family thank him for showing his respects at the funeral. "We 'preciate ya coming... we all 'preciated it." (p. 234). Gary is now treated as a friend by Dumby's family even though he comes from the white community of "the Port". Out of the tragic death of Dumby, therefore comes a message of hope that suggests different communities can be brought together if people are prepared to make a courageous stand against racial prejudice.
             Racism in the white community of the "Port" is a disturbing element of the novel however as the story progresses there is some prospect that these prejudices and bigoted attitudes can be overcome even if this is just on an individual level. At the beginning of the novel G...