Book Launch: The Shameful Isles by David Price

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are respectfully advised that this event references people who have died and distressing descriptions of historical medical, physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

In 1907, the Western Australian government began a program of forcibly removing supposedly ill Aboriginal people to purpose-built lock hospitals on Bernier and Dorre Islands, off the coast of Carnarvon.

There, they were trapped against their will and exposed to experimental drugs and procedures. Many never returned and are buried in unmarked graves in the sandhills of Bernier and Dorre.

Comprised of meticulous research and contemporaneous accounts patient-prisoners, politicians, stockmen, nurses, policemen and journalists, The Shameful Isles reveals one of Western Australia’s most tragic acts of state-sponsored oppression from which First Nations peoples are still recovering.

About the author:

David Price is a Western Australian educator and writer who grew up in the small northwest town of Carnarvon. His first book, Dark Tales from the Long River, was published by Fremantle Press in 2020 and explored some lesser-known and sadder historical events of the Gascoyne and Murchison Regions. Now living in Perth, David continues to be intrigued by the unspoken history of his home state and committed to bringing sometimes uncomfortable truths into the light.

About Kevin O’Keefe:

Kevin O’Keefe is a respected Noongar educator and leader with roots in Yued Country. He was the first Aboriginal person to graduate from the University of Western Australia, Kevin’s journey reflects a lifelong commitment to educational equity, cultural empowerment, and systemic change.

Over several decades, Kevin has held school and system leadership roles within the Department of Education, including serving as principal in a range of schools and later as executive director and principal adviser on the Department’s corporate executive team. He has also led a national research project officer as senior project officer at ECU. In each role, he has been a driving force in embedding Aboriginal perspectives into mainstream education, leading reforms that prioritise student engagement, cultural responsiveness and inclusive leadership. His strategic vision and community-focused approach has strengthened connections between schools and Aboriginal communities across the state.

In recognition of his contributions, Kevin was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) and granted an Honorary Fellowship with the Australian College of Educational Leadership. Kevin continues to advocate for transformative leadership and cultural integrity in education, serving as a powerful voice for reconciliation and systemic inclusion.