By Lexi Cottee
The silence of Wollert is almost deafening for Kuol Garang. The South Sudanese-born 26-year-old was raised in a remote village amid the turmoil of a bloody ethnic war.
Growing up during the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005) normalised death, constant disruption and a nomadic way of life as he moved with his parents, brother
and sister between villages and refugee camps before migrating to Australia seven years ago.
To release years of bottled-up pain, Garang penned a book,
Journey of Good Hope, which was published this year.
“It took me about a year to write the book and another six months to find an editor willing to take it on board,” he said.
“Telling my story about how I came to Australia and suffered in the conflict has released some of my pain.”
Garang came to Australia with his older sister in 2007, having spent four years in a United Nations refugee camp in Uganda.
His older brother was already in Australia and had been sending money to pay for
Garang’s schooling.
But Garang and his then 20-year-old sister made the journey to Australia alone after his mother died of starvation and his father due to liver failure.
The Wollert resident now works as a support liaison officer for VincentCare, looking after homeless people.
While he loves his new home and profession, Garang said he would never forget the scars of war.
To purchase
Journey of Good Hope, visit www.amazon.com/Journey-Good-Hope-Kuol-Garang/dp/0646923471.
