Let Her Speak

In 2021 Grace Tame was thrust into the national spotlight when she was named Australian of the Year for her advocacy for survivors of sexual assault. Before that recognition, I knew of and admired Grace Tame through journalist Nina Funnell's #LetHerSpeak campaign to abolish gag laws preventing sexual assault victims from speaking out about what happened to them.

Over the past few years, Tame has frequently told the story of her childhood trauma in interviews and other speaking engagements. When she was fifteen years old, Tame was groomed and repeatedly raped by her 58 year old math teacher. The perpetrator was found guilty and jailed (for a frustratingly short period), but the Tasmanian gag laws in place allowed him to speak about what happened but not her. I heard Tame speak directly about her experiences when she was the keynote speaker at the 2021 Early Childhood Australia conference and was moved by her resilience and unflinching survivor-centric approach. She is an articulate advocate, reframing the narrative and shining a light in dark corners.

Now, at a 28 years of age, Tame is wise beyond her years and has channelled her energy into writing a memoir of her life and the challenges she has endured. In The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner (2022) she writes with great love for her family - particularly the matriarchy of strong women who have been role models and supporters - and her deep friendships. Tame describes her autism and about her experiences with eating disorders. She talks about mistakes she has made and the challenges she has overcome. This book is personal and political, particularly as she writes about the role the media has played covering her story. 

The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner is an interesting, but difficult book. I expected to find some of the content confronting, but did not anticipate the humour, tenderness and lightness. She forces readers to think, and challenges them to be open-minded. She is smart, sassy and self-aware. At the same time, there were parts of this book that were a slog to read. While she speaks lovingly of friends and extended family - she seemingly mentioned every family member, share house roomie, and person she has ever met - this was way too much. Tame also has strong opinions about loads of things and would often use distracting asides to express her views or share inside jokes. The non-linear narrative felt unfinished, and would have benefited from a sharp edit. Despite this, I am glad I read this memoir and learned more about Tame as a person, in her own words. 

The conclusion of the book is hopeful. She has found personal and professional success through her engagement to her partner Max and the advocacy she continues. The work she is doing via The Grace Tame Foundation - to harmonise sexual assault laws nationwide, access superannuation in civil suits, and change legislation to remove the word 'relationship' in relation to child sexual abuse - is commendable. She will undoubtedly succeed at whatever she sets her mind to.