Ernie Dingo - the King of the Kids by Sally Dingo

INTRODUCTION-

Sally Dingo the author of Ernie Dingo the King of the Kids, positions us as we read through the book for us to feel almost we had known him all through his life, and that we are like mates toward him. we may feel sympathy for one of their beloved family member dies or admiration for Ernie’s sporting talents in basketball, he was usually called ‘show pony’.

SADNESS-

Many people that Ullie, Bessie and Ernie loved passed away in the story. Many of them were close family relatives; friends and people help them out. The feeling of the sadness comes out of the book and makes you feel like you are in the scene watching it all happen and crying for them. Women who are widowed in the family usually don’t have a shoulder to lean on or comfort them, and that was the case of Bessie when her mother Ullie died on her 7th stroke. Bessie did not have anyone to comfort her, and she was depressed about her husband Nobby, not treating the children right. As in not supporting them to go to school, and holds boxing tournaments against the sons etc.

ADMIRE-

We admire many people for their different types of talents. Well Sally Dingo has written in the book some qualities of people whom we admire like having a kind and caring personality. Dingo Jim, Bessie’s father, had many powers. Among the Yamatji, he was known as a Clever Man. Dingo Jim could even have visions of what if going on at home take for example when Bessie fell into the fire. Dingo Jim knew there was something wrong at home with his daughter and he raced home- but unfortunately he arrived too late to save Bessie from the wounds. He supported them especially through the hardest times, when Mr Mitchell died and no one could protect their family. And now that the Leeds were in charge things were much more harsher.

“Human decency seemed to be missing altogether…” (Page 28-29 &45).

In this story we also admire courage. The courage in this story at one point comes from two young Yamatiji men called Clarrie and Cecil. They walked off the station when they couldn’t take much more of hoe the Leeds treated them. They both found a new life, a boss who was more like Mr Mitchel, who paid them for their work and also let the workes borrow the trucks and gave them time off to go to the Show and the Football match. Clarrie and Cecil also saw the town for the first time in their lives.

Ernie did not know that one day this passion of basketball would lead him to success. As soon as his cousin-brother Bruce called him a ‘Showpy’ meaning Show Pony, Ernie was thrilled to have his approval, and Ernie kew that basketball was for him. But when the coach included him in the B grade team in school, he was filled with pride, now he could show his talents to all people (page 123-124).

His show business was first just acting in a theatre, but Ernie loved it and enjoyed getting all the attention. Ais personality became expansive, his gestures open, big and wide, and learned the art of dealing with a live crowd, of quickly trading wit to wit. He seemed to glow. And he was not easy to forget (Page 161)

EMPATHY-

We also feel empathy and symapthtic for some of the characters. Especially for Bessie’s family. When Bessie took Nobby home, she then discovered he wasn’t the kind of husband she had dreamed of and