Aboriginal people have been verbally passing down stories for 40,000 years or more and are tremendous oral storytellers. This was certainly true for Mr Lowe, a talented poet in his own right. 

His recollections and descriptions were compelling, vivid and haunting. The pain and trauma inflicted on him was evident and undeniably genuine.

Secondly, I will never forget the bond I formed with Mr Lowe in the sharing of such intimate details of his life and through him entrusting me to tell his story authentically, a responsibility I took very seriously.

Read Tom’s story about Mr Lowe:

It also occurred to me that Mr Lowe's story belonged to all members of the stolen generation, those whose human rights were so grossly abused and my only hope is that through its dissemination it helps our country come to terms with its own history.

A good start would be to enact all 54 recommendations of the Bring them Home Report from the National Inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. Most have not been implemented and others are only partially in-effect. It's now 20 years later and justice for the victims has not been achieved. 

Finally, this story is unforgettable because of the reactions, both positive and negative, that it drew from readers. The topic is still divisive in some circles, which is a sad indictment on Australian society and its relationship with racism. 

The main challenge was to accurately represent Mr Lowe and do his story justice. As such, selecting the best quotes from the extensive interview was paramount and took some consideration. 

Another challenge pertained to handling the yarn's sensitive nature with the upmost care.

I most enjoy telling stories that are meaningful, dramatic and steeped in feeling. The kind people actually care about and which evoke an emotional reaction from the reader.

These stories may offer insight into the human condition or an unusual set of circumstances that will interest audiences. I also like to write stories that may be able to influence the way readers think about a certain topic or issue for the betterment of society. However, I realise this is an idealistic approach and never assume that a story will influence somebody's opinion.

I wrote this story two months into my career, so there is undoubtedly things I could have done better. For example, some readers may have been confused by the use of two names to refer to the protagonist (Mr Lowe and Crow). 

What happpened to Reg is not debatable and should no longer be controversial.  It is irrefutable and the trauma sustained by members of the stolen generation and their descendants, as well as the damage to aboriginal society and culture is very real.