Help us tell a story about West Papua

West Papua Women's Office in Docklands (Victoria) is raising funds to publish and print 200 copies of Jacob and the Cassowary, a short prophetic story about West Papua by Gipson Suu, with nine oil paintings by Michael Molony.

We plan to launch the book at our Open Day on 15 March 2026. 100% of profits will go to support the West Papuan struggle for self-determination.

The Book

"Jacob Rumbiak jumped on my uncle's cassowary in Nalca, my village in the highlands of West Papua, because he had to get to Jayapura down on the north coast for West Papua's independence celebration. 

The next day, near the Puldama River, the cassowary slipped in the mud and went arse up. Jacob got thrown off and scratched his scrotum on a stick."

Jacob and the Cassowary is a fantastical story of a Papuan politician riding a cassowary from the mountainous highlands to Jayapura for the independence celebrations. The 600-word story, in words and painting, explores the West Papuan people's David and Goliath struggle against Indonesia's colonial occupation through the resistance of Papuan women, pastors, and native wildlife, with a satirical depiction of a certain Indonesian politician for good measure. Jacob and the Cassowary is a good fun deadly political story, suitable for radical six-to-twelve year olds and adults of all ages.     

The Writer 

GIPSON SUU is from Nalca in the highlands of West Papua. He is working and studying in Melbourne while the Australian government is considering his application for asylum. He is an active member of the West Papua office in Docklands.
 

The Illustrator 

MICHAEL MOLONY is an artist who teaches at the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Fitzroy, Victoria's oldest Catholic girls' secondary college.

Book specifications

A 24-page soft cover book

Nine oil painting illustrations

The book will be printed and produced locally in Melbourne

Finished size is 21 x 21cm

The book will be completed after the crowdfunding process, so some changes may occur.

With your help, we can get this book designed and printed and raise money to help West Papua. The more books we sell, the more money we raise for West Papua. $3500 gets us to our minimum print run.

• $1700 - Printing of 200 copies of the book, generously supported by Print Express (Chapel Street, Prahran)
• $750 - Postage and packaging for 50 books posted in Australia.
• $650 - Postage and packaging for 25 copies posted internationally.
• $150 - Publishing costs including ISBN number and barcode.
• $150 - Pozible 5% fee.
• $0 - Story donated by Gipson Suu.
• $0 - Illustrations generously donated by Michael Molony.
• $0 - Book design generously donated by Tom Palmer.
• The remaining balance after costs will be donated to the West Papua Women's Office.

Thank you for your support! Any pledge, however small, is deeply appreciated.