More than a biography,
Big Jim
, is a story of an exciting and turbulent era in the development of the Alice Springs and Darwin.
After many years of research, and innumerable interviews with those who played a part, Peter Simon has crafted a work which rightly celebrates the life of a character among characters who, as editor first of the
Centralian Advocate
then the
Northern Territory News
, had an enormous impact Northern Territory but particularly its two biggest towns, on the social development of both towns.
But more, his crusading campaigns had a national impact in such areas as Aboriginal Affairs and the White Australia Policy.
In his eulogy on Jim Bowditch's death, lawyer John Waters, often his mouthpiece in court appearances, wrote: "He coloured and enriched the lives of all of us and in fundamental ways he helped change the society we live in".
We will not see his like again.