So Far, So Good: A memoir of connection, loss, laughter and the Torres Strait

A powerful memoir from actor, writer, producer and proud Torres Strait Islander Aaron Fa'Aoso Aaron Fa'Aoso has earned a living as a professional footballer, a Kings Cross bouncer, a remote community health worker, an acclaimed actor and—most recently—as the owner and manager of his own media production company. Aaron's story is all about what it means to be a successful Indigenous man in the twenty-first century. With generosity, humour and emotional insight he examines how the death of his father, when Aaron was only six, led to his being raised by his loving but fiery mother and his even fiercer grandmother. How belief in himself as a warrior, and as a descendent of a long line of warriors, made him – literally and metaphorically, for better and for worse – into a fighter. However, Aaron's career, and his role as an emerging leader, were both hard-won in the face of many setbacks and heartaches. In 2008, a month after Aaron married for the second time and just as his acting career was flourishing, his new wife took her own life. In the dark times that followed Aaron eventually found strength and meaning in his family, and in his beloved Torres Strait community. Aaron talks frankly about mental health, racism, the personal impact of alcohol, as well as the consolations of belonging to Country, and the challenges facing remote communities. So Far, So Good is a rich and vivid reflection on life and a celebration of Torres Strait culture.

A powerful memoir from actor, writer, producer and proud Torres Strait Islander Aaron Fa’Aoso

Aaron Fa’Aoso has earned a living as a professional footballer, a Kings Cross bouncer, a remote community health worker, an acclaimed actor and—most recently—as the owner and manager of his own media production company.

Aaron’s story is all about what it means to be a successful Indigenous man in the twenty-first century. With generosity, humour and emotional insight he examines how the death of his father, when Aaron was only six, led to his being raised by his loving but fiery mother and his even fiercer grandmother. How belief in himself as a warrior, and as a descendent of a long line of warriors, made him – literally and metaphorically, for better and for worse – into a fighter.

However, Aaron’s career, and his role as an emerging leader, were both hard-won in the face of many setbacks and heartaches. In 2008, a month after Aaron married for the second time and just as his acting career was flourishing, his new wife took her own life. In the dark times that followed Aaron eventually found strength and meaning in his family, and in his beloved Torres Strait community.

Aaron talks frankly about mental health, racism, the personal impact of alcohol, as well as the consolations of belonging to Country, and the challenges facing remote communities. So Far, So Good is a rich and vivid reflection on life and a celebration of Torres Strait culture.

'I am a descendant of the Samu and Koedal clans of Sabai Island. My people are warriors, but we are storytellers too.' On his long path to success, from aspiring professional footballer to actor, director and producer, for every opportunity Aaron Fa'Aoso had, there were setbacks and heartache. He was six when his father and grandfather both died. His fiercely proud mother and even fiercer grandmother dug deep to raise Aaron and his brothers. Belief in himself as a warrior, literally and metaphorically, made him into a fighter, for better and for worse. A month into Aaron's second marriage, and just as his acting career was flourishing, his new wife took her own life. In the dark years that followed, Aaron eventually found strength and meaning in his family and in his beloved Torres Strait community. In So Far, So Good, he talks frankly about love, pain, making mistakes and finding happiness again, as well as the impacts of racism and the challenges of remote communities. A rich and vivid reflection on life told with generosity, humour, emotion and optimism