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First Nations:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Literature
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT:
The Dhurga Dictionary and Learner's Grammar
The Dhurga Dictionary and Learners Grammar: A South-East Coast NSW Aboriginal Language is an overdue and extremely valuable resource for the Dhurga speaking people of Yuin Country and of any person wanting to learn the traditional language. The Dhurga language is spoken from south of Nowra to Narooma and west to Braidwood and Araluen. This publication is the most concise compilation of the Dhurga language to date with over 730 words including informant and recorder details as validation of authenticity. The dictionary is user-friendly for all literacy levels and readers, it is the very first of its kind and in high demand.
G Is for Gugunyal
A Dhurga Alphabet Book
G is for Gugunyal: A Dhurga alphabet book helps new speakers pronounce the 24 sounds used in Dhurga language. It complements The Dhurga Dictionary and Learner’s Grammar: A south-east coast NSW Aboriginal language.
Dhurga is one of four traditional languages of the south coast of New South Wales. It was spoken by Yuin (Yuwinj) people between Nowra and Narooma, and as far inland as Braidwood and Araluen. Our language connects us to our people and our physical world. Traditional languages are being reclaimed and spoken across Australia. Fragments of Dhurga were kept by Elders and in books. Dhurga was sleeping; but is now being taught, learned and spoken by Yuin people.
The beautiful illustrations help readers to learn the 24 Dhurga sounds. They also introduce important land and marine animals, and other creatures of the south coast that are part of local creation and dreaming stories, and Lore.
A QR code allows readers to hear the book’s Dhurga sounds and words spoken by a Yuin Elder.
The Welcome to Country Handbook
The Welcome to Country Handbook by Professor Marcia Langton AO is your accessible introduction to First Nations Peoples, histories and cultures. Drawn from the bestselling Welcome to Country, this guide is essential reading for every Australian, and an excellent resource for cultural awareness training in the workplace or classroom.
The chapters cover precolonial and post-colonial history, language, kinship, knowledge, art, performance, storytelling, native title, the Stolen Generations, making a rightful place for First Australians and looking to the future for Indigenous Australia. A new introduction as well as a chapter on racism has been written especially for this handbook, and all information has been checked and updated.
Looking through these pages, photos and reading Professor Langton’s profound words, you will quickly appreciate how lucky we are to be the home of the world’s oldest continuing civilisation – which is both diverse and thriving in Australia today.
WHAT'S NEW:
Bush Bugs, Helen Milroy
Helen Milroy's latest instalment in her bestselling First Nations Bush series features Australian bugs in all their hairy, scary glory!
It's time to get outside and discover the amazing world around us in this stunning new picture book from bestselling Indigenous creator Helen Milroy. This colourful array of Australian insects is sure to delight little ones captivated by all things creepy and crawly. From spiky stick insects to hairy spiders, and from blood-sucking mosquitos to dung-eating blowflies and feasting wasps, this is a fun and easy-to-read book introducing tiny readers to tiny bush critters.
It's time to get outside and discover the amazing world around us in this stunning new picture book from bestselling Indigenous creator Helen Milroy. This colourful array of Australian insects is sure to delight little ones captivated by all things creepy and crawly. From spiky stick insects to hairy spiders, and from blood-sucking mosquitos to dung-eating blowflies and feasting wasps, this is a fun and easy-to-read book introducing tiny readers to tiny bush critters.
Nicky Winmar, Nicky Winmar
Thirty years after creating one of the most memorable moments in sporting history, Indigenous AFL legend Nicky Winmar tells his story in a moving and compelling memoir.
Sport is made up of moments that thrill us at the time and quickly disappear. Very few endure for decades. Even fewer transcend sport and speak to an entire nation.
April 17, 2023, marked the 30th anniversary of St Kilda legend Nicky Winmar's proud and defining stand against racism - one of those moments that hasn't diminished over time and regrettably is still just as relevant today.
It is a stand that has become iconic, and so has Winmar, not just for his courage as he declared to a hostile, jeering crowd 'I'm black and I'm proud to be black' - but also because he is one of the game's great and most celebrated players.
Born a Noongar man from the WA wheatbelt 200 kilometres from Perth, Neil Elvis 'Nicky' Winmar quickly displayed an ability to overcome adversity. He would need to. He had a hard upbringing but loved to play footy every day with his younger brother among the livestock on the sheep farm where their father worked as a shearer.
The skinny teenager soon began playing football amongst hardened men for the local team and was signed to a senior team as a promising fifteen-year-old. Winmar would go on to become one of the most decorated players in AFL history. Recently inducted into the illustrious AFL Hall Of Fame, a member of the Indigenous Team of the Century, the St Kilda Team of the Century, a winner of Best and Fairest and Mark of the Year awards, Winmar became the first Indigenous footballer to play 200 games.
This long-awaited autobiography tells the story of Winmar's brilliant career in colourful detail, as well as giving moving insight into his life. Amidst the pain, the turbulence and the triumph, his heart and abiding sense of humour shine through.
Sport is made up of moments that thrill us at the time and quickly disappear. Very few endure for decades. Even fewer transcend sport and speak to an entire nation.
April 17, 2023, marked the 30th anniversary of St Kilda legend Nicky Winmar's proud and defining stand against racism - one of those moments that hasn't diminished over time and regrettably is still just as relevant today.
It is a stand that has become iconic, and so has Winmar, not just for his courage as he declared to a hostile, jeering crowd 'I'm black and I'm proud to be black' - but also because he is one of the game's great and most celebrated players.
Born a Noongar man from the WA wheatbelt 200 kilometres from Perth, Neil Elvis 'Nicky' Winmar quickly displayed an ability to overcome adversity. He would need to. He had a hard upbringing but loved to play footy every day with his younger brother among the livestock on the sheep farm where their father worked as a shearer.
The skinny teenager soon began playing football amongst hardened men for the local team and was signed to a senior team as a promising fifteen-year-old. Winmar would go on to become one of the most decorated players in AFL history. Recently inducted into the illustrious AFL Hall Of Fame, a member of the Indigenous Team of the Century, the St Kilda Team of the Century, a winner of Best and Fairest and Mark of the Year awards, Winmar became the first Indigenous footballer to play 200 games.
This long-awaited autobiography tells the story of Winmar's brilliant career in colourful detail, as well as giving moving insight into his life. Amidst the pain, the turbulence and the triumph, his heart and abiding sense of humour shine through.
Edenglassie, Melissa Lucashenko
Two extraordinary Indigenous stories set five generations apart.
When Mulanyin meets the beautiful Nita in Edenglassie, their saltwater people still outnumber the British. As colonial unrest peaks, Mulanyin dreams of taking his bride home to Yugambeh Country, but his plans for independence collide with white justice.
Two centuries later, fiery activist Winona meets Dr Johnny. Together they care for obstinate centenarian Grannie Eddie, and sparks fly, but not always in the right direction. What nobody knows is how far the legacies of the past will reach into their modern lives.
In this brilliant epic, Melissa Lucashenko torches Queensland's colonial myths, while reimagining an Australian future.
When Mulanyin meets the beautiful Nita in Edenglassie, their saltwater people still outnumber the British. As colonial unrest peaks, Mulanyin dreams of taking his bride home to Yugambeh Country, but his plans for independence collide with white justice.
Two centuries later, fiery activist Winona meets Dr Johnny. Together they care for obstinate centenarian Grannie Eddie, and sparks fly, but not always in the right direction. What nobody knows is how far the legacies of the past will reach into their modern lives.
In this brilliant epic, Melissa Lucashenko torches Queensland's colonial myths, while reimagining an Australian future.
For 60,000 Years, Marlee Silva, Rhys Paddick
For 60,000 years, as sure as the sun rises and rests, our people have thrived and survived. Originally penned as a poetic response to January 26th, this is an empowering story of truth, strength and community, told by Gamilaroi and Dunghutti woman Marlee Silva and illustrated by Yamatji man Rhys Paddick.
Borderland, Graham Akhurst
Age range 13+
Jono, a city-born Indigenous teenager is trying to figure out who he really is. Life in Brisbane hasn’t exactly made him feel connected to his Country or community. Luckily, he’s got his best friend, Jenny, who has been by his side through their hectic days at St Lucia Private.
After graduating, Jono and Jenny score gigs at the Aboriginal Performing Arts Centre and an incredible opportunity comes knocking — interning with a documentary crew. Their mission? To promote a big government mining project in the wild western Queensland desert. The catch? The details are sketchy, and the land is rumoured to be sacred. But who cares? Jono is stoked just to be part of something meaningful. Plus, he gets to be the lead presenter!
Life takes a turn when they land in Gambari, a tiny rural town far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Suddenly, Jono’s intuition becomes his best guide. He’s haunted by an eerie omen of death, battling suffocating panic attacks, and even experiencing visions of Wudun — a malevolent spirit from the Dreaming. What’s the real story behind the gas mining venture? Are the documentary crew hiding something from Jono? And could Wudun be a messenger from the land, fighting back against the invasion?
Borderland is a heart-pounding horror gothic that follows Jono on an epic quest to find himself in the face of unbelievable challenges. Graham Akhurst, the brilliant mind behind this coming-of-age gem, is a Fulbright scholar from the Kokomini of Northern Queensland. Brace yourself for a fresh, mind-bending tale exploring Indigenous identity, the impact of colonization, and what happens when you take a stand.
Jono, a city-born Indigenous teenager is trying to figure out who he really is. Life in Brisbane hasn’t exactly made him feel connected to his Country or community. Luckily, he’s got his best friend, Jenny, who has been by his side through their hectic days at St Lucia Private.
After graduating, Jono and Jenny score gigs at the Aboriginal Performing Arts Centre and an incredible opportunity comes knocking — interning with a documentary crew. Their mission? To promote a big government mining project in the wild western Queensland desert. The catch? The details are sketchy, and the land is rumoured to be sacred. But who cares? Jono is stoked just to be part of something meaningful. Plus, he gets to be the lead presenter!
Life takes a turn when they land in Gambari, a tiny rural town far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Suddenly, Jono’s intuition becomes his best guide. He’s haunted by an eerie omen of death, battling suffocating panic attacks, and even experiencing visions of Wudun — a malevolent spirit from the Dreaming. What’s the real story behind the gas mining venture? Are the documentary crew hiding something from Jono? And could Wudun be a messenger from the land, fighting back against the invasion?
Borderland is a heart-pounding horror gothic that follows Jono on an epic quest to find himself in the face of unbelievable challenges. Graham Akhurst, the brilliant mind behind this coming-of-age gem, is a Fulbright scholar from the Kokomini of Northern Queensland. Brace yourself for a fresh, mind-bending tale exploring Indigenous identity, the impact of colonization, and what happens when you take a stand.
The Visitors, Jane Harrison
The most exciting debut in 2023, The Visitors is an audacious, earthy, funny, gritty and powerful re-imagining of a crucial moment in Australia's history - an unputdownable work of fiction.
On a steamy, hot day in January 1788, seven Aboriginal men, representing the nearby clans, gather at Warrane. Several newly arrived ships have been sighted in the great bay to the south, Kamay. The men meet to discuss their response to these visitors. All day, they talk, argue, debate. Where are the visitors from? What do they want? Might they just warra warra wai back to where they came from? Should they be welcomed? Or should they be made to leave? The decision of the men must be unanimous -- and will have far-reaching implications for all. Throughout the day, the weather is strange, with mammatus clouds, unbearable heat and a pending thunderstorm ... Somewhere, trouble is brewing.
From award-winning author and playwright Jane Harrison, The Visitors is an audacious, earthy, funny, gritty and powerful re-imagining of a crucial moment in Australia's history - and an unputdownable work of fiction.
'A remarkable achievement of First Nations storytelling. We live in a time when truths need to be told and heard - this is a generous offering, a story that challenges and ultimately rewards us' Tony Birch, author of The White Girl
'A work of soaring imagination and breathtaking ambition. Jane Harrison upends all our black-and-white assumptions about what happened on that fateful January day in 1788 when eleven tall ships sailed into a safe blue harbour that people already called home. Surprisingly funny, cheeky and tragic by turns, this remarkable novel is bold, brave and unforgettable' Clare Wright, author of You Daughters of Freedom
'Witty, tense, and gut-wrenching ... [it] pulled me inexorably towards a place of profound emotion' Grace Chan, author of Every Version of You
'Intimate, tense, but inviting ... the end of the book is devastating, and even though we know what's coming, we're hopeful for a different ending. The Visitors offers a deep emotional journey. Harrison has written a thoughtful and powerful reimagining of a significant moment in Australian history, from a First Nations perspective.' Books+Publishing
On a steamy, hot day in January 1788, seven Aboriginal men, representing the nearby clans, gather at Warrane. Several newly arrived ships have been sighted in the great bay to the south, Kamay. The men meet to discuss their response to these visitors. All day, they talk, argue, debate. Where are the visitors from? What do they want? Might they just warra warra wai back to where they came from? Should they be welcomed? Or should they be made to leave? The decision of the men must be unanimous -- and will have far-reaching implications for all. Throughout the day, the weather is strange, with mammatus clouds, unbearable heat and a pending thunderstorm ... Somewhere, trouble is brewing.
From award-winning author and playwright Jane Harrison, The Visitors is an audacious, earthy, funny, gritty and powerful re-imagining of a crucial moment in Australia's history - and an unputdownable work of fiction.
'A remarkable achievement of First Nations storytelling. We live in a time when truths need to be told and heard - this is a generous offering, a story that challenges and ultimately rewards us' Tony Birch, author of The White Girl
'A work of soaring imagination and breathtaking ambition. Jane Harrison upends all our black-and-white assumptions about what happened on that fateful January day in 1788 when eleven tall ships sailed into a safe blue harbour that people already called home. Surprisingly funny, cheeky and tragic by turns, this remarkable novel is bold, brave and unforgettable' Clare Wright, author of You Daughters of Freedom
'Witty, tense, and gut-wrenching ... [it] pulled me inexorably towards a place of profound emotion' Grace Chan, author of Every Version of You
'Intimate, tense, but inviting ... the end of the book is devastating, and even though we know what's coming, we're hopeful for a different ending. The Visitors offers a deep emotional journey. Harrison has written a thoughtful and powerful reimagining of a significant moment in Australian history, from a First Nations perspective.' Books+Publishing
The Trees, Victor Steffensen, Sandra Steffensen
Take a walk with Uncle Kuu in The Trees, a picture book about caring for Country and respect for Indigenous knowledge.
Looking after the trees is important for keeping Country happy and healthy. First Nations People have cared for the trees on Country for thousands of years. In return, the trees look after the people and provide them with gifts of seeds, flowers, wood and more. This creates the balance between giving and taking from the land.
Featuring stunning artwork by Sandra Steffensen, The Trees is a powerful and timely story to help future generations manage our landscapes and ensure that they thrive. At the back of the book, you will find lyrics to a song written by author Victor Steffensen with the title, ‘We are the Trees’, and a QR code to watch the song's YouTube video.
This book is the follow-up to Victor Steffensen’s Looking after Country with Fire, which explains Aboriginal burning practices for children.
Looking after the trees is important for keeping Country happy and healthy. First Nations People have cared for the trees on Country for thousands of years. In return, the trees look after the people and provide them with gifts of seeds, flowers, wood and more. This creates the balance between giving and taking from the land.
Featuring stunning artwork by Sandra Steffensen, The Trees is a powerful and timely story to help future generations manage our landscapes and ensure that they thrive. At the back of the book, you will find lyrics to a song written by author Victor Steffensen with the title, ‘We are the Trees’, and a QR code to watch the song's YouTube video.
This book is the follow-up to Victor Steffensen’s Looking after Country with Fire, which explains Aboriginal burning practices for children.
Emily Kam Kngwarray, Kelli Cole, Hetti Perkins, Jennifer Green
A comprehensive and richly illustrated publication celebrating the timeless art of Emily Kam Kngwarray — a pre-eminent Australian artist and one of the most significant painters of the 20th century.
Emily Kam Kngwarray celebrates the timeless art of a pre-eminent Australian artist and one of the most significant painters of the 20th century. An Anmatyerr woman from Central Australia, Kngwarray devoted the last decades of her life to new artistic pursuits, creating works that encapsulate the experience and authority she gained throughout an extraordinary life.
This book offers new insights into Emily Kam Kngwarray’s life and work, featuring original research and reflections from the artist’s community, curators and academics.
Generously illustrated, the publication brings together Kngwarray’s most significant works, from early vibrant batiks to her later monumental paintings on canvas. It includes archival images, many of which have never been published, and a visual record of community consultations and visits to Kngwarray’s Country. Emily Kam Kngwarray is published alongside a major retrospective exhibition of her work at the National Gallery of Australia.
Emily Kam Kngwarray celebrates the timeless art of a pre-eminent Australian artist and one of the most significant painters of the 20th century. An Anmatyerr woman from Central Australia, Kngwarray devoted the last decades of her life to new artistic pursuits, creating works that encapsulate the experience and authority she gained throughout an extraordinary life.
This book offers new insights into Emily Kam Kngwarray’s life and work, featuring original research and reflections from the artist’s community, curators and academics.
Generously illustrated, the publication brings together Kngwarray’s most significant works, from early vibrant batiks to her later monumental paintings on canvas. It includes archival images, many of which have never been published, and a visual record of community consultations and visits to Kngwarray’s Country. Emily Kam Kngwarray is published alongside a major retrospective exhibition of her work at the National Gallery of Australia.
NON-FICTION:
Big Love, Brooke Blurton
A raw, moving and uplifting memoir about courage, resilience and the transformative power of love, from one of Australia's most captivating personalities
'Powerful, heartbreaking and beautiful ... a story of incredible triumph fuelled by love and compassion' Osher Gunsberg
'Brooke Blurton is an icon for people of all generations and backgrounds. I love seeing her star shine.' Clementine Ford
My story is about the one thing that I never went without. Love. Big love, that filled me up and made me feel like there was a future for me. The kind of love that's unconditional, and that lasts across time and space ...
From the moment Brooke Blurton appeared on Australian television, she dazzled audiences with her authenticity, self-knowledge, generosity and honesty. As a proud young Noongar-Yamatji woman, Brooke's connection to her culture and country is deep, and as an openly queer woman, she knows that love is simply love. Most of all Brooke knows the importance of family, and the uplifting power of unconditional connection.
But behind the public persona Brooke presents to the world is a story of epic proportions and awe-inspiring resilience - she had to grow up fast from a very young age, surviving an extremely challenging childhood and youth, and overcoming the shocking legacy of intergenerational trauma, abuse and homelessness. She's also had to defy labels and perceptions about who she is, and her worth, all her life.
But through it all, Brooke didn't just survive, she found her voice and thrived, and in this raw, heartbreaking, often funny and ultimately life-affirming memoir, Brooke lays her journey bare about how she refused to allow the past to define her and reclaimed her own identity - and realised the power of love, for herself, for her family, and her community.
'Powerful, heartbreaking and beautiful ... a story of incredible triumph fuelled by love and compassion' Osher Gunsberg
'Brooke Blurton is an icon for people of all generations and backgrounds. I love seeing her star shine.' Clementine Ford
My story is about the one thing that I never went without. Love. Big love, that filled me up and made me feel like there was a future for me. The kind of love that's unconditional, and that lasts across time and space ...
From the moment Brooke Blurton appeared on Australian television, she dazzled audiences with her authenticity, self-knowledge, generosity and honesty. As a proud young Noongar-Yamatji woman, Brooke's connection to her culture and country is deep, and as an openly queer woman, she knows that love is simply love. Most of all Brooke knows the importance of family, and the uplifting power of unconditional connection.
But behind the public persona Brooke presents to the world is a story of epic proportions and awe-inspiring resilience - she had to grow up fast from a very young age, surviving an extremely challenging childhood and youth, and overcoming the shocking legacy of intergenerational trauma, abuse and homelessness. She's also had to defy labels and perceptions about who she is, and her worth, all her life.
But through it all, Brooke didn't just survive, she found her voice and thrived, and in this raw, heartbreaking, often funny and ultimately life-affirming memoir, Brooke lays her journey bare about how she refused to allow the past to define her and reclaimed her own identity - and realised the power of love, for herself, for her family, and her community.
Cloud Land, Penny van Oosterzee
A sweeping account of Australia's wet tropical rainforest country, from deep time to the legendary time of Australia's first peoples; from the killing times and maniacal destruction of the forests by European settlers, to the present time of growing awareness of forests as the life-force of the planet.
Wreathed in morning mist, the rainforest is a place where evolution and legend rule. Here the thunderbird once roamed, now kangaroos climb trees and towering trees strip water from clouds.
On their property on the Atherton Tablelands, Penny van Oosterzee and her husband are regenerating rainforest from paddocks, reconnecting fragments into a living corridor that will run to the Daintree and beyond. She weaves this personal experience into a sweeping account of Australia's rainforests, from their swampy birth millions of years ago to the present.
Creation stories and science bleed together for rainforest people who remember through legend the volcanic creation of the Atherton Tablelands. People They managed country for thousands of years, stitched into the patterns of the forest. Then came the European settlers and the killing times. The giant cedars were pillaged in a frenzy, and the richest rainforests in the world were cleared to make way for small unsustainable cattle farms for the settlers.
After bitterly fought battles against logging, much of Australia's remaining wet tropical rainforest is now World Heritage listed and some once again managed by Traditional Owners. Will the unique capacity of these rainforests to counteract climate change be their salvation, or will they continue to be vulnerable to exploitation for short term gain?
'I challenge anyone who starts this book to put it down without first devouring it from cover to cover'- Professor Mike Archer AM, University of New South Wales
'A delight to read' - Mike Berwick, former mayor of Douglas Shire
'Driven by a love of the wet tropical forests, Penny van Oosterzee tells their story from deep time to the present' - Libby Connors, author of Warrior
Wreathed in morning mist, the rainforest is a place where evolution and legend rule. Here the thunderbird once roamed, now kangaroos climb trees and towering trees strip water from clouds.
On their property on the Atherton Tablelands, Penny van Oosterzee and her husband are regenerating rainforest from paddocks, reconnecting fragments into a living corridor that will run to the Daintree and beyond. She weaves this personal experience into a sweeping account of Australia's rainforests, from their swampy birth millions of years ago to the present.
Creation stories and science bleed together for rainforest people who remember through legend the volcanic creation of the Atherton Tablelands. People They managed country for thousands of years, stitched into the patterns of the forest. Then came the European settlers and the killing times. The giant cedars were pillaged in a frenzy, and the richest rainforests in the world were cleared to make way for small unsustainable cattle farms for the settlers.
After bitterly fought battles against logging, much of Australia's remaining wet tropical rainforest is now World Heritage listed and some once again managed by Traditional Owners. Will the unique capacity of these rainforests to counteract climate change be their salvation, or will they continue to be vulnerable to exploitation for short term gain?
'I challenge anyone who starts this book to put it down without first devouring it from cover to cover'- Professor Mike Archer AM, University of New South Wales
'A delight to read' - Mike Berwick, former mayor of Douglas Shire
'Driven by a love of the wet tropical forests, Penny van Oosterzee tells their story from deep time to the present' - Libby Connors, author of Warrior
Crossing The Great Divide, Rod Moss
The memoirs
and paintings that Rod Moss has produced during the last 35 years are unique in
their dramatisation of the lives of his trusting Aboriginal family and have
been critically acclaimed nationally and internationally. In his third memoir
we follow the nurturing of the curiosity and openness that has fastened him to
the luminous power of Central Australia and its First Peoples. From the
foothills of Victoria's Dandenong Ranges and his city-based art education, we
are taken to the Mallee where he first embraces the climate most conducive to
his wellbeing. He returns to the city and is invited to participate in
Melbourne's dynamic experimental small school movement. A year is spent in the
USA studying the teachings of Armenian
philosopher George Gurdjieff in a rural community ‘Shenandoah’ farm setting.
Travel widens Moss’ perceptions and continues to pique his curiosity. A trip to
a Pilbra Indigenous community opens the door on the Aboriginal world that he
will spend the rest of his life coming to terms with.
In Crossing the Great Divide, Rod Moss
shows the reader through his formative years in 1950s and 1960s Victoria, and
through young adulthood in the 1970s. He weaves his experiences together with
sensitivity and a painterly eye.
and paintings that Rod Moss has produced during the last 35 years are unique in
their dramatisation of the lives of his trusting Aboriginal family and have
been critically acclaimed nationally and internationally. In his third memoir
we follow the nurturing of the curiosity and openness that has fastened him to
the luminous power of Central Australia and its First Peoples. From the
foothills of Victoria's Dandenong Ranges and his city-based art education, we
are taken to the Mallee where he first embraces the climate most conducive to
his wellbeing. He returns to the city and is invited to participate in
Melbourne's dynamic experimental small school movement. A year is spent in the
USA studying the teachings of Armenian
philosopher George Gurdjieff in a rural community ‘Shenandoah’ farm setting.
Travel widens Moss’ perceptions and continues to pique his curiosity. A trip to
a Pilbra Indigenous community opens the door on the Aboriginal world that he
will spend the rest of his life coming to terms with.
In Crossing the Great Divide, Rod Moss
shows the reader through his formative years in 1950s and 1960s Victoria, and
through young adulthood in the 1970s. He weaves his experiences together with
sensitivity and a painterly eye.
Culture is Life, A Photographic Exploration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Modern Australia, Wayne Quilliam
WINNER OF THE 2022 NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT PRIZE
Culture is Life is a modern, photographic celebration of the diversity of Indigenous Australians. Pre-eminent Aboriginal photographer Wayne Quilliam has an archive of thousands of images and interviews with Indigenous people across the country.Through the images in this stunning collection, Wayne's work explores the nuances of Indigenous thinking and identity, and focuses on how the First peoples view their place within the contemporary culture of Australia.
The people featured in Culture is Life include many high-profile Indigenous Australians, as well as community members of different ages from Tasmania to the Torres Strait, offering insights into the dreams of youth and the reflections of Elders. With various feature sections on significant events such as Sorry Day and the All Stars game, this book is an accessible gateway to better understand and appreciate the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, presented as a stunning and contemporary photo book.
Culture is Life is a modern, photographic celebration of the diversity of Indigenous Australians. Pre-eminent Aboriginal photographer Wayne Quilliam has an archive of thousands of images and interviews with Indigenous people across the country.Through the images in this stunning collection, Wayne's work explores the nuances of Indigenous thinking and identity, and focuses on how the First peoples view their place within the contemporary culture of Australia.
The people featured in Culture is Life include many high-profile Indigenous Australians, as well as community members of different ages from Tasmania to the Torres Strait, offering insights into the dreams of youth and the reflections of Elders. With various feature sections on significant events such as Sorry Day and the All Stars game, this book is an accessible gateway to better understand and appreciate the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, presented as a stunning and contemporary photo book.
Dark Emu, Bruce Pascoe
'Dark Emu injects a profound authenticity into the conversation about how we Australians understand ourcontinent...[It is] essential reading for anyone who wants to understand what Australia once was, or what it might yet be if we heed the lessons of long and sophisticated human occupation.' — Judges for 2016 NSW Premier's Literary Awards
Dark Emu puts forward an argument for a reconsideration of the hunter-gatherer tag for pre-colonial Aboriginal Australians. The evidence insists that Aboriginal people right across the continent were using domesticated plants, sowing, harvesting, irrigating, and storing — behaviours inconsistent with the hunter-gatherer tag. Gerritsen and Gammage in their latest books support this premise but Pascoe takes this further and challenges the hunter-gatherer tag as a convenient lie. Almost all the evidence inDark Emu comes from the records and diaries of the Australian explorers, impeccable sources.
Bruce's comments on his book compared to Gammage's: 'My book is about food production, housing construction and clothing, whereas Gammage was interested in the appearance of the country at contact. [Gammage] doesn't contest hunter gatherer labels either, whereas that is at the centre of my argument.'
Dark Emu puts forward an argument for a reconsideration of the hunter-gatherer tag for pre-colonial Aboriginal Australians. The evidence insists that Aboriginal people right across the continent were using domesticated plants, sowing, harvesting, irrigating, and storing — behaviours inconsistent with the hunter-gatherer tag. Gerritsen and Gammage in their latest books support this premise but Pascoe takes this further and challenges the hunter-gatherer tag as a convenient lie. Almost all the evidence inDark Emu comes from the records and diaries of the Australian explorers, impeccable sources.
Bruce's comments on his book compared to Gammage's: 'My book is about food production, housing construction and clothing, whereas Gammage was interested in the appearance of the country at contact. [Gammage] doesn't contest hunter gatherer labels either, whereas that is at the centre of my argument.'
Farmers Or Hunter-Gatherers?, Peter Sutton, Keryn Walshe
A groundbreaking study of pre-colonial Australia that dismantles and reframes the narratives surrounding First Nations land management and food production
Australians' understanding of Aboriginal society prior to the British invasion from 1788 has been transformed since the publication of Bruce Pascoe's Dark Emu in 2014. It argued that classical Aboriginal society was more sophisticated than Australians had been led to believe because it resembled more closely the farming communities of Europe.
In Farmers or Hunter-gatherers? Peter Sutton and Keryn Walshe ask why Australians have been so receptive to the notion that farming represents an advance from hunting and gathering. Drawing on the knowledge of Aboriginal elders, previously not included within this discussion, and decades of anthropological scholarship, Sutton and Walshe provide extensive evidence to support their argument that classical Aboriginal society was a hunter-gatherer society and as sophisticated as the traditional European farming methods.
Farmers or Hunter-gatherers? asks Australians to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal society and culture.
Australians' understanding of Aboriginal society prior to the British invasion from 1788 has been transformed since the publication of Bruce Pascoe's Dark Emu in 2014. It argued that classical Aboriginal society was more sophisticated than Australians had been led to believe because it resembled more closely the farming communities of Europe.
In Farmers or Hunter-gatherers? Peter Sutton and Keryn Walshe ask why Australians have been so receptive to the notion that farming represents an advance from hunting and gathering. Drawing on the knowledge of Aboriginal elders, previously not included within this discussion, and decades of anthropological scholarship, Sutton and Walshe provide extensive evidence to support their argument that classical Aboriginal society was a hunter-gatherer society and as sophisticated as the traditional European farming methods.
Farmers or Hunter-gatherers? asks Australians to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal society and culture.
Finding The Heart Of The Nation 2nd Edition, Thomas Mayo
In this updated edition of the bestselling book, Finding the Heart of the Nation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander author Thomas Mayo gets behind the politics and legal speak to explain why the Uluru Statement from the Heart is an invitation to all Australians.
Australia is set to vote on a referendum to enshrine a First Nations voice in the constitution as a result of the 2022 federal election. In this book, Thomas focuses on the stories of First Nations People, including some new voices, looking at the truth of our past and present, and hopes for a better future. Importantly, he shares with you – the Australian public – how we all have the power to make change. The campaign for Voice Treaty Truth, starting with a referendum, is an opportunity to right some of the wrongs, give First Nations People a seat at the table, and to recognise that we are a nation with over 60,000 years of continuous culture.
Completing his writing just after the 2022 federal election, Thomas has included a new introduction and conclusion, as well as a call to action for all Australians. Now in a paperback format, this collection of stories offers hope and tells us how we, as Australians, may find our collective heart.
Australia is set to vote on a referendum to enshrine a First Nations voice in the constitution as a result of the 2022 federal election. In this book, Thomas focuses on the stories of First Nations People, including some new voices, looking at the truth of our past and present, and hopes for a better future. Importantly, he shares with you – the Australian public – how we all have the power to make change. The campaign for Voice Treaty Truth, starting with a referendum, is an opportunity to right some of the wrongs, give First Nations People a seat at the table, and to recognise that we are a nation with over 60,000 years of continuous culture.
Completing his writing just after the 2022 federal election, Thomas has included a new introduction and conclusion, as well as a call to action for all Australians. Now in a paperback format, this collection of stories offers hope and tells us how we, as Australians, may find our collective heart.
Fire Country, Victor Steffensen
Delving deep into the Australian landscape and the environmental challenges we face, Fire Country is a powerful account from Indigenous land management expert Victor Steffensen on how the revival of cultural burning practices, and improved 'reading' of country, could help to restore our land.
From a young age, Victor has had a passion for traditional cultural and ecological knowledge. This was further developed after meeting two Elders, who were to become his mentors and teach him the importance of cultural burning. Developed over many generations, this knowledge shows clearly that Australia actually needs fire. Moreover, fire is an important part of a holistic approach to the environment, and when burning is done in a carefully considered manner, this ensures proper land care and healing.
Victor's story is unassuming and honest, while demonstrating the incredibly sophisticated and complex cultural knowledge that has been passed down to him, which he wants to share with others. As global warming sees more parts of our planet burning, this book emphasises the value of Indigenous knowledge systems. There is much evidence that, if adopted, it could greatly benefit the land here in Australia and around the world.
From a young age, Victor has had a passion for traditional cultural and ecological knowledge. This was further developed after meeting two Elders, who were to become his mentors and teach him the importance of cultural burning. Developed over many generations, this knowledge shows clearly that Australia actually needs fire. Moreover, fire is an important part of a holistic approach to the environment, and when burning is done in a carefully considered manner, this ensures proper land care and healing.
Victor's story is unassuming and honest, while demonstrating the incredibly sophisticated and complex cultural knowledge that has been passed down to him, which he wants to share with others. As global warming sees more parts of our planet burning, this book emphasises the value of Indigenous knowledge systems. There is much evidence that, if adopted, it could greatly benefit the land here in Australia and around the world.
First Knowledges Astronomy, Krystal De Napoli, Karlie Noon, Margo Neale
What do you need to know to prosper for 65,000 years or more?
The First Knowledges series provides a deeper understanding of the expertise and ingenuity of Indigenous Australians.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the oldest scientists in human history. Many First Peoples regard the land as a reflection of the sky and the sky a reflection of the land. Sophisticated astronomical expertise embedded within the Dreamtime and Songlines is interwoven into a deep understanding of changes on the land, such as weather patterns and seasonal shifts, that are integral to knowledges of time, food availability, and ceremony.
In Astronomy: Sky Country, Karlie Noon and Krystal De Napoli explore the connections between Aboriginal environmental and cultural practices and the behaviour of the stars, and consider what must be done to sustain our dark skies, and the information they hold, into the future.
The First Knowledges series provides a deeper understanding of the expertise and ingenuity of Indigenous Australians.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the oldest scientists in human history. Many First Peoples regard the land as a reflection of the sky and the sky a reflection of the land. Sophisticated astronomical expertise embedded within the Dreamtime and Songlines is interwoven into a deep understanding of changes on the land, such as weather patterns and seasonal shifts, that are integral to knowledges of time, food availability, and ceremony.
In Astronomy: Sky Country, Karlie Noon and Krystal De Napoli explore the connections between Aboriginal environmental and cultural practices and the behaviour of the stars, and consider what must be done to sustain our dark skies, and the information they hold, into the future.
First Knowledges Country, Bruce Pascoe, Bill Gammage, Margo Neale
What do you need to know to prosper as a people for at least 65,000 years? The First Knowledges series provides a deeper understanding of the expertise and ingenuity of Indigenous Australians.
For millennia, Indigenous Australians harvested this continent in ways that can offer contemporary environmental and economic solutions.
Bill Gammage and Bruce Pascoe demonstrate how Aboriginal people cultivated the land through manipulation of water flows, vegetation and firestick practice. Not solely hunters and gatherers, the First Australians also farmed and stored food. They employed complex seasonal fire programs that protected Country and animals alike. In doing so, they avoided the killer fires that we fear today.
Country: Future Fire, Future Farming highlights the consequences of ignoring this deep history and living in unsustainable ways. It details the remarkable agricultural and land-care techniques of First Nations peoples and shows how such practices are needed now more than ever.
For millennia, Indigenous Australians harvested this continent in ways that can offer contemporary environmental and economic solutions.
Bill Gammage and Bruce Pascoe demonstrate how Aboriginal people cultivated the land through manipulation of water flows, vegetation and firestick practice. Not solely hunters and gatherers, the First Australians also farmed and stored food. They employed complex seasonal fire programs that protected Country and animals alike. In doing so, they avoided the killer fires that we fear today.
Country: Future Fire, Future Farming highlights the consequences of ignoring this deep history and living in unsustainable ways. It details the remarkable agricultural and land-care techniques of First Nations peoples and shows how such practices are needed now more than ever.
INTERACTIVE:
AIATSIS Map Indigenous Australia, Aboriginal Studies Press
ASP's best-selling publication. An attractive educational tool which aims to represent all the language groups of Australia's Indigenous people.
Australia's Creative Native Cuisine, Andrew Fielke, Luisa Adam
Winner in the Australian category for Indigenous foods at the Gourmand World Cook Book Winter Harvest awards 2020
In the final shortlist for the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Indigenous Food category
Australia's Creative Native Cuisine is the ultimate resource for home cooks looking to use lots of Australian native ingredients in their food preparation, but also includes everyday alternative ingredients for those occasions when the native ingredients are not in season or not readily available. It includes more than 150 original recipes incorporating Australian native foods; an Australian plant food glossary that includes descriptions, illustrations, nutritional aspects, forms (dried, fresh, frozen), availability, seasonality, and uses; expanded descriptions of certain key ingredients; chef's tips and cooking notes; and substitute ingredients where needed. Many of the foods and several of the simple methods such as cooking in paperbark are based traditional Indigenous foods and techniques, which inherently respect and protect the natural environment while providing a food source. The long-term aim is that this book might contribute to the development of a sustainable and economically viable Australian industry that, most importantly, respects and includes Indigenous knowledge and culture while encouraging greater Indigenous participation in the supply chain. Australia's native foods tick all the boxes in terms of 21st-century sustenance: they are nutritious, flavorsome, and sustainable, and they also provide employment in Australia.
Includes dual measures, plus standard substitute ingredients are listed alongside every recipe (for example, spinach for warrigal spinach; mint for rivermint; sundried tomatoes for bush tomatoes). The book also includes a separate list of native/wild American ingredients that can be used in place of Australian ones. For example, American saltbush works fine as a substitute ingredient for Australian saltbush.
In the final shortlist for the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Indigenous Food category
Australia's Creative Native Cuisine is the ultimate resource for home cooks looking to use lots of Australian native ingredients in their food preparation, but also includes everyday alternative ingredients for those occasions when the native ingredients are not in season or not readily available. It includes more than 150 original recipes incorporating Australian native foods; an Australian plant food glossary that includes descriptions, illustrations, nutritional aspects, forms (dried, fresh, frozen), availability, seasonality, and uses; expanded descriptions of certain key ingredients; chef's tips and cooking notes; and substitute ingredients where needed. Many of the foods and several of the simple methods such as cooking in paperbark are based traditional Indigenous foods and techniques, which inherently respect and protect the natural environment while providing a food source. The long-term aim is that this book might contribute to the development of a sustainable and economically viable Australian industry that, most importantly, respects and includes Indigenous knowledge and culture while encouraging greater Indigenous participation in the supply chain. Australia's native foods tick all the boxes in terms of 21st-century sustenance: they are nutritious, flavorsome, and sustainable, and they also provide employment in Australia.
Includes dual measures, plus standard substitute ingredients are listed alongside every recipe (for example, spinach for warrigal spinach; mint for rivermint; sundried tomatoes for bush tomatoes). The book also includes a separate list of native/wild American ingredients that can be used in place of Australian ones. For example, American saltbush works fine as a substitute ingredient for Australian saltbush.
Dot Circle And Frame, John Kean
A startling, vibrant, radical new form of desert art arrived in Papunya Tula in 1971, anchored and inherited in ceremony; stimulated by the twentieth century and painting onto canvas.
The course of Australian art changed in 1971. Kaapa Tjampitjinpa, Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri, Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri and Johnny Warangula Tjupurrula were central to the formulation of a radical new form of desert art. Standing out among an exceptional cohort of painting men at Papunya (a remote government settlement in Central Australia) this 'gang of four' closely related artists deployed their inherited iconography while exploring poetic possibilities offered by paint on canvas. Each was responsible for innovations that still influence contemporary desert art. Papunya Tula art did not emerge from barren ground, and John Kean's fine-grained study reveals the artform's surprising sources, from its wellspring in the ceremonies of Central Australia to the popular culture of the mid-twentieth century. Rather than commencing his analysis in 1971, John Kean foregrounds the contested intercultural context in which the artists came into manhood, showing how they achieved their agency, first as stockmen and labourers, then as artists.
This lavishly illustrated book draws on social history, visual anthropology, as well as formal art analysis to identify how the key innovations that informed contemporary desert art were realised. Dot, Circle and Frame examines the lived experience and totemic associations of the artists to show just how a new vision of ceremony and Country was assembled. This book leads the reader to a deeper understanding of a critical juncture, as four artists claimed a pivotal space in the history of Australian art.
The course of Australian art changed in 1971. Kaapa Tjampitjinpa, Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri, Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri and Johnny Warangula Tjupurrula were central to the formulation of a radical new form of desert art. Standing out among an exceptional cohort of painting men at Papunya (a remote government settlement in Central Australia) this 'gang of four' closely related artists deployed their inherited iconography while exploring poetic possibilities offered by paint on canvas. Each was responsible for innovations that still influence contemporary desert art. Papunya Tula art did not emerge from barren ground, and John Kean's fine-grained study reveals the artform's surprising sources, from its wellspring in the ceremonies of Central Australia to the popular culture of the mid-twentieth century. Rather than commencing his analysis in 1971, John Kean foregrounds the contested intercultural context in which the artists came into manhood, showing how they achieved their agency, first as stockmen and labourers, then as artists.
This lavishly illustrated book draws on social history, visual anthropology, as well as formal art analysis to identify how the key innovations that informed contemporary desert art were realised. Dot, Circle and Frame examines the lived experience and totemic associations of the artists to show just how a new vision of ceremony and Country was assembled. This book leads the reader to a deeper understanding of a critical juncture, as four artists claimed a pivotal space in the history of Australian art.
Everywhere, Everywhen, Neil McLeod
Everywhere, Everywhen provides an extraordinary window into the lives, traditions and culture of more than 20 Aboriginal artists. Based on the work of natural history photographer and researcher Neil McLeod, it is the culmination of a 50-year career over which time he travelled regularly to remote areas across the land and abroad, while befriending and working with many indigenous peoples. Including more than 150 artwork plates, biographies, portraits, and diary extracts, it is testimony to his commitment to supporting traditional cultures, collecting and commissioning artworks, and nurturing greater understanding between Aboriginal peoples and those of the West.
Iwantja
Located on a small ridge at the edge of the Indulkana Ranges, approximately 575 kilometres south of Alice Springs, Iwantja Arts art centre is home to some of Australia's most exciting Indigenous art.
The art centre, a studio collective where the artists meet, socialise and make art, was founded in the 1980s when many Aboriginal communities were fighting for land rights. It was during this time that now senior artists campaigned to both establish an art centre in their community and for the 1981 APY Land Rights Act.
As intended, the art centre is now a bustling intergenerational hub of the community where everyone shares stories, creates art and connects with their long-standing culture. Senior artists, such as original centre co-founder Alec Baker, paint alongside budding artists as well as award-winners like Vincent Namatjira, Betty Muffler and Kaylene Whiskey.
Told through the artists' own words, this searing bilingual publication charts the history of Indulkana from being one of the first pastoral leases in the region to the culturally rich creative hub it is today. Iwantja is a showstopping monograph of the Anangu artists everyone needs to know.
The art centre, a studio collective where the artists meet, socialise and make art, was founded in the 1980s when many Aboriginal communities were fighting for land rights. It was during this time that now senior artists campaigned to both establish an art centre in their community and for the 1981 APY Land Rights Act.
As intended, the art centre is now a bustling intergenerational hub of the community where everyone shares stories, creates art and connects with their long-standing culture. Senior artists, such as original centre co-founder Alec Baker, paint alongside budding artists as well as award-winners like Vincent Namatjira, Betty Muffler and Kaylene Whiskey.
Told through the artists' own words, this searing bilingual publication charts the history of Indulkana from being one of the first pastoral leases in the region to the culturally rich creative hub it is today. Iwantja is a showstopping monograph of the Anangu artists everyone needs to know.
Junior Atlas Of Indigenous Australia, Macquarie Dictionary
The Junior Atlas of Indigenous Australia, published by Macquarie, is a unique tool for students in upper primary and early secondary years to explore and gain understanding of the lives and cultures of Australia's First Peoples.
The Atlas visually represents patterns of human activities in space and time, from over 60,000 years ago to the present time. It covers an extensive range of topics, such as deep history, Indigenous mapping, material culture, cultural and religious life, art, sport, language, environment and Country, social justice, education and health and wellbeing. The 130 maps, which form the core of the book, are supplemented by easy-to-read explanatory text and over 165 photographs, artworks, illustrations, charts and graphs.
Curriculum-based Teaching Notes are also available for download from www.panmacmillan.com.au to accompany the title.
The Junior Atlas of Indigenous Australia is a collaborative publication between the Australian National University, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Macquarie Dictionary. It is based upon the award-winning Macquarie Atlas of Indigenous Australia and the Macquarie Atlas of Indigenous Australia Second Edition. The content has been adapted to suit a younger audience. It includes contributions from more than 40 authors from a wide variety of places and professions - from universities, the arts world, Indigenous organisations and the public service.
The Atlas visually represents patterns of human activities in space and time, from over 60,000 years ago to the present time. It covers an extensive range of topics, such as deep history, Indigenous mapping, material culture, cultural and religious life, art, sport, language, environment and Country, social justice, education and health and wellbeing. The 130 maps, which form the core of the book, are supplemented by easy-to-read explanatory text and over 165 photographs, artworks, illustrations, charts and graphs.
Curriculum-based Teaching Notes are also available for download from www.panmacmillan.com.au to accompany the title.
The Junior Atlas of Indigenous Australia is a collaborative publication between the Australian National University, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Macquarie Dictionary. It is based upon the award-winning Macquarie Atlas of Indigenous Australia and the Macquarie Atlas of Indigenous Australia Second Edition. The content has been adapted to suit a younger audience. It includes contributions from more than 40 authors from a wide variety of places and professions - from universities, the arts world, Indigenous organisations and the public service.
Kulurdu Marni Ngathaitya!, Robert Amery, Jane Simpson, Anne Best
Few resources exist to assist the learner of Kaurna, the language of the Adelaide Plains, South Australia. This Kaurna Learners' Guide, Kulurdu Marni Ngathaitya!, has been developed as a step-by-step guide for learning to speak the language and to assist teachers of Kaurna language. It assumes no previous knowledge though, of course, many Kaurna people will know some of the language already.
Organised into two main sections, Part One (Chapters 1-16) introduces common words and expressions for use in a range of contexts on topics that are often spoken about, allowing the learner to dive straight into the language. Part Two (Chapters 17-25) guides the learner through various aspects of Kaurna grammar and sentence construction and provides detailed explanation.
Language learning is rewarding. Learning Kaurna can provide insights into Kaurna culture and the way of thinking of Kaurna people as they lived in the nineteenth century.
Organised into two main sections, Part One (Chapters 1-16) introduces common words and expressions for use in a range of contexts on topics that are often spoken about, allowing the learner to dive straight into the language. Part Two (Chapters 17-25) guides the learner through various aspects of Kaurna grammar and sentence construction and provides detailed explanation.
Language learning is rewarding. Learning Kaurna can provide insights into Kaurna culture and the way of thinking of Kaurna people as they lived in the nineteenth century.
Kunmanara Jangala Carroll, Belinda Briggs, Alison Milyika Carroll, Luke Scholes
Kunmanara Carroll, a Luritja, Pintupi and Pitjantjatjara man based in Pukatja, worked from Ernabella Arts. Carroll was born in 1950, in Haasts Bluff, and later moved to Papunya. He went to school in Papunya before moving to Areyonga and then travelling on donkey with his family to Eagle Bore, a homeland just north of Ernabella.
Papunya, A Place Made After The Story, Geoffrey Bardon, James Bardon
The publication of this material is an unprecedented achievement. Geoffrey Bardon's exquisitely recorded notes and drawings reproduced here document the early stages in this important art group. This landmark book features more than five hundred paintings, drawings and photographs from Bardon's personal archive.
The Dhurga Dictionary And Learners Grammar, Patricia Ellis, Kerry Boyenga, Waine Donovan
The Dhurga Dictionary and Learners Grammar: A South-East Coast NSW Aboriginal Language is an overdue and extremely valuable resource for the Dhurga speaking people of Yuin Country and of any person wanting to learn the traditional language. The Dhurga language is spoken from south of Nowra to Narooma and west to Braidwood and Araluen. This publication is the most concise compilation of the Dhurga language to date with over 730 words including informant and recorder details as validation of authenticity. The dictionary is user-friendly for all literacy levels and readers, it is the very first of its kind and in high demand.
JULIE'S PIC:
Iwantja
Located on a small ridge at the edge of the Indulkana Ranges, approximately 575 kilometres south of Alice Springs, Iwantja Arts art centre is home to some of Australia's most exciting Indigenous art.
The art centre, a studio collective where the artists meet, socialise and make art, was founded in the 1980s when many Aboriginal communities were fighting for land rights. It was during this time that now senior artists campaigned to both establish an art centre in their community and for the 1981 APY Land Rights Act.
As intended, the art centre is now a bustling intergenerational hub of the community where everyone shares stories, creates art and connects with their long-standing culture. Senior artists, such as original centre co-founder Alec Baker, paint alongside budding artists as well as award-winners like Vincent Namatjira, Betty Muffler and Kaylene Whiskey.
Told through the artists' own words, this searing bilingual publication charts the history of Indulkana from being one of the first pastoral leases in the region to the culturally rich creative hub it is today. Iwantja is a showstopping monograph of the Anangu artists everyone needs to know.
FICTION:
NANGAMAY Dream MANA Gather DJURALI Grow, Alison Whittaker, Steven Lindsay Ross
A ground-breaking collection of First Nations Australia LGBTQIA+ poets, writers and storytellers published to commemorate Sydney WorldPride being held on the unceded lands of the Gadigal, Cammeraygal, Bidigal, Dharawal and Dharug Nations.
Edited by Alison Whitaker, Gomeroi poet and academic, and Steven Lindsay Ross, Wamba Wamba writer, curator and producer.
'It is freeing and glorious to see these expressions of unbridled sexuality, vulnerability and invincible spirit in print from First Nations poets… As you read, you will be struck by the boldness of the writers’ audacious self-love, and the deep reverence and restorative love contained within the work for themselves and each other.' — Arlie Alizzi
POETS INCLUDE: Ellen van Neerven, Natalie Harkin, Jazz Money, Gary Lee, John Mukky Burke, Steven Oliver, Yvette Henry Holt, Alison Whittaker, Steven Lindsay Ross, Luke Patterson, Lay Maloney, Tyberius Larking, Jacyn de Santis, Alita Morgan, Kirli Saunders, David Hardy, Sandy O’Sullivan, Elijah Manis, Latoya Aroha Rule, Bebe Backhouse, Colin Kinchela, Nekia Lehman, Domenic Guerrera, Ari Mills, Ellen O’Brien, Vika Mana, Samuel Barsah, Gavin Ivey, Ella Noah Bancroft, Keith Quayle, Laniyuk and Andrew Farrell.
Edited by Alison Whitaker, Gomeroi poet and academic, and Steven Lindsay Ross, Wamba Wamba writer, curator and producer.
'It is freeing and glorious to see these expressions of unbridled sexuality, vulnerability and invincible spirit in print from First Nations poets… As you read, you will be struck by the boldness of the writers’ audacious self-love, and the deep reverence and restorative love contained within the work for themselves and each other.' — Arlie Alizzi
POETS INCLUDE: Ellen van Neerven, Natalie Harkin, Jazz Money, Gary Lee, John Mukky Burke, Steven Oliver, Yvette Henry Holt, Alison Whittaker, Steven Lindsay Ross, Luke Patterson, Lay Maloney, Tyberius Larking, Jacyn de Santis, Alita Morgan, Kirli Saunders, David Hardy, Sandy O’Sullivan, Elijah Manis, Latoya Aroha Rule, Bebe Backhouse, Colin Kinchela, Nekia Lehman, Domenic Guerrera, Ari Mills, Ellen O’Brien, Vika Mana, Samuel Barsah, Gavin Ivey, Ella Noah Bancroft, Keith Quayle, Laniyuk and Andrew Farrell.
Flock, Ellen van Neerven
This wide-ranging and captivating anthology showcases both the power of First Nations writing and the satisfaction of a good short story. Curated by award-winning author Ellen van Neerven, Flock roams the landscape of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytelling, bringing together voices from across the generations. Featuring established authors such as Tony Birch and Melissa Lucashenko, and rising stars such as Adam Thompson and Mykaela Saunders, Flock confirms the ongoing resonance and originality of First Nations stories.
Benevolence, Julie Janson
For perhaps the first time in novel form, Benevolence presents an important era in Australia's history from an Aboriginal perspective. Benevolence is told from the perspective of Darug woman, Muraging (Mary James), born around 1813. Mary's was one of the earliest Darug generations to experience the impact of British colonisation. At an early age Muraging is given over to the Parramatta Native School by her Darug father. From here she embarks on a journey of discovery and a search for a safe place to make her home.
The novel spans the years 1816-35 and is set around the Hawkesbury River area, the home of the Darug people, Parramatta and Sydney. The author interweaves historical events and characters — she shatters stereotypes and puts a human face to this Aboriginal perspective.
The novel spans the years 1816-35 and is set around the Hawkesbury River area, the home of the Darug people, Parramatta and Sydney. The author interweaves historical events and characters — she shatters stereotypes and puts a human face to this Aboriginal perspective.
Madukka The River Serpent, Julie Janson
Aunty June is the proud owner of a TAFE certificate III in Investigative Services.
It took her thirty hours to complete online.
Now, she has set up her own private investigation service: Yanakirri Investigative Services – Confidentiality Guaranteed.
When environmental activist, Thommo, suddenly goes missing and the police ignore the case Aunty June takes it upon herself to uncover the secrets surrounding her nephew, Thommo’s, disappearance. Corruption, commercial cotton farmers, bikies, racism, water theft, and unreliable local police – Aunty June is really up against it.
Lies and corruption are hiding the truth from reaching the surface. And the Murray Darling River is running out of water. Aunty June may be out of her depths, but nothing will stop her fighting for her people and her land.
Madukka the River Serpent is a striking novel about family and resistance from Australian Darug Burruberongal writer and playwright Julie Janson.
It took her thirty hours to complete online.
Now, she has set up her own private investigation service: Yanakirri Investigative Services – Confidentiality Guaranteed.
When environmental activist, Thommo, suddenly goes missing and the police ignore the case Aunty June takes it upon herself to uncover the secrets surrounding her nephew, Thommo’s, disappearance. Corruption, commercial cotton farmers, bikies, racism, water theft, and unreliable local police – Aunty June is really up against it.
Lies and corruption are hiding the truth from reaching the surface. And the Murray Darling River is running out of water. Aunty June may be out of her depths, but nothing will stop her fighting for her people and her land.
Madukka the River Serpent is a striking novel about family and resistance from Australian Darug Burruberongal writer and playwright Julie Janson.
The Visitors, Jane Harrison
The most exciting debut in 2023, The Visitors is an audacious, earthy, funny, gritty and powerful re-imagining of a crucial moment in Australia's history - an unputdownable work of fiction.
'An extraordinary read.' Herald Sun
On a steamy, hot day in January 1788, seven Aboriginal men, representing the nearby clans, gather at Warrane. Several newly arrived ships have been sighted in the great bay to the south, Kamay. The men meet to discuss their response to these visitors. All day, they talk, argue, debate. Where are the visitors from? What do they want? Might they just warra warra wai back to where they came from? Should they be welcomed? Or should they be made to leave? The decision of the men must be unanimous -- and will have far-reaching implications for all. Throughout the day, the weather is strange, with mammatus clouds, unbearable heat and a pending thunderstorm ... Somewhere, trouble is brewing.
From award-winning author and playwright Jane Harrison, The Visitors is an audacious, earthy, funny, gritty and powerful re-imagining of a crucial moment in Australia's history - and an unputdownable work of fiction.
'A remarkable achievement of First Nations storytelling. We live in a time when truths need to be told and heard - this is a generous offering, a story that challenges and ultimately rewards us' Tony Birch, author of The White Girl
'A work of soaring imagination and breathtaking ambition. Jane Harrison upends all our black-and-white assumptions about what happened on that fateful January day in 1788 when eleven tall ships sailed into a safe blue harbour that people already called home. Surprisingly funny, cheeky and tragic by turns, this remarkable novel is bold, brave and unforgettable' Clare Wright, author of You Daughters of Freedom
'Witty, tense, and gut-wrenching ... [it] pulled me inexorably towards a place of profound emotion' Grace Chan, author of Every Version of You
'Intimate, tense, but inviting ... the end of the book is devastating, and even though we know what's coming, we're hopeful for a different ending. The Visitors offers a deep emotional journey. Harrison has written a thoughtful and powerful reimagining of a significant moment in Australian history, from a First Nations perspective.' Books+Publishing
'Powerful ... The Visitors is a masterful, thought-provoking book.' Readings
'An extraordinary read.' Herald Sun
On a steamy, hot day in January 1788, seven Aboriginal men, representing the nearby clans, gather at Warrane. Several newly arrived ships have been sighted in the great bay to the south, Kamay. The men meet to discuss their response to these visitors. All day, they talk, argue, debate. Where are the visitors from? What do they want? Might they just warra warra wai back to where they came from? Should they be welcomed? Or should they be made to leave? The decision of the men must be unanimous -- and will have far-reaching implications for all. Throughout the day, the weather is strange, with mammatus clouds, unbearable heat and a pending thunderstorm ... Somewhere, trouble is brewing.
From award-winning author and playwright Jane Harrison, The Visitors is an audacious, earthy, funny, gritty and powerful re-imagining of a crucial moment in Australia's history - and an unputdownable work of fiction.
'A remarkable achievement of First Nations storytelling. We live in a time when truths need to be told and heard - this is a generous offering, a story that challenges and ultimately rewards us' Tony Birch, author of The White Girl
'A work of soaring imagination and breathtaking ambition. Jane Harrison upends all our black-and-white assumptions about what happened on that fateful January day in 1788 when eleven tall ships sailed into a safe blue harbour that people already called home. Surprisingly funny, cheeky and tragic by turns, this remarkable novel is bold, brave and unforgettable' Clare Wright, author of You Daughters of Freedom
'Witty, tense, and gut-wrenching ... [it] pulled me inexorably towards a place of profound emotion' Grace Chan, author of Every Version of You
'Intimate, tense, but inviting ... the end of the book is devastating, and even though we know what's coming, we're hopeful for a different ending. The Visitors offers a deep emotional journey. Harrison has written a thoughtful and powerful reimagining of a significant moment in Australian history, from a First Nations perspective.' Books+Publishing
'Powerful ... The Visitors is a masterful, thought-provoking book.' Readings
Tiddas, Anita Heiss
A story about what it means to be a friend …
Five women, best friends for decades, meet once a month to talk about books … and life, love and the jagged bits in between. Dissecting each other’s lives seems the most natural thing in the world – and honesty, no matter how brutal, is something they treasure. Best friends tell each other everything, don’t they? But each woman harbours a complex secret and one weekend, without warning, everything comes unstuck.
Izzy, soon to be the first Black woman with her own television show, has to make a decision that will change everything.
Veronica, recently divorced and dedicated to raising the best sons in the world, has forgotten who she is.
Xanthe, desperate for a baby, can think of nothing else, even at the expense of her marriage.
Nadine, so successful at writing other people’s stories, is determined to blot out her own.
Ellen, footloose by choice, begins to question all that she’s fought for.
When their circle begins to fracture and the old childhood ways don’t work anymore, is their sense of sistahood enough to keep it intact? How well do these tiddas really know each other?
Praise for Tiddas
‘Generous and witty’ Susan Johnson
‘This enjoyable and human story is impressively interwoven with historical and contemporary Aboriginal issues.’ Sun Herald
‘A celebration of female friendships’ Sunday Territorian
‘Will resonate with many readers … a novel that asks whether a strong sense of sisterhood is enough to keep friends together.’ Burnie Advocate
Five women, best friends for decades, meet once a month to talk about books … and life, love and the jagged bits in between. Dissecting each other’s lives seems the most natural thing in the world – and honesty, no matter how brutal, is something they treasure. Best friends tell each other everything, don’t they? But each woman harbours a complex secret and one weekend, without warning, everything comes unstuck.
Izzy, soon to be the first Black woman with her own television show, has to make a decision that will change everything.
Veronica, recently divorced and dedicated to raising the best sons in the world, has forgotten who she is.
Xanthe, desperate for a baby, can think of nothing else, even at the expense of her marriage.
Nadine, so successful at writing other people’s stories, is determined to blot out her own.
Ellen, footloose by choice, begins to question all that she’s fought for.
When their circle begins to fracture and the old childhood ways don’t work anymore, is their sense of sistahood enough to keep it intact? How well do these tiddas really know each other?
Praise for Tiddas
‘Generous and witty’ Susan Johnson
‘This enjoyable and human story is impressively interwoven with historical and contemporary Aboriginal issues.’ Sun Herald
‘A celebration of female friendships’ Sunday Territorian
‘Will resonate with many readers … a novel that asks whether a strong sense of sisterhood is enough to keep friends together.’ Burnie Advocate
Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, Anita Heiss
Gundagai, 1852
The powerful Murrumbidgee River surges through town leaving death and destruction in its wake. It is a stark reminder that while the river can give life, it can just as easily take it away.
Wagadhaany is one of the lucky ones. She survives. But is her life now better than the fate she escaped? Forced to move away from her miyagan, she walks through each day with no trace of dance in her step, her broken heart forever calling her back home to Gundagai.
When she meets Wiradyuri stockman Yindyamarra, Wagadhaany’s heart slowly begins to heal. But still, she dreams of a better life, away from the degradation of being owned. She longs to set out along the river of her ancestors, in search of lost family and country. Can she find the courage to defy the White man’s law? And if she does, will it bring hope ... or heartache?
Set on timeless Wiradyuri country, where the life-giving waters of the rivers can make or break dreams, and based on devastating true events, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams) is an epic story of love, loss and belonging.
The powerful Murrumbidgee River surges through town leaving death and destruction in its wake. It is a stark reminder that while the river can give life, it can just as easily take it away.
Wagadhaany is one of the lucky ones. She survives. But is her life now better than the fate she escaped? Forced to move away from her miyagan, she walks through each day with no trace of dance in her step, her broken heart forever calling her back home to Gundagai.
When she meets Wiradyuri stockman Yindyamarra, Wagadhaany’s heart slowly begins to heal. But still, she dreams of a better life, away from the degradation of being owned. She longs to set out along the river of her ancestors, in search of lost family and country. Can she find the courage to defy the White man’s law? And if she does, will it bring hope ... or heartache?
Set on timeless Wiradyuri country, where the life-giving waters of the rivers can make or break dreams, and based on devastating true events, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams) is an epic story of love, loss and belonging.
Not Meeting Mr Right, Anita Heiss
‘I am deadly, desirable and delicious!’This is Alice's mantra as she hilariously negotiates her way through the rocky terrain of singledom.
Alice Aigner is successful, independent and a confirmed serial dater – but at her ten-year school reunion she has a sudden change of heart. Bored rigid by her married, mortgaged and motherly former classmates, Alice decides to prove that a woman can have it all: a man, marriage, career, kids and a mind of her own. She sets herself a goal: meet the perfect man and marry him before her thirtieth birthday, just under two years away. Together with her best friends Dannie, Liza and Peta, Alice draws up a ten-point plan. Then, with a little help from her family and friends, she sets out to find Mr Right.
Unfortunately for Alice, it's not quite as easy as she imagines … Who could not fall in love with our Koori heroine as she dates (among others): Renan, whose career goal is to be the world's best moonwalker and male hula dancer; Tufu the commitment-phobic Samoan football player; scary Simon the one-night stand; and Paul - Mr Dreamboat, but perhaps too good to be true. All the while, Alice skilfully avoids dating Cliff, son of her mum's friend and confirmed bachelor who isn't likely to settle down with a woman anytime soon.
Alice Aigner is successful, independent and a confirmed serial dater – but at her ten-year school reunion she has a sudden change of heart. Bored rigid by her married, mortgaged and motherly former classmates, Alice decides to prove that a woman can have it all: a man, marriage, career, kids and a mind of her own. She sets herself a goal: meet the perfect man and marry him before her thirtieth birthday, just under two years away. Together with her best friends Dannie, Liza and Peta, Alice draws up a ten-point plan. Then, with a little help from her family and friends, she sets out to find Mr Right.
Unfortunately for Alice, it's not quite as easy as she imagines … Who could not fall in love with our Koori heroine as she dates (among others): Renan, whose career goal is to be the world's best moonwalker and male hula dancer; Tufu the commitment-phobic Samoan football player; scary Simon the one-night stand; and Paul - Mr Dreamboat, but perhaps too good to be true. All the while, Alice skilfully avoids dating Cliff, son of her mum's friend and confirmed bachelor who isn't likely to settle down with a woman anytime soon.
Avoiding Mr Right, Anita Heiss
A hilarious and heart-felt story of love, self-discovery and finding true happiness, from award-winning Wiradyuri author, Anita Heiss.
Peta Tully thinks that 'Taking a man to Melbourne would be like taking a sandwich to a smorgasbord', that's why she is leaving him at home. Peta has found her Mr Right – the only trouble is, she's not sure she's ready to settle down. Not just yet, anyway – so when she's offered a twelve-month contract interstate which just might win her the job of her dreams, she puts her Sydney life on hold, packs her bags and jumps on a plane, leaving her doting boyfriend behind. Peta takes a voluntary vow of celibacy, but sticking to it proves harder than she imagines.
This is Anita Heiss's second book about Peta, Alice, Liza and Dannie, four deadly, desirable and dynamic thirty-something women from Sydney's eastern beaches.
Peta Tully thinks that 'Taking a man to Melbourne would be like taking a sandwich to a smorgasbord', that's why she is leaving him at home. Peta has found her Mr Right – the only trouble is, she's not sure she's ready to settle down. Not just yet, anyway – so when she's offered a twelve-month contract interstate which just might win her the job of her dreams, she puts her Sydney life on hold, packs her bags and jumps on a plane, leaving her doting boyfriend behind. Peta takes a voluntary vow of celibacy, but sticking to it proves harder than she imagines.
This is Anita Heiss's second book about Peta, Alice, Liza and Dannie, four deadly, desirable and dynamic thirty-something women from Sydney's eastern beaches.
Manhattan Dreaming, Anita Heiss
From award-winning Wiradyuri author, Anita Heiss, comes a fun, light-hearted and empowering story featuring a deadly Koori heroine who is forced to choose between her dream job and the man of her dreams.
Lauren is a curator at the National Aboriginal Gallery in Canberra. She's good at her job, passionate about the Arts, and focused on her work – that is, when she's not focusing on Adam, half-back for the Canberra Cockatoos.
But Adam is a player, on and off the field. Lauren knows he's the one, but he doesn't seem to feel the same way about her. If she just waits long enough, though, surely he'll realise how much he needs her?
Then her boss offers her the chance of a lifetime – a fellowship at the Smithsonian in New York. Lauren has to make some big decisions: The Man or Manhattan?
A fun, light-hearted and empowering story from award-winning Wiradyuri author, Anita Heiss.
Lauren is a curator at the National Aboriginal Gallery in Canberra. She's good at her job, passionate about the Arts, and focused on her work – that is, when she's not focusing on Adam, half-back for the Canberra Cockatoos.
But Adam is a player, on and off the field. Lauren knows he's the one, but he doesn't seem to feel the same way about her. If she just waits long enough, though, surely he'll realise how much he needs her?
Then her boss offers her the chance of a lifetime – a fellowship at the Smithsonian in New York. Lauren has to make some big decisions: The Man or Manhattan?
A fun, light-hearted and empowering story from award-winning Wiradyuri author, Anita Heiss.
Local Author spotlight: Julie Janson
Benevolence
By Julie Janson
For perhaps the first time in novel form, Benevolence presents an important era in Australia's history from an Aboriginal perspective. Benevolence is told from the perspective of Darug woman, Muraging (Mary James), born around 1813. Mary's was one of the earliest Darug generations to experience the impact of British colonisation. At an early age Muraging is given over to the Parramatta Native School by her Darug father. From here she embarks on a journey of discovery and a search for a safe place to make her home.
The novel spans the years 1816-35 and is set around the Hawkesbury River area, the home of the Darug people, Parramatta and Sydney. The author interweaves historical events and characters — she shatters stereotypes and puts a human face to this Aboriginal perspective.
Madukka The River Serpent
By Julie Janson
Aunty June is the proud owner of a TAFE certificate III in Investigative Services.
It took her thirty hours to complete online.
Now, she has set up her own private investigation service: Yanakirri Investigative Services – Confidentiality Guaranteed.
When environmental activist, Thommo, suddenly goes missing and the police ignore the case Aunty June takes it upon herself to uncover the secrets surrounding her nephew, Thommo’s, disappearance. Corruption, commercial cotton farmers, bikies, racism, water theft, and unreliable local police – Aunty June is really up against it.
Lies and corruption are hiding the truth from reaching the surface. And the Murray Darling River is running out of water. Aunty June may be out of her depths, but nothing will stop her fighting for her people and her land.
Madukka the River Serpent is a striking novel about family and resistance from Australian Darug Burruberongal writer and playwright Julie Janson.
Julie Janson Burruberongal clan of Darug Nation. Novelist, poet and playwright.
KIDS CHAPTER BOOKS:
Guardians: Wylah The Koorie Warrior 1, Richard Pritchard, Jordan Gould
Meet Wylah: warrior, hero and friend. Her adventures have been 40,000 years in the making!
Wylah is brave, clever and strong-willed, and all her best friends are giant megafauna animals.
But she isn't a warrior. Not yet, anyway.
Then comes the day when her family is stolen by the dragon army, and her life is forever changed. She must find the courage to set out on a journey to save them.
What will it take for Wylah to become a warrior, like her Grandmother before her?
Introducing an unforgettable cast of characters, Wylah: The Koorie Warrior is a heart-stopping and imaginative adventure, inspired by First Nation's history and grounded in culture.
Wylah is brave, clever and strong-willed, and all her best friends are giant megafauna animals.
But she isn't a warrior. Not yet, anyway.
Then comes the day when her family is stolen by the dragon army, and her life is forever changed. She must find the courage to set out on a journey to save them.
What will it take for Wylah to become a warrior, like her Grandmother before her?
Introducing an unforgettable cast of characters, Wylah: The Koorie Warrior is a heart-stopping and imaginative adventure, inspired by First Nation's history and grounded in culture.
Custodians: Wylah The Koorie Warrior 2, Richard Pritchard, Jordan Gould
Full of heart-stopping adventure, starring a hero for the ages and her mega-funny megafauna friends, this best selling series is a total delight.
Wylah and her friends are on a quest to save their people from the marauding Dragon Army.
But the path is long, the enemy are mighty, and Wylah doesn't know how to be a warrior... not yet anyway.
That doesn't stop her from trying though! And it doesn't stop her from getting into tricky situations. Wylah must use all her bravery and brains to come out on top.
Book 2 in the bestselling and highly acclaimed Wylah: the Koorie Warrior series, inspired by First Nations history and grounded in culture.
Wylah and her friends are on a quest to save their people from the marauding Dragon Army.
But the path is long, the enemy are mighty, and Wylah doesn't know how to be a warrior... not yet anyway.
That doesn't stop her from trying though! And it doesn't stop her from getting into tricky situations. Wylah must use all her bravery and brains to come out on top.
Book 2 in the bestselling and highly acclaimed Wylah: the Koorie Warrior series, inspired by First Nations history and grounded in culture.
Maku, Meyne Wyatt, Randa Abdel-Fattah
OUR STORIES is a funny, relatable and engaging new early-chapter book series that celebrates Australia's multicultural society with authors and illustrators from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Maku loves watching movies - it's his favourite thing in the world to do. He especially loves the ones about awesome superheroes saving the day.
Maku's second most favourite thing to do is camping and going bush with his Nan and Pop.
Maku loves watching movies - it's his favourite thing in the world to do. He especially loves the ones about awesome superheroes saving the day.
Maku's second most favourite thing to do is camping and going bush with his Nan and Pop.
Eagle, Crow And Emu: Bird Stories, Gladys Milroy, Jill Milroy
Three fantastic stories by Indigenous mother-and-daughter team Gladys and Jill Milroy, collected together for the first time.
Three fantastic stories by Indigenous mother-and-daughter team Gladys and Jill Milroy, collected together for the first time. Told in the tradition of teaching stories, these avian tales take young readers on adventures of
self-discovery and fulfilment with endearing animal characters and exciting plot lines.
Three fantastic stories by Indigenous mother-and-daughter team Gladys and Jill Milroy, collected together for the first time. Told in the tradition of teaching stories, these avian tales take young readers on adventures of
self-discovery and fulfilment with endearing animal characters and exciting plot lines.
Bush And Beyond, Tjalaminu Mia
Grandparents are special, and the time you spend with them is special, too. This collection draws together four tales for younger readers from the Waarda series of Indigenous stories, first edited by acclaimed author Sally Morgan.
These charming tales share some exciting, happy and even scary times exploring country in bush and beyond.
These charming tales share some exciting, happy and even scary times exploring country in bush and beyond.
Mrs Whitlam, Bruce Pascoe
Age range 9 to 12
Marnie Clark of Curdie Vale can ride but she doesn’t have a horse. She dreams of owning one and having the whole world to ride it in. Before too long Marnie is gifted Mrs Margaret ‘Maggie’ Whitlam, a beautiful, big Clydesdale – bold, fearless and able to jump anything.
From the very first ride, Marnie and Maggie get more adventure than they bargained for. Soon Marnie is learning to negotiate newfound friendships, pony club and how to stand up for what she believes in. Will her friendship with George Costa, another outsider, make being accepted harder? Or will being true to yourself be the hardest decision Marnie makes?
Marnie Clark of Curdie Vale can ride but she doesn’t have a horse. She dreams of owning one and having the whole world to ride it in. Before too long Marnie is gifted Mrs Margaret ‘Maggie’ Whitlam, a beautiful, big Clydesdale – bold, fearless and able to jump anything.
From the very first ride, Marnie and Maggie get more adventure than they bargained for. Soon Marnie is learning to negotiate newfound friendships, pony club and how to stand up for what she believes in. Will her friendship with George Costa, another outsider, make being accepted harder? Or will being true to yourself be the hardest decision Marnie makes?
Sea Horse, Bruce Pascoe
Written with gentle humour and a beautiful interpretation of landscape, this adventure story about Jack and his family is reminiscent of endless summers, azure seas and sandy white beaches. Jack, his dad Vince, sister Tanya, and mum Carla, escape to Seahorse Bay whenever they can. Idyllic days are spent exploring the waters of the bay, diving, fishing and cooking up feasts on the beach - and, for Jack, daydreaming of long-gone shipwrecks and forgotten treasure. Jack cannot believe his luck when he comes across a sunken boat not far off the coast. When he shows his father, they discover it is in pristine condition and decide to take on the challenge of salvaging it. But what is the story behind this mysterious boat? How long has it been in the bay? How did it get there? And who is the man on the cliff with the binoculars? When the boat is finally raised, the adventure begins...
Uncle XBox, Jared Thomas
Age range 7 to 12
‘Nooooo,’ I yelled and then Mum ran into the room in panic.
‘What is it, what is it?!’ she yelled, shaking me by the shoulder.
‘Mum, Marcus took the Xbox,’ I cried.
‘Good!’ Mum said, ‘Maybe now you can help out with the chores a bit more.’
Dusty spends a lot of time playing games online, and usually with his stepdad, Marcus. One Saturday morning, Marcus loads his things into his car and leaves, taking his Xbox with him. Dusty is determined to buy an Xbox of his own and tries odd jobs that don’t quite work out. That is until cool Uncle Rick turns up. Uncle Rick introduces Dusty to surfing and teaches him about his culture and connection to Country. Dusty swiftly discovers that there is more to life than gaming.
A coming-of-age story for young gamers, that offers gentle insights into growing up, family and finding your place not only in a digital world, but in the messy soup of life.
From the author of The Game Day series, My Spare Heart, Calypso Summer, and Songs that sound like blood, Jared Thomas has sensitively captured Dusty’s world and childhood challenges, with intregrity, humour and heart.
‘Nooooo,’ I yelled and then Mum ran into the room in panic.
‘What is it, what is it?!’ she yelled, shaking me by the shoulder.
‘Mum, Marcus took the Xbox,’ I cried.
‘Good!’ Mum said, ‘Maybe now you can help out with the chores a bit more.’
Dusty spends a lot of time playing games online, and usually with his stepdad, Marcus. One Saturday morning, Marcus loads his things into his car and leaves, taking his Xbox with him. Dusty is determined to buy an Xbox of his own and tries odd jobs that don’t quite work out. That is until cool Uncle Rick turns up. Uncle Rick introduces Dusty to surfing and teaches him about his culture and connection to Country. Dusty swiftly discovers that there is more to life than gaming.
A coming-of-age story for young gamers, that offers gentle insights into growing up, family and finding your place not only in a digital world, but in the messy soup of life.
From the author of The Game Day series, My Spare Heart, Calypso Summer, and Songs that sound like blood, Jared Thomas has sensitively captured Dusty’s world and childhood challenges, with intregrity, humour and heart.
The Flip Out: Sam Kerr: Kicking Goals #1, Sam Kerr, Fiona Harris, Aki Fukuoka
Sam Kerr is an Aussie Rules fan through and through.
When she's excluded from her team she doesn't know what to do. Netball? No thanks. Chess? Bleugh.
Her best friends Dylan and Indi think she should flip from Aussie Rules to soccer - and it doesn't seem so bad at first. The coach is OK. The team seems nice enough ...
But with Chelsea the school bully on her case and the pressure of learning new rules weighing her down, will it all be too much? Will Sam give up - or will she make the flip?
When she's excluded from her team she doesn't know what to do. Netball? No thanks. Chess? Bleugh.
Her best friends Dylan and Indi think she should flip from Aussie Rules to soccer - and it doesn't seem so bad at first. The coach is OK. The team seems nice enough ...
But with Chelsea the school bully on her case and the pressure of learning new rules weighing her down, will it all be too much? Will Sam give up - or will she make the flip?
A New Knight: Sam Kerr: Kicking Goals #2, Sam Kerr, Fiona Harris
After a rough start, Sam Kerr gets into the swing of playing soccer for the Knights.
But there’s so much to learn – new rules and positions and strategies … Lately it seems like soccer is the only thing she can think about.
When Sam finds out she’ll have to wear a dress (gross) and dance in front of a hundred people (terrifying) at her cousin’s upcoming wedding, she feels like she’s all but had enough. So why isn’t her best friend Indi supporting her? And why is school bully Chelsea suddenly a bit … nice?
Will Sam be able to mend her friendships – and score a few goals in the meantime – before it’s too late?
But there’s so much to learn – new rules and positions and strategies … Lately it seems like soccer is the only thing she can think about.
When Sam finds out she’ll have to wear a dress (gross) and dance in front of a hundred people (terrifying) at her cousin’s upcoming wedding, she feels like she’s all but had enough. So why isn’t her best friend Indi supporting her? And why is school bully Chelsea suddenly a bit … nice?
Will Sam be able to mend her friendships – and score a few goals in the meantime – before it’s too late?
PICTURE BOOKS:
The Heartbeat Of The Land, Cathy Freeman, Coral Vass, Tannya Harricks
**Shortlisted for the 2023 Karajia Award for Children's Literature**
Age range 0 to 3
Cathy ran barefoot every day across the great ancient land,
as her people had done for sixty thousand years before.
And when she ran, she could hear the heartbeat of the land.
Ba Boom Ba Boom Ba Boom...
Then one day, Cathy hears a cry.
She answers this cry and, with one small step at a time, the seeds of change are planted.
Cathy Freeman has always been an inspiration to young people.
Here, she does it again, through storytelling - just as her people have done, for sixty thousand years before...
Listen, and you too, will hear the Heartbeat of the Land.
Age range 0 to 3
Cathy ran barefoot every day across the great ancient land,
as her people had done for sixty thousand years before.
And when she ran, she could hear the heartbeat of the land.
Ba Boom Ba Boom Ba Boom...
Then one day, Cathy hears a cry.
She answers this cry and, with one small step at a time, the seeds of change are planted.
Cathy Freeman has always been an inspiration to young people.
Here, she does it again, through storytelling - just as her people have done, for sixty thousand years before...
Listen, and you too, will hear the Heartbeat of the Land.
Country Tells Us When… (Yawuru Edition), Tsheena Cooper, Mary Dann, Dalisa Pigram-Ross, Sheree Ford
Some cultures around the world have four seasons that they look out for on a calendar; Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring.
Us Yawuru mob, we don't have four seasons that are told to us by a calendar. We have six seasons and Country tells us when they have arrived by what we feel, see, taste, smell and hear.
Discover how the Yawuru people read the seasons in this beautifully illustrated book.
Us Yawuru mob, we don't have four seasons that are told to us by a calendar. We have six seasons and Country tells us when they have arrived by what we feel, see, taste, smell and hear.
Discover how the Yawuru people read the seasons in this beautifully illustrated book.
Albert Namatjira, Vincent Namatjira
Age range 6 to 12
Award-winning artist Vincent Namatjira tells the life story of his great-grandfather, Albert Namatjira, one of Australia's most iconic artists.
Vincent's witty and moving paintings are accompanied by evocative text, which records the pivotal moments in Albert's life. In telling his great-grandfather's story, Vincent builds a compelling picture of the times and conditions in which Albert lived and worked, capturing his triumphs and tragedy against a backdrop of social change and historical injustices.
This poignant children's book provides an important tool for discussion about Australia's art history, and a launching pad for exploration of the key moments in Australia's Aboriginal Rights movement.
Albert Namatjira is a unique children's picture book of both artistic beauty and historical importance, and will appeal to children, art collectors and those looking for a special gift.
The artwork in this book is part of a body of work called 'Albert's Story' that was acquired by QAGOMA - Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art.
Award-winning artist Vincent Namatjira tells the life story of his great-grandfather, Albert Namatjira, one of Australia's most iconic artists.
Vincent's witty and moving paintings are accompanied by evocative text, which records the pivotal moments in Albert's life. In telling his great-grandfather's story, Vincent builds a compelling picture of the times and conditions in which Albert lived and worked, capturing his triumphs and tragedy against a backdrop of social change and historical injustices.
This poignant children's book provides an important tool for discussion about Australia's art history, and a launching pad for exploration of the key moments in Australia's Aboriginal Rights movement.
Albert Namatjira is a unique children's picture book of both artistic beauty and historical importance, and will appeal to children, art collectors and those looking for a special gift.
The artwork in this book is part of a body of work called 'Albert's Story' that was acquired by QAGOMA - Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art.
Back On Country: Welcome To Our Country, Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing, David Hardy
A joyful story about the power of reconnecting to family, culture and Country. From Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, co-writer Ellie Laing, and Barkindji illustrator David Hardy.
'Where are we going again?' asks Lucy.
'Back on Country,' says Mum. 'Where we're going is where your nanna comes from, where we come from. Our Country is special to us. You'll see.'
It's Lucy and David's first time back on Country.
They meet their cousins and Elders, and see special places, learn local language words and hear stories as old as time.
Join them to feel the strength that comes from being back on Country.
'Where are we going again?' asks Lucy.
'Back on Country,' says Mum. 'Where we're going is where your nanna comes from, where we come from. Our Country is special to us. You'll see.'
It's Lucy and David's first time back on Country.
They meet their cousins and Elders, and see special places, learn local language words and hear stories as old as time.
Join them to feel the strength that comes from being back on Country.
Bush Birds, Helen Milroy
From the author of the bestselling Backyard series, Helen Milroy's latest book helps young readers better observe their local birds when out for a walk in the bush.
'Little birds, big birds, all different kinds. How many bush birds can you find?'
From curious blue wrens to booming emus, and from feasting lorikeets to eagles soaring, Bush Birds by Helen Milroy is a fun and lively read with bold illustrations designed to celebrate the birds in our bush.
'Little birds, big birds, all different kinds. How many bush birds can you find?'
From curious blue wrens to booming emus, and from feasting lorikeets to eagles soaring, Bush Birds by Helen Milroy is a fun and lively read with bold illustrations designed to celebrate the birds in our bush.
Bush Mob Counting, Helen Milroy
Age range 1+
The characters in Bush Mob Counting are from the ‘Tales from the Bush Mob’ Series of books about a group of animals Eagle, Sugar Glider, Bat, Platypus, Koala, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna and Kangaroo, who work together to solve problems. Each book shares a rich landscape of colours, characters and places. Bush Mob Counting is a fun and colourful way for young children to learn how to count to 10. Milroy’s famous animal characters are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages.
The characters in Bush Mob Counting are from the ‘Tales from the Bush Mob’ Series of books about a group of animals Eagle, Sugar Glider, Bat, Platypus, Koala, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna and Kangaroo, who work together to solve problems. Each book shares a rich landscape of colours, characters and places. Bush Mob Counting is a fun and colourful way for young children to learn how to count to 10. Milroy’s famous animal characters are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages.
Ceremony: Welcome To Our Country, Ellie Laing, Adam Goodes, David Hardy
A joyful celebration of family and culture, the Welcome to Our Country series introduces First Nations history to children. From Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, co-writer Ellie Laing, and Barkindji illustrator David Hardy.
Welcome, children!
Nangga! Nangga! Yakarti!
Tonight will be our Ceremony.
Our family gathers as the fire burns.
The smoke rises up as we take it in turns . . .
Then clapsticks tap - one, two, three -
but a stick is missing! Where could it be?
Joyful and full of fun, Ceremony invites you to celebrate the rich traditions of dance, family, community and caring for Country from the world's oldest continuous culture.
Welcome, children!
Nangga! Nangga! Yakarti!
Tonight will be our Ceremony.
Our family gathers as the fire burns.
The smoke rises up as we take it in turns . . .
Then clapsticks tap - one, two, three -
but a stick is missing! Where could it be?
Joyful and full of fun, Ceremony invites you to celebrate the rich traditions of dance, family, community and caring for Country from the world's oldest continuous culture.
Come Together, Isaiah Firebrace, Jaelyn Biumaiwai
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 CBCA 'EVE POWNALL' AWARD
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 ABIA 'SOCIAL IMPACT BOOK OF THE YEAR'
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 BOOKPEOPLE KIDS' READING GUIDE AWARDS 'CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR'
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 WILDERNESS 'KARAJIA AWARDS FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE'
Come Together is a heart-warming, debut picture book for children aged 5 and up from pop artist Isaiah Firebrace, inspired by his petition to the Australian Government calling for Aboriginal history to be taught in every classroom.
In this essential book, Isaiah, a Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man, establishes a foundation of First Nations knowledge with 20 key topics. Alongside bright and contemporary illustrations by Mununjali and Fijian artist Jaelyn Biumaiwai, Isaiah connects us to each topic through his own personal story and culture, from the importance of Elders to the Dreaming.
At once accessible and engaging, Come Together will make every Aussie kid proud that we are home to the longest continuing culture on Earth!
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 ABIA 'SOCIAL IMPACT BOOK OF THE YEAR'
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 BOOKPEOPLE KIDS' READING GUIDE AWARDS 'CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR'
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 WILDERNESS 'KARAJIA AWARDS FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE'
Come Together is a heart-warming, debut picture book for children aged 5 and up from pop artist Isaiah Firebrace, inspired by his petition to the Australian Government calling for Aboriginal history to be taught in every classroom.
In this essential book, Isaiah, a Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man, establishes a foundation of First Nations knowledge with 20 key topics. Alongside bright and contemporary illustrations by Mununjali and Fijian artist Jaelyn Biumaiwai, Isaiah connects us to each topic through his own personal story and culture, from the importance of Elders to the Dreaming.
At once accessible and engaging, Come Together will make every Aussie kid proud that we are home to the longest continuing culture on Earth!
Day Break, Amy McQuire, Matt Chun
Day Break is the story of a family making their way back to Country on January 26. We see the strength they draw from being together, and from sharing stories as they move through a shifting landscape.
The story refocuses the narratives around ‘Australia Day’ on Indigenous survival and resistance, and in doing so honours the past while looking to the future. Confronting yet truthful, painful yet full of hope, Day Break is a crucial story that will open up a conversation on truth-telling for the next generation.
The story refocuses the narratives around ‘Australia Day’ on Indigenous survival and resistance, and in doing so honours the past while looking to the future. Confronting yet truthful, painful yet full of hope, Day Break is a crucial story that will open up a conversation on truth-telling for the next generation.
Deadly Science - Animal Survival, Australian Geographic, Corey Tutt
Engaging topics that will inspire primary-aged kids to ask questions, experiment and learn about how scientific principles impact the way we live.
Monique's Pic:
Giinagay Gaagal, Hello Ocean
Melissa Greenwood
An ode to happy days spent by the ocean, from Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood, the creator of the heart-stirring picture books Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth and My Little Barlaagany.
Gaagal (ocean) is our special place,
we love to swim in the waves.
We'll catch some yamaarr (fish),
eat, dance and play games.
An ode to joyful days spent by the ocean, from Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood, the creator of the heart-stirring picture books Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth and My Little Barlaagany (Sunshine).
CARDS AND GIFT WRAPPING:
Ancestors in the Sky, Earth Greetings Card
Eco friendly, 100% recycled, Australian made greeting card.
Featuring artwork by contemporary Aboriginal artist Domica Hill that combines a vibrant contemporary style with traditional elements.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
Featuring artwork by contemporary Aboriginal artist Domica Hill that combines a vibrant contemporary style with traditional elements.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
Connection to Country, Earth Greetings Card
Eco friendly, 100% recycled, Australian made greeting card.
Featuring artwork by contemporary Aboriginal artist Domica Hill that combines a vibrant contemporary style with traditional elements.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
Featuring artwork by contemporary Aboriginal artist Domica Hill that combines a vibrant contemporary style with traditional elements.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
Ocean, Earth Greetings Card
Eco friendly, 100% recycled, Australian made greeting card.
Featuring artwork that combines a vibrant palette with earthy tones by contemporary Aboriginal and abstract artist Natalie Jade.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
Featuring artwork that combines a vibrant palette with earthy tones by contemporary Aboriginal and abstract artist Natalie Jade.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
New Beginnings, Earth Greetings Card
Eco friendly, 100% recycled, Australian made greeting card.
Featuring artwork by contemporary Aboriginal artist Domica Hill that combines a vibrant contemporary style with traditional elements.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
Featuring artwork by contemporary Aboriginal artist Domica Hill that combines a vibrant contemporary style with traditional elements.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
All Under The Same Sun, Earth Greetings Card
Eco friendly, 100% recycled, Australian made greeting card.
Featuring artwork that combines a vibrant palette with earthy tones by contemporary Aboriginal and abstract artist Natalie Jade.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
Featuring artwork that combines a vibrant palette with earthy tones by contemporary Aboriginal and abstract artist Natalie Jade.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
Earth & Sky, Earth Greetings Card
Eco friendly, 100% recycled, Australian made greeting card.
Featuring artwork that fuses vibrant colours with traditional forms by contemporary Aboriginal artist Ryhia Dank.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
Featuring artwork that fuses vibrant colours with traditional forms by contemporary Aboriginal artist Ryhia Dank.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
Flowering Gum, Earth Greetings Card
Eco friendly, 100% recycled, Australian made greeting card.
Featuring artwork by contemporary Aboriginal artist Domica Hill that combines a vibrant contemporary style with traditional elements.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
Featuring artwork by contemporary Aboriginal artist Domica Hill that combines a vibrant contemporary style with traditional elements.
Features:
Blank inside
Matte finish
Size: 155 x 110mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper card and envelope
Ancestors In The Sky, Earth Greetings Wrapping Paper
Eco friendly, 100% recycled, Australian made wrapping paper.
Earth friendly wrapping paper featuring stunning artwork by contemporary Australian Aboriginal artist Domica Hill. This wrapping paper has been folded.
Features:
Folded Size: 175mm x 250mm
Flat Size: 500 x 700mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper
Earth friendly wrapping paper featuring stunning artwork by contemporary Australian Aboriginal artist Domica Hill. This wrapping paper has been folded.
Features:
Folded Size: 175mm x 250mm
Flat Size: 500 x 700mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper
Together, Earth Greetings Wrapping Paper
Eco friendly, 100% recycled, Australian made wrapping paper.
Earth friendly wrapping paper featuring stunning artwork by contemporary Australian Aboriginal artist Domica Hill. This wrapping paper has been folded.
Features:
Folded Size: 175mm x 250mm
Flat Size: 500 x 700mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper
Earth friendly wrapping paper featuring stunning artwork by contemporary Australian Aboriginal artist Domica Hill. This wrapping paper has been folded.
Features:
Folded Size: 175mm x 250mm
Flat Size: 500 x 700mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper
Wildflower Moorland, Earth Greetings Wrapping Paper
Eco friendly, 100% recycled, Australian made wrapping paper.
Earth friendly wrapping paper featuring beautiful botanical artwork by Australian artist Claire Ishino. This wrapping paper has been folded.
Features:
Folded Size: 175mm x 250mm
Flat Size: 500 x 700mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper
Earth friendly wrapping paper featuring beautiful botanical artwork by Australian artist Claire Ishino. This wrapping paper has been folded.
Features:
Folded Size: 175mm x 250mm
Flat Size: 500 x 700mm
Australian designed & made
Printed with VOC-free ink
100% post-consumer recycled paper
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