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Kayang & Me
by Kim Scott Hazel BrownA monumental family history of Australia's Wilomin Noongar people, this is a powerful story of community and belonging. Revealing the deep and enduring connections between family, country, culture, and history that lie at the heart of indigenous identity, this book—a mix of storytelling and biography—offers insight into a fascinating community.
Salt Story: Of Sea-Dogs and Fisherwomen
by Sarah DrummondIn this warm, lively account of living on and by the sea, Sarah Drummond writes of life as an apprentice fisherwoman. Through her firsthand experience with small-scale commercial fishing in the Great Southern, Drummond documents a way of life—fishing—that is slowly dying as waters become politicized and fished out. She writes of fishing, of feuds, and of all the fish that got away. Salt Story is a tribute to sea-dogs, fisherwomen, oystermen, and storytellers everywhere.
Amazing People of Australia - A Short eBook
by Charles MargerisonAustralia has developed to become a model multi-ethnic society. In this collection of life stories from The Amazing People Club, you can gain an insight into how some amazing Australians set the scene and contributed to the country we fondly refer to as Downunder. Embark on a thrilling flight of discovery with Charles Kingsford Smith. His courage, competitive spirit and daring sense of adventure led to him being regarded as one of the highest achievers in the history of aviation. Be inspired by the entrepreneurial talent of James Harrison who invented the refrigerator which has become a necessity in our homes of today. Be captivated by the tumultuous events in the life of Nellie Melba, a self-driven diva who achieved great success and became one of Australia's most celebrated sopranos of all time. Meet these and several other amazing Australians who in their own unique ways, seized opportunities that led to great successes. Each story comes to life through BioViews®. These are short biographical narratives, similar to interviews. They provide an easy way of learning about amazing people who made major contributions and changed our world.
The Battle of Mont St Quentin Peronne 1918: The Battle of Mont St Quentin-Peronne 1918 (Australian Army Campaigns #11)
by Michele BomfordThe Battle of Mont St Quentin-Peronne 1918 explores the relationship between myth and history and the significance of the Anzac legend. It analyses the forces that drove the diggers forward even when they had reached the limits of their endurance. The Battle of Mont St Quentin-Peronne represents the Australian Corps at its very best, its diggers fighting for peace and satisfied that, `whatever might lie ahead, at least everything was right behind them'.
Gallipoli: An Australian Medical Perspective (Australian Combat Support #1)
by Michael TyquinTo be successful, a modern army needs logistical support to survive - to arm, feed, transport, and care for its soldiers. As history shows us the maintenance of health in any army , is a key factor in warfare. In many respects the Gallipoli campaign was a doomed undertaking. The seeds of ultimate defeat in December 1915 were the risks that attended a hugely ambitious, complex, and large-scale amphibious operation - the landings on well-defended shores on the Gallipoli peninsula, under cover of darkness. Communications at the time were primitive, while general staff officers had little understanding of their own army's medical assets or the needs of a large medical organisation. The Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) received aid from, and gave support to, all five forces at various times during 1915. Underlying the execution of the Dardanelles campaign were factors wholly outside the control of the Australian AMS. Undoubtedly tragic, and sometimes avoidable, errors were made at the highest level of command, with subsequent pressures on the AMS. An amphibious operation of this type and scale, however, was without parallel in modern military history, and mistakes were inevitable, as they are with any campaign of such complexity. Gallipoli: An Australian Medical Perspective explores these complexities and mistakes through the eyes of the infant Australian Army Medical Corps.
Conducting Counterinsurgency: Reconstruction Task Force 4 in Afghanistan (Australian Military History #2)
by Colonel David Connery David Cran David EveredConducting Counterinsurgency uses the personal experiences of officers and soldiers from RTF4 - described in their own words - to illustrate the principles of counterinsurgency operations. The book provides a vivid and personal snapshot of the work of these soldiers, the challenges they faced and their interaction with the local people during their tour of duty. This is a first-hand account of counterinsurgency operations conducted by the contemporary Australian Army in its fight against the Taliban. Conducting Counterinsurgency sheds light on the little- understood operations of the Australian Army in Afghanistan and is a must for military professionals and commentators.
The Battle of Fromelles 1916: A Case Study Of An Evolving Skill (Australian Army Campaigns #8)
by Roger LeeThe Battle of Fromelles remains the single bloodiest day in terms of soldiers killed, wounded or missing, in Australia's military history. Remains of soldiers were recently discovered in mass graves in northern France and the final soldier will be laid to rest when a new cemetery officially opens on 19th July, 2010 - the 94th anniversary of the battle.
Crumps and Camouflets: Australian Tunnelling Companies on the Western Front
by Damien FinlaysonBelow the shattered ground that separated the British and German infantry on the Western Front in World War I, an unseen and largely unknown war was raging, fought by miners, 'tunnellers' as they were known. They knew at any moment their lives could be extinguished without warning by hundreds of tonnes of collapsed earth and debris.
The Battle of Crete (Australian Army Campaigns #1)
by Albert PalazzoBetween 20 May and 1 June 1941 the Second World War came to the Greek island of Crete. The Commonwealth defenders consisted of Australian, New Zealand and British refugees from the doomed Greek Campaign who had not recovered from defeat.
The Battle of Bardia (Australian Army Campaigns #9)
by Craig StockingsOn the morning of 3 January 1941, Australians of the 6th Division led an assault against the Italian colonial fortress village of Bardia in Libya, not far from the Egyptian-Libyan frontier. The ensuing battle was the second of the First Libyan Campaign, but the first battle of the Second World War planned and fought predominantly by Australians. The fortress fell to the attackers a little over two days after the attack began, in what could only be described as a remarkable victory. At a cost of 130 killed and 326 wounded, the 6th Division captured around 40,000 Italian prisoners and very large quantities of military stores and equipment. The victory was heralded at the time in Australia as one of the greatest military achievements of that nation's military history. Quite soon afterwards, however, overshadowed perhaps by Rommel's subsequent desert advances, the tragedy in Greece, and the war in the Pacific, Bardia slipped from the public mind. Very few Australians today have heard of the battle. This book attempts to bring Bardia back into the light.
Kimberley Stories
by Sandy ToussaintA journey of discovery into one of Australia’s most intriguing and exotic regions, the Kimberley, this anthology features both artwork and writing. It includes contributions from talents such as Kate Auty, Peter Bibby, Lesley Corbett, Steve Hawke, Donna Bing-Ying Mak, Stephen Scourfield, Pat Mmanjun Bananga Torres, and Jacqueline Wright, and will appeal to a wide range of readers—travelers, fans of indigenous works, and those interested in desert culture and landscape.
Spinning the Dream: Assimilation in Australia 1950-1970
by Anna HaebichIn Spinning the Dream, multi-award-winning historian Anna Haebich re-evaluates the experience of Assimilation in Australia, providing a meticulously researched and masterfully written assessment of its implications for Australia's Indigenous and ethnic minorities and for immigration and refugee policy.
Broken Circles
by Anna HaebichThis major work reveals the dark heart of the history of the Stolen Generations in Australia. It shows that, from the earliest times of European colonization, Aboriginal Australians experienced the trauma of loss and separation, as their children were abducted, enslaved, institutionalized, and culturally remodeled. Providing a moving and comprehensive account of this tragic history, this study covers all Australian colonies, states, and territories. The analysis spans 200 years of white occupation and intervention, from the earliest seizure of Aboriginal children, through their systematic state removal and incarceration, and on to the harsh treatment of families under the assimilation policies of the 1950s and 1960s. The resistance struggle and achievements of Aboriginal people in defending their communities, regaining their rights and mending the broken circles of family life provides a compelling parallel story of determination and courage.
Amazing People of Sydney
by Charles MargerisonImagine you had to sail 10,000 miles to an island in the South Pacific Ocean in an old wooden boat. In 1788, that happened to over 1400 English convicts, colonists, captains and men of the Marine Corps. Watched by fearful local Aboriginals, they established a base in a place called New South Wales, Australia. Who were these amazing people? How did they survive and build the great and beautiful city that we now call Sydney? A city tour unlike any other, Amazing People of Sydney brings you in touch with real people who have left us a legacy that we can explore. Travel through time and meet some of the amazing people who helped Sydney develop. Discover how Governor Arthur Phillip and Bennelong, the captured Aborigine, tried to build relations between the communities. Explore the lives of people including Francis Greenway, Mary Reibey and George Howe. All of them arrived in Sydney as convicts and through their tenacious spirit, grew to become some of the most significant figures in the city. Find out about William Tom's discovery of gold, and Captain Thunderbolt's great escape from Cockatoo Island. Be moved by the outstanding work of the tireless humanitarian, Caroline Chisholm, and her work with young women. Discover how Banjo Paterson wrote Waltzing Matilda. These stories, and many others, come alive through BioViews®. What is a BioView®? A BioView® is a short biographical story, similar to an interview. These unique stories provide an easy way of learning about amazing people who made major contributions and changed our world.
Orphans of the Living: Growing Up in 'care' in Twentieth-century Australia
by Joanna PenglaseDrawing on interviews, submissions to the Senate Inquiry, and personal experience, this revealing documentation describes, for the first time, the experience of Forgotten Australians from the perspective of the survivors. In August 2004, Parliamentary senators wept as they presented the report from the Senate Inquiry into the treatment of children in care. Half a million children grew up in “care” in 20th-century Australia, and most often these children lived with daily brutal physical and emotional abuse in the sterile environment of an institution. Unraveling with tenderness, compassion, and intellect the seemingly explicable accounts as to how and why this occurred this study reveals the profound personal costs to the children involved—and the huge social and economic ramifications of past policies.
Heartsick for Country: Stories of Love, Spirit and Creation
by Sally Morgan Tjalaminu Mia Blaze KwaymullinaThe stories in this anthology speak of the love between Aboriginal peoples and their countries. They are personal accounts that share knowledge, insight and emotion, each speaking of a deep connection to country and of feeling heartsick because of the harm that is being inflicted on country even today, through the logging of old growth forests, converting millions of acres of land to salt fields, destruction of ancient rock art and significant Aboriginal sacred sites, and a record of species extinction that is the worst in the world.
Speaking from the Heart: Stories of Life, Family and Country
by Sally Morgan Blaze Kwaymullina Tjalaminu MiaEighteen Aboriginal Australians from across the country share powerful stories that are central to their lives, family, community, or country. The stories provide a very personal picture of the history, culture, and contemporary experience of Aboriginal Australia.
Big Mobs: The Story of Australian Cattlemen
by Glen MclarenPreviously overshadowed in the public imagination by notions of American cowboys and the wild west, Australian stockmen are given the place they so richly deserve in pastoral and Australian history in this insightful study. From the lonely months on a long cattle drive to the boots they wore and the places they lived in, the stockmen and their unique way of life is intelligently explored in this comprehensive work.
Sand
by Robert Drewe John KinsellaA collection of prose, poetry, and memoir, this collaboration celebrates the profound effect environment has on our stories, assumptions, and geographical reckonings, just as it evokes childhood nostalgia and a sense of place. In a dialogue of perceptions, two of Australia’s foremost authors explore a common geography and memories—both cultural and personal—as they consider the theme of “sand” from intimate, geological, and historical points of view.
Jack's Island
by Norman JorgensenJack's family is based on Rottnest Island during WWII while his father helps build an airfield. Jack and his best friend Banjo have the run of the island and a remarkable knack for getting into trouble — but as Jack says, 'I'm not that bad, I just get caught a lot!' Dafty, a simple but loveable young boy, dotes on Banjo and Jack. When Dafty seeks revenge against the local schoolmaster for a punishment inflicted on Banjo, life suddenly becomes more serious. This poignant, multi-layered text offers young readers a valuable insight into life in Australia during the war.
The Last Whale
by Chris PashAt the end of the 1970s, one young reporter bears witness to the final days of Australia’s whaling industry. Thirty years after the last whale was captured and slaughtered in Australia, this incisive account tells the very human story of the characters and events that brought whaling to an end. This fair and balanced account portrays the raw adventure of going to sea, the perils of being a whaler, and the commitment that leads activists to throw themselves into the path of an explosive harpoon. Accompanied by a wonderful photographic record of the time, this is the action-packed history of a town reliant on whaling dollars pitted against a determined band of protesters.
Last of the Nomads
by W J Peaseley'Peasley's description of the events … is informative, compassionate, exciting and at times deeply moving.' —Don Grant, Australian Book Review 'The intriguing story of [the rescue of an elderly couple believed to be the last Australian nomads] and how they survived alone for the previous 30 years or so in the unrelenting western Gibson Desert region of WA, is fascinating reading.' — Chris Walters, The West Australian 'This is a most remarkable book about the recovery during the 1977 drought of an ailing Aboriginal nomadic couple, living in desert regions of Western Australia.' — The National Times Warri and Yatungka were believed to be the last of the Mandildjara tribe of desert nomads to live permanently in the traditional way. Their deaths in the late 1970s marked the end of a tribal lifestyle that stretched back more than 30,000 years. The Last of the Nomads tells of an extraordinary journey in search of Warri and Yatungka.
Gough and Me: My Journey from Cabramatta to China and beyond
by Christine SykesWhen Gough Whitlam moves into her street in Cabramatta in 1957, eight-year-old Christine has little idea how her new neighbour, one of the most visionary and polarising political leaders of Australia, would shape the direction of her life. Born to working-class parents and living in a fibro house built by her truck-driver father, Christine simply dreams that one day she might work as a private secretary like her aunt. But when the reforms Whitlam championed give Christine the chance to go to university, her world expands. She experiences the transformative power of education, struggles to balance motherhood with being the family breadwinner, and faces her own mental health battles. She follows a path forged by Whitlam, from scholarships he fought for, to local community initiatives he generated, and even as far as China, where Whitlam crucially initiated Australia&’s relationship when he visited the country in 1973. Written with genuine heart and humour, Gough and Me is a nostalgic and deeply personal memoir of social mobility, cultural diversity, and the unprecedented opportunities that the Whitlam era gave one Australian working-class woman.
My Katherine Mansfield Project
by Kirsty GunnIn 2009, Kirsty Gunn returned to spend the winter in her hometown of Wellington, New Zealand, also the place where Katherine Mansfield grew up. In this exquisitely written "notebook," which blends memoir, biography, and essay, Gunn records that winter-long experience and the unparalleled insight it allowed her into Mansfield's fiction. Gunn explores the idea of home and belonging--and of the profound influence of Mansfield's work on her own creative journey. She asks whether it is even possible to "come home"--and who are we when we get there?
Australian Hawk Over the Western Front: A Biography of Major R S Dallas DSO, DSC, C de G avec Palme
by Adrian HellwigThe true story of Australia&’s greatest flying ace and his WWI victories, based on his letters, combat reports, and other documents. Includes photos. Major Roderick Dallas is Australia&’s leading air ace of all time and, with fifty victories, also one of the highest-scoring Commonwealth aces. Yet, until this excellently researched volume, there has never been a full biography of this exceptional pilot, whose fighting career spanned from 1916 to 1918. Flying Nieuport Scouts, Triplanes, and Camels with the RNAS and RAF, he was an ever-present threat over the Western Front and the scourge of the German Air Force. Adrian Hellwig&’s book has been taken principally from primary sources—Dallas&’s own letters, log book, and service record, in addition to squadron record books, combat reports and contemporary accounts—and his resulting conclusions will surprise many. Here is a fitting tribute not just to Australia&’s greatest war hero of the air but to a man any country would be proud to call its own.