I identify with the fact that Australia is my one and only home (barring my eternal home that I yearn for). I've never lived anywhere other than Brisbane, even! But I feel almost ashamed of being a white Aussie, because there is real hurt in a real history.
Also, I love it when authors learn through their books and they're open about that experience. I think it opens real communication between author and reader.
I'm reading a non-fiction book called "100 Australian Wildflowers". It's been a really nice read and a learning experience for me, and the author I believe. She honoured our First Nations people by not only including the common names for the flowers and how to plant them but the First Nations name of the plants and their traditional uses too.
I hope we can all continue to get better at including and caring for everyone around us, no matter the history.
Oh I adore Kate Grenville! I remember reading ‘The Secret River’ during school and thinking about how it was the first time I’d read a book by a white Australian that really acknowledged and confronted our history as a country.
I love the question you’ve asked about how we can write Australian stories that are honest and reflective of our country. I think it is a hard thing to do when I believe we are, unfortunately, still a fairly racist and less accepting country than we like to say we are. Anyway, brilliant piece! 🫶🏻
Thanks Emily! Yes, I think Kate Grenville, along with Jackie French, were my first introductions to the complexity of Australian history. And so important to acknowledge this isn't a 'in the past' problem but an ongoing one.
Just doing a catch up of your writing..!
I identify with the fact that Australia is my one and only home (barring my eternal home that I yearn for). I've never lived anywhere other than Brisbane, even! But I feel almost ashamed of being a white Aussie, because there is real hurt in a real history.
Also, I love it when authors learn through their books and they're open about that experience. I think it opens real communication between author and reader.
I'm reading a non-fiction book called "100 Australian Wildflowers". It's been a really nice read and a learning experience for me, and the author I believe. She honoured our First Nations people by not only including the common names for the flowers and how to plant them but the First Nations name of the plants and their traditional uses too.
I hope we can all continue to get better at including and caring for everyone around us, no matter the history.
Oh I adore Kate Grenville! I remember reading ‘The Secret River’ during school and thinking about how it was the first time I’d read a book by a white Australian that really acknowledged and confronted our history as a country.
I love the question you’ve asked about how we can write Australian stories that are honest and reflective of our country. I think it is a hard thing to do when I believe we are, unfortunately, still a fairly racist and less accepting country than we like to say we are. Anyway, brilliant piece! 🫶🏻
Thanks Emily! Yes, I think Kate Grenville, along with Jackie French, were my first introductions to the complexity of Australian history. And so important to acknowledge this isn't a 'in the past' problem but an ongoing one.