Within the pages of this book are seven inspiring stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from the past. Some of them you will have heard of but others may be new to you as they were to me. The first story tells the tale of Patyegarang, a young Darug woman, who meets William Dawes who had travelled from England with the First Fleet to set up an observatory to watch for a new comet. William wanted to talk with the local Aboriginal people so Patyegarang taught him words from the local dialects and William taught her to read and write English. A lovely tale but a sad ending.

Now you’ve probably heard of Bungaree who sailed with Matthew Flinders and his cat, Trim, all around Australia. He also sailed with Phillip Parker King to the west coast and taught the crew how to fish and which plants were safe to eat. Governor Macquarie thought so highly of Bungaree he gave him a breastplate with King of Broken Bay on it and granted him a farm. There are many statues of Trim around Australia but, sadly, none to honour Bungaree.

There’s an incredible story about Tarenorerer, who was taken from her mother’s arms but became a freedom fighter. Another about Fanny Balbuk Yooreel, a resistance fighter who tried to teach white people how to look after their environment. So many inspiring and amazing stories.

Reviewed by Merle Morcom
Age Guide 8+