Freedom Day

ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- One of the most iconic images of Gough Whitlam's prime ministership shows him pouring a handful of sand into the cupped palm of Gurindji man Vincent Lingiari. This book, written by Vincent's granddaughter along with Thomas Mayor (Finding Our Heart) tells the events that led up to that stirring moment. First she tells of the Gurindji living on Country before kartiya (white people) arrived, how a white man  moved onto their land without consultation and how the Gurindji began to starve, were captured and enslaved to work on the cattle station. When Lord Vestey bought the lease decades later, it got worse. A sad story so far, but then (the storyteller says) the next part is about hope. It is of how Vincent led the famous Wave Hill Station walkoff, how unionists assisted them, and how nine long years went by before the land was returned to the Gurindji. But not the end of the story, because Aboriginal voices still need to be heard... Samantha Campbell's strongly coloured illustrations complement this powerful and proud narration. It is very heartening that these important stories are told for primary school-aged readers in such an accessible form. It neither shies away from the hard aspects of our shared history, but it also doesn't dwell on them, instead looking forward to us all walking together. It is a very important book, one all readers should have.  Lindy