<p>Will dreams of going waltzing matilda with Ollie – the Indigenous swagman who comes to shear at his family’s station. But then Ollie disappears. Like Banjo’s Waltzing Matilda, this story encourages support and compassion. This book will give young readers insight into this chapter of Australian history and an appreciation for Waltzing Matilda.</p>
Will dreams of going waltzing matilda with Ollie – the Indigenous swagman who comes to shear at his family’s station. But then Ollie disappears… Like Banjo Paterson’s Waltzing Matilda, this story encourages us to see swagmen not as criminals, but as people who needed support and compassion. This book will give young readers insight into this chapter of Australian history and a new appreciation for Banjo Paterson’s Waltzing Matilda.
About the Author Bec Nanayakkara is a childrens author who, having spent 12 years supporting student learning and wellbeing, is certain that the best way to teach anything is with a good story. Bec lives in the New England region of New South Wales with her husband and five children. She spends her days being inspired by ordinary, everyday pieces of life and her nights trying to weave that inspiration into picture book manuscripts.
About the Illustrator Kim de Haan is an author-illustrator and writer who enjoys creating warm and optimistic stories for kids. An avid reader, it took Kim over a decade working in architecture and design to realise she wanted to be on the other side of the book too. Kim loved researching this period of Australian history and her penchant for drawing landscapes, animals and people meant this was the perfect story for her. Kim lives with her family on Guringai land in Sydney’s beautiful Northern Beaches.
Will dreams of going waltzing matilda with Ollie – the Indigenous swagman who comes to shear at his family’s station. But then Ollie disappears… Like Banjo Paterson’s Waltzing Matilda, this story encourages us to see swagmen not as criminals, but as people who needed support and compassion. This book will give young readers insight into this chapter of Australian history and a new appreciation for Banjo Paterson’s Waltzing Matilda.
About the Author Bec Nanayakkara is a childrens author who, having spent 12 years supporting student learning and wellbeing, is certain that the best way to teach anything is with a good story. Bec lives in the New England region of New South Wales with her husband and five children. She spends her days being inspired by ordinary, everyday pieces of life and her nights trying to weave that inspiration into picture book manuscripts.
About the Illustrator Kim de Haan is an author-illustrator and writer who enjoys creating warm and optimistic stories for kids. An avid reader, it took Kim over a decade working in architecture and design to realise she wanted to be on the other side of the book too. Kim loved researching this period of Australian history and her penchant for drawing landscapes, animals and people meant this was the perfect story for her. Kim lives with her family on Guringai land in Sydney’s beautiful Northern Beaches.
A cypher that looked like a childs game of noughts-and-crosses; a strip of hessian bag; the rhythmic clanging sound of the turning windmill suddenly breaking the silence of the night; the...
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