'The story of Australia, told from the woolsheds.
''For much of its history Australia has been described as riding on the sheep's back . . . but if the country rode on anyone's back, it was on the aching, creaking, flexing spines of Australian shearers.'
'Armed with their blades, a sense of adventure and a relentless work ethic, shearers have been a fundamental part of Australia's outback for centuries.
'From legendary figures such as blade shearing record-holder Jack Howe and fearless union man cum poet Julian Stuart, to today's young guns having to adapt to a rapidly changing industry, these rugged, resilient and proud characters have influenced the social landscape and folklore of the country. Shearers contributed to the formation of both the Labor and National parties, while Australia's national song, 'Waltzing Matilda', was written on a Queensland sheep station.'(Publication summary)
