Cirrus@Austlit

'Gudjal is the language of the people of the Mural (Charters Towers) region, in western inland north Queensland. The beginnings of this dictionary and learner's guide were in the 1970s when Gudjal people began working with linguists to record their language. The first dictionary of Gudjal, by William Santo and Cassy Nancarrow, was published in 2006; and so, a language that had been sleeping started to awaken. In Yaru!, the dictionary has been expanded and the first-ever Gudjal grammar is included, as well as four songs and a Welcome to Country.

'The book has been compiled by Gudjal elder William Santo and linguists Alex Anderson, Cassy Nancarrow and Myfany Turpin. It includes accompanying audio read by Keesha Gordon and Shakira Kelly. The audio is accessed through QR codes in the book and can be downloaded from the associated website. Yaru! will be essential to the Gudjal community and schools in the Charters Towers region to build a new generation of language speakers. It will also be of value to people interested in Australia's first peoples, their languages and language revival.' (Publication summary)

'This book gives a brief outline of the lives of Charley Cupid Santo, a South Sea Islander and Maggie Tonton a Gudjal woman from north Queensland and their family. The journey of Charley and how he with his father and perhaps other family members, the adversity they've faced throughout their endless working life. Therefore, there are many gaps in the known history of Maggie and Charley and their descendants. This book has attempted to fill in some of the gaps of their story, with dates, names and places but there are still many aspects of their history that we do not know. In spite of this my great-grandparents whose lives cannot be understood or comprehended until you understand their past and the political surroundings they were born, lived and died in.' (Source: Publisher's website)

'This book gives a brief outline of Charley Cupid Santo early history and his descendants, in doing so this book was achieved through published historical information and early paper material. The journey of Charley arrival to Morton Bay, Queensland with his father and perhaps other family members, the adversity they’ve faced throughout their endless working life. Therefore, there are many gaps in Charley and his descendants past and somewhat accuracy of dates and names could be questioned. In spite of this our grandparents who life’s cannot be understood or comprehend until you understand their past and the political surroundings they were born, lived and died in.'

'This book has been largely assimilated through published station diaries archives, early kanaka historical events, staff at the John Oxley Aboriginal and Torres Strait Personal history, Santo elders, and a special thanks to Robin and Earnest Bassingthwaighte for their assistance in gathering old Bluff downs station photos and also giving me early station dairy evident of old bluff down station bygone past.' (Source: William, C. Santo, Introduction, Charley (Cupid) Santo, 2016)