Cirrus@Austlit

'Nine Aboriginal women from the South Coast region of NSW contributed to this booklet, taking part in a Department of Environment and Conservation project designed to raise the profile of the historical experience of Aboriginal women along the coast of NSW.

The women in this publication recount their working lives and memories across the South coast landscape. Their stories centre on Wollongong, as each has a link or special connection there. They describe many aspects of life at Hill 60, and later at the 'Official Camps' in Port Kembla. Other stories describe their journeys as young women often involving several moves during childhood and employment in domestic service and the factories of Sydney.

Together the women tell of the support and sense of connection that united the Wollongong community. They describe their favourite places, where they played as children, where they fished, collected seafoods and bush tucker to help supplement the family's diet. What stands out is their strong connection to the area, to the places where they feel the presence of the people they have known and of their own loved ones, whose lives are forever.' -- Source: Publisher's blurb.

Six Aboriginal women from the Port Stephens region of NSW contributed to this booklet, taking part in a Department of Environment and Conservation project designed to raise the profile of the historical experience of Aboriginal women along the coast of the state.

In this publication each woman talks about her life and growing up around Port Stephens. Their stories centre on Karuah and Soldiers Point near Nelson Bay. They describe living an idyllic existence where fishing, swimming and playing in the bush were everyday occurrences. They recount how their parents protected them from the realities of the outside world, keeping them safe during a time when the Aborigines Welfare Board was a constant threat to Aboriginal families.

Through their words we find out about the wonders of Port Stephens and how they worked with the sea and the land to survive. Perhaps the most powerful theme that connects all the women's stories is a sense of pride in their heritage and a love for their area. Each of the women tell of their achievements in life, their respect and love for their parents and their desire to raise awareness and respect for their heritage.

This book is the fifth in a series of publications focused on Aboriginal Women's Heritage across NSW. Source: Publisher's blurb.

Few people have studied the historical experiences of Aboriginal women in NSW, and the subject has generally had a low public profile. This book helps to change that.

The book is one of the outcomes of a project which maps Aboriginal women's heritage in two local landscapes - Nambucca and Nowra. Through oral history interviews, the book looks at the relationship between Aboriginal women and the coastal landscape of the Nambucca Valley. It focuses on the lives of nine local Aboriginal women elders, mapping the places in the local landscape that have been important to them.

By telling stories from their life, these Aboriginal women explain their role as custodians of an important part of Aboriginal traditional knowledge. The book maps their memories, stories, resource places and social places in detail. Source: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ (Sighted 09/07/2009)

'George Nichols, director-general of the Australian Archives, provides a foreword to the book and the history behind its publication. He tells of the pride the Archives felt over the success of the Between Two Worlds touring exhibition which began in October 1993. This publication is based on that exhibition. The book's compilation was overseen by a reference group comprising Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers.' (Introduction)

'This book tells of the life of Daniel Matthews (1837-1902), founder of the Maloga Aboriginal mission, situated on the Victorian side of the Murray River, in the second half of the nineteenth century.' (Introduction)