'The lives of Lucy and Percy Pepper, from Gippsland, Victoria, were affected by laws and government policies that defined who was 'Aboriginal' and who was not. This book reveals their struggle to keep their extended family together, fight for Australia in World War 1, make good on soldier settlement block, and survive ill health and poverty. Their story is told through correspondence between Percy and Lucy Pepper and government officials and Aboriginal administrators. The letters are now in the collections of the National Archives of Australia and the Public Records Office Victoria. Footprints is a valuable resource for Aboriginal people who want to find archival records. In addition, anyone interested in Aboriginal policy in early twentieth century Victoria can gain insights on the effects of past legislation and practices on individuals and families.' (Source: TROVE)
This book includes:
1. Introducing the Pepper family
2. A family's cry for help
3. Across the state
4. The timber pole dispute
5. Percy answers the call
6. A death in the family
7. A final request for Lucy Pepper
8. Life goes on for the Pepper family
'This recently published book is another fine example of a ‘demonstrative’ publication often produced by museums, archive authorities and public record offices, and libraries and institutions of a similar ilk. They are ‘demonstrative’ in that one of their aims is to demonstrate the value of the archival record for detailing Indigenous social and family history, or, as stated in the foreword, ‘We hope that it will inspire and inform the search for reconnection to family, land and culture for all Aboriginal people and will encourage many to find their own family history’ (Gibbs and Heazlewood 2008:v). In choosing a particular family, that of Lucy and Percy Pepper, the authors are seeking to illustrate what Aboriginal people may find in the archival record.' (Introduction)
