Remembered by Heart, various authors Foreward by Sally Morgan

This moving collection of youthful memories touches on a broad sweep of history and includes people from many Aboriginal countries. The stories have been shared in the hope they will make a difference to people’s understanding of the past, and in the belief that a just future can be created for all.

These are powerful stories of survival that share pain, humour, grief, endurance, life experience and hope. Take as a whole, they detail the devastating impact of many decades of repressive legislation on the lives of individuals and families. Legislation which, while aimed at ‘protecting’ Aboriginal people, obliterated any access to basic human rights.

This moving collection of youthful memories touches on a broad sweep of history and includes people from many Aboriginal countries. The stories have been shared in the hope they will make a difference to people’s understanding of the past, and in the belief that a just future can be created for all.

These are powerful stories of survival that share pain, humour, grief, endurance, life experience and hope. Take as a whole, they detail the devastating impact of many decades of repressive legislation on the lives of individuals and families. Legislation which, while aimed at ‘protecting’ Aboriginal people, obliterated any access to basic human rights.

Remembered by Heart is an anthology of true stories from a diverse range of Aboriginal Australians, often about their youth of that of their parents. The anthology reflects a variety of experiences across many years. Authors detail what it was like to live on a mission, to be removed from your family to live miles away from anywhere familiar, to a variety of education opportunities. For some, education meant learning to keep house for others. For others, there was the chance to complete high school.

Remembered by Heart is a moving collection of true stories about growing up in a different time. It details the range of Aboriginal experiences from 1930s to more recently. The collection reflects many voices, and reads like oral stories. Publicity material with the collection suggests it is aimed at upper-primary and early-secondary readers, but there is much here for a broader readership. No one should be able to say that they haven’t heard these stories, so that there is no risk of repeating mistakes of the past. But as well as tales of horror, there are many stories of family, connection and reconnection. Recommended for anyone who wants to understand Australia’s past.

 

Remembered by Heart, various authors, foreward by Sally Morgan Fremantle Press 2014 ISBN: 9781922089779

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com