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One valley′s stories of gold through the ages, from the beginning of the earth 4 billion years ago, through the valley′s creation and the history of its alluring deposits.
Interspersed with historical and geological information are stories that bring to life the valley and its occupants. First, around 35,000 BC, we meet Mirrigan, a young Aboriginal man hunting the last of the mainland thylacine to present its skin to his female friend, Dhani. From there we move through stories of European settlement, gold rushes, Chinese immigration, bushrangers, relations between Indigenous and European people, world wars, the Depression and natural disasters. When we arrive at the present day, the substance that has so shaped the valley′s recent history - gold - is still an important commodity, but no longer at the expense of the valley.
Jackie French once again manages to inform and entertain in this wonderful collection of stories.
Ages 10+
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Dingo: The Dog Who Conquered a Continent
All of Australia′s dingoes may be descended from one south-east Asian ′rubbish dog′ who arrived here over 5,000 years ago. This is a story about the first dingo. It is also the story of Loa, who heads off across the sea in his canoe when the girl he loves marries...
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Pennies For Hitler
It′s 1939, and for Georg, son of an English academic living in Germany, life is full of cream cakes and loving parents. It is also a time when his teacher measures the pupils′ heads to see which of them have the most ′Aryan′- shaped heads. But when a...
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A Day to Remember
Anzac Day is the day when we remember and honour ANZAC traditions down the ages, from the first faltering march of wounded veterans in 1916 to the ever-increasing numbers of their descendants who march today. Containing reference to the many places the ANZACs have fought, and the...
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