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Birrarung Wilam: a Story from Aboriginal Australia

Birrarung Wilam: a Story from Aboriginal Australia

by Aunty Joy MurphyAndrew Kelly and Lisa Kennedy
Hardback
Publication Date: 04/08/2020

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Travel along Melbourne's twisting Yarra River in a glorious celebration of Indigenous culture and Australia's unique flora and fauna.

As ngua rises, Bunjil soars over mountain ash, flying higher and higher as the wind warms. Below, Birrarung begins its long winding path down to palem warreen.

Yarra Riverkeeper Andrew Kelly and Aboriginal Elder of the Wurundjeri people Aunty Joy Murphy join to tell the Indigenous and geographical story of Melbourne's beautiful Yarra River -- from its source to its mouth and from its prehistory to the present day. The writing dazzles with poetic descriptions of the trees, plants, and wildlife that thrive in harmony along the iconic waterway. Lush and vibrant acrylic paintings from Indigenous illustrator Lisa Kennedy make the mighty Yarra come to life -- coursing under a starry sky, drawing people to its sunny shores, mirroring a searing orange sunset. Jewel-like details in the illustrations offer opportunities for discovery on every page. As gorgeous and powerful as the river itself, this stunner invites all to come to Wilam: home.

End matter includes an authors' note and a glossary of the Woiwurrung words used in the story.

ISBN:
9781536209426
9781536209426
Category:
People & places (Children's / Teenage)
Format:
Hardback
Publication Date:
04-08-2020
Language:
English
Publisher:
Candlewick Press
Country of origin:
United States
Dimensions (mm):
255.52x298.45x9.14mm
Weight:
0.51kg
Aunty Joy Murphy

Joy Murphy Wandin is the Senior Aboriginal Elder of the Wurundjeri People of Melbourne and surrounds. We show respect for her and other Elders by calling them Aunty or Uncle. Aunty Joy has had numerous government appointments including as a member of the Equal Opportunity Commission of Victoria and of the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal. She is a storyteller and a writer and is passionate about using story to bring people together and as a conduit for understanding Aboriginal culture. 

Andrew Kelly

Andrew Kelly is the Yarra Riverkeeper, part of an international organisation of Riverkeepers.

He has written numerous books for children and adults.

Lisa Kennedy

Lisa Kennedy is a descendant of the Trawlwoolway People on the north-east coast of Tasmania. Lisa was born in Melbourne and as a child lived close to the Maribyrnong River. Here she experienced the gradual restoration of the natural river environment alongside cultural regeneration and reclamation.

Through sense of place she feels connected to the Wurundjeri country and all that entails – the water, the land, the animals and the ancestors. The experience of loss and reclamation is embedded in her work. Welcome to Country was her first title with Black Dog Books.

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