#NonFicNov Bill Gammage
- Author: Bill Gammage
- Title: The Biggest Estate On Earth (323 pg) 2011
- Genre: Non-fiction
Introduction:
- Broadly speaking, “the bush” refers to all rural areas
- …and encompasses the arid “outback” at the continent’s heart.
- This book is considered one of the TOP TEN best books
- …that best summon the spirit of the bush
- …and the mindset of those who live there.
Conclusion:
- Not until the 1960s did researchers begin
- …to sense system and purpose in Aboriginal burning.
- Aboriginals may have, quite literally,
- ….made the country what it is today by their use of fire.
- Unfortunately now with climate change…fire is destroying Australia.
- No chance of Nature..no careless hand…no random fire
- …could make so rich a paradise as was Australia in 1788.
- The clever Aboriginals were using fire as a TOOL …as a scalpel.
- It was planned, precise and predicted.
- I was so impressed with the explanation of “cool-fires”.
- It sounds like a paradox!
- Fuel rationing (dried grass and undergrowth) and timing kept most fires cool.
- Cool fires could burn one sepcies without much harming another,
- …speed regrowth and stop random fires.
Last thoughts:
- This was a fascinating book.
- I must warn readers some chapters need “skimming’.
- Ch 4 – Dreamlines and totems….I had to skim this section.
- Ch 5: Less interesting. Summation: Country was heart, mind and soul….not property.
- Ch 7: Just descriptions of the landscape in 19th C…learned nothing.
- Ch 9: Series of land surveyor reports for possible locations for major cities.
- It is easy to cherry-pick the information you are most interested in.
- I was left with a feeling of heartbreak when I finished the book.
- The Aboriginals had done EVERYTHING right to make the land sustainable
- …through precision fire and habitat mosaic templates.
- Now…the Aborignals have been dispossessed
- ….lost the land they created!
- Shameful.
Arthur Streeton – Australian Impressionism, Golden Summer, Eagleton
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NancyElin.blog 
You’re right about skimming certain chapters, although for me, the one on the landscape paintings was one of the most enlightening.
Those early paintings show what the country looked like thanks to Aboriginal management.
For years we thought that it was the English anglo-cising the environment (and it was in some respects ie the Aboriginal man closest to the frame on the cover of the book is wearing a non-traditional covering to no doubt protect the sensibilities of women and children!) But the dry, sunburnt hills in the Streeton came about purely from coloniser activity.
I know you read this book a few years ago…and it has lingered in my mind.\
I finally was ready to read it having gathred more info about Australia itself.
Wonderful book! This concludes #AusReadingMonth23 “extension” with #NonFicNov. I think this is the perfect combination of October and overflow to November with all the challenges that are held in that month. Thanks for hosting once again….
I love seeing how our history and stories are seen by those of you overseas, so thank you again for your enthusiastic and continued support Nancy. Big hugs xo
Brona, already preparing my AUS reading list for 2024. Looking for a good blance b/t fiction, classics, non-fiction, POETRY… and award winning books!