UQP Black Australian Writers

The Yumba, an Aboriginal settlement, is home to Herbie, his brothers, sisters, relations and friends on the outskirts of town. From his back door the view of his playground stretches beyond the banks of the Warrego River, as far as the eye can see. The fun-loving Herbie learns his culture from both Aboriginal and white worlds: from his tribal elders and from the local townies. For Herbie his Yumba is a village peopled with friends and family, who keep an eye on him and his mates. But there's always escape to the surrounding hopbush plain, a larrikin's paradise. Herbie's rollicking adventures range from school-age antics to his teenage years as a stockman and, briefly-on into the present and his wry observations in traveling the world as an author.

From the riotous picnic races to the famous Mt Isa rodeo, from childhood in the yumba to gutsy outback pubs, Unbranded presents a strikingly original vision of Australia. With a rollicking cast of stockmen, shearers, barmaids and tourists, this novel is the story of three men. Sandy is a white man; Bindi, a Murri; Mulga is related on his mother's side to Bindi, and on his Irish father's side to Sandy. Their saga . and enduring friendship . covers forty years in the mulga country of the far west. It tells how Sandy achieves his dream of owning a cattle empire; how Bindi regains part of his tribal lands for his people, and how Mulga finally sits down to write about their shared experiences. Mulga's journey also brings him face-to-face with the dark side of urban despair and his people's struggle with alcohol. "One of the most important Black texts ... a creative work of significance. I read Herb's novel throughout the night, not being able to put it down. I found it enthralling." Mudrooroo

A collection of stories told to the author by Aboriginal stockmen and women. Captures the life of the droving days when these people traveled huge distances on drives from North Queensland to Victoria and South Australia. Has a foreword by the author, maps and several photographs. Author's novel 'Unbranded' was highly commended in the David Unaipon Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.