Kathryn's Inbox

Wiradjuri author Anita Heiss has created a powerful historical fiction novel shaped around true events with Bila Yarrudhanggalanghuray. A story of home and belonging, the novel opens with an event that should be known to many Australians, the great flood of 1852 that almost destroyed the town of Gundagai and the local Wirajuri man, Yarri who saved the lives of many locals in his boat, working tirelessly to rescue all who were stranded. In  Bila Yarrudhanggalanghuray the author blends fact with fiction to tell the story of Wagadhaany, the daughter of Yarri who survives the flood.  Wagadhaany is working as a domestic servant for the powerful Bradley family. The Bradley family's ways are not like hers. They have imported many customs and traditions from England and believe their ways to be superior to the Wiradjuri people. Steadfastly ignorant and arrogant, they rename Wagadhaany "Wilma" pay her in rations for her services and leave her to sleep in a windowless room, w...