Wiradyuri author Anita Heiss' new book Dirrayawadha (Rise Up) is truth-telling through fiction, a story of love and resilience in a time of war.
She wanted to write a historical novel that speaks to events that were happening in Bathurst and beyond 200 years ago, to tell readers the extent of violence on the frontier.
"That would help them understand that they can no longer forget or choose to forget the bloodshed and the war here, because every year we commemorate the Anzacs, but we don't commemorate the Frontier Wars," Dr Heiss told NITV.
On August 14, 1824, NSW Governor Thomas Brisbane declared martial law following two years of conflict or 'gudyarra' (war) between Wiradyuri and colonists and their convict slaves in the Bathurst region.
This year the local Wiradyuri community of Bathurst has been welcoming people from all over the country to commemorate the 200th anniversary and Charles Sturt University is hosting a two-day conference Dhuluny (truth, rectitude, that which is direct, straight, living, or gospel) on August 15-16.
On Tuesday Dr Heiss was joined by Dinawan Dyirribang Uncle Bill Allen Jr to officially launch Dirrayawadha at Bathurst Library.
Dirrayawadha is a historical novel about resistance, resilience, and love during the Frontier Wars and tells a story of famed Wiradyuri warrior Windradyne.
The book is told through four points of view, ngurambang (the land), Windradyne, and two fictional characters, Miinaa (Windradyne's sister) and Irish convict Daniel O’Dwyer.
"The story essentially is told through a love story between the Irish convict and Miinaa, because I wanted to show that coexistence is possible if you respect and try and learn and understand another person's culture," Dr Heiss said.
"But I also wanted to show that we have an incredible connection with the Irish ...
"The term 'deadly' – we got that from the Irish ... there were hundreds of political convicts who were sent here because they participated in uprisings back home against British rule, against the fact that the Irish had become part of the British Parliament.
"And their story of uprisings and resistance and wanting to defy British rule is our story so I really wanted to bring Irish people into our story as well, and I hope that Irish readers get a better understanding of what our connections are."
Dr Heiss remembers reading the late Mary Coe's book Windradyne, a Wiradjuri Koori, when she was a student.
"I read for the first time about this incredible legend, leader, resistance fighter, this warrior who was strong in spirit and strong in mind, who led his people in resistance, fighting against the death of our sovereignty," she said.
"And then also led our people over the mountain ranges to Parramatta to try and find peace after years of bloodshed, unspeakable violence against our women and the ongoing displacement of our people ...
I wrote this book because I want Australians to know their history.
Dr Heiss believes that in order to move forward as a nation, we need to understand what happened in the past.
"We can't coexist peacefully without respecting, engaging and understanding what happened in the past, particularly here in Bathurst, because the proclamation of martial law here is what led to what then unfolded across the country," she said.
She also wants Australians to understand that throughout history Aboriginal people have either been misrepresented or not represented at all.
"I can't remember a time when we've been represented by non-Indigenous authors as loving human beings," she said.
"And we have loved on this land for millennia.
"We have loved as parents, we have loved as children.
"We have loved as siblings, extended kin. We have loved as companions, made love, known passion, but we never see that in the way that we are portrayed."
Dr Anita Heiss is an internationally published, award-winning author and editor of 23 books; non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial women’s fiction, children’s novels and anthologies.
Her novel, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, about the Great Flood of Gundagai, won the 2022 NSW Premier’s Indigenous Writers’ Prize.
Anita’s first children’s picture book is Bidhi Galing (Big Rain), also about the Great Flood of Gundagai.
