Reviewed by Richard Tutin
Stories tell us much about a nation’s identity. Having been passed down in oral or written forms, they help shape both where a nation has come from and where it is going.
The challenge is often to have these stories in a permanent form, so they are not forgotten. There have been many stories that have been lost because they were never fully recorded and those who often knew them by heart had died before they could pass them on to another generation.
Graham Seal has, through his many books, been able to ferret out stories about Australia and its people. Through the various collections he has assembled, he demonstrates the diversity of our land and those who have come to call it home.
In this collection of Australian stories Seal reminds us that Australia is an ancient land where people have lived, worked and played for over 60,000 years. The stories from the songlines of our First Nations people not only begin the book they also present a point of view that has often been lacking in similar collections.
The stories from the convict and squatter eras not only bring out the difficulties of living in an unfamiliar landscape but highlight with some force the treatment of First Nations communities when they either sought to defend their land or sought some form of reparation for the destruction of their food sources and animal habitat. Some of these stories may be hard to take in but are necessary if Australians are to have a better understanding of the difficult relations between our First Nations people and the rest of society.
As the book progresses, we are introduced to the resourcefulness of all who have had a chance to develop and use their skills for the betterment of society and themselves. As such Seal covers a wide and varied landscape especially in areas where Australians have featured in surprising ways. It was a revelation to find out that Australians were at the forefront in developing Wi-Fi, something that modern society these days takes for granted.
Stories about resilience and sacrifice are also found in this collection. They include the ANZAC stories and legends as well as how the first refugee boats from Vietnam were received and their occupants treated.
Like all collections, there are probably many that didn’t make the grade and so were not included. Even so Seal has given us a wide picture of the diverse nature of Australian society from its earliest beginnings when the first Songlines were started and developed to the present time where this nation features well alongside the other and often more powerful nations of the world.
Australia’s Greatest Stories is worth returning to after the first reading. It’s one of those books that reveals more as the reader takes the time to stop and think about the long journey Australians have taken over the centuries. It is a gentle reminder that the stories never stop coming and we are all charged with the responsibility of passing them on to future generations.
Graham Seal is Emeritus Professor of Folklore at Curtin University in Western Australia. He is a leading expert on Australian cultural history and the bestselling author of Great Australian Stories, Larrikins, Bush Tales and Other Great Australian Stories, Great Australian Journeys, Australia’s Funniest Yarns and Great Australian Mysteries.
Australia’s Greatest Stories
by Graham Seal
(2024)
Allen & Unwin
ISBN 9781761471131
$34.99; 328pp