Cleared Out: First Contact in the Western Desert by Sue Davenport, Peter Johnson and Yuwali

Book Description

Secondhand. Good condition. Wear to book corners and edges. Corners are now protected with book tape. Interior and binding are still very good.

In 1964, a group of twenty Aboriginal women and children in the Western Desert made their first contact with European Australians - patrol officers from the Woomera Rocket Range, clearing an area into which rockets were to be fired.

They had been pursued by the patrol officers for several weeks, running from this frightening new force in the desert. Yuwali, 17 at the time, remembers every detail of the drama - first seeing these 'devils' and their 'rocks that moved', escaping the strange intruders.

Her sharp recollections are complemented in a three-part diary of the 'chase' by the colourful official reports of the patrol. These reflect a similar drama - arguments within Government about the treatment of desert inhabitants and public scepticism about the Government's intent.

Yuwali's story also resonates in today's debate about the future of many Indigenous desert communities. Cleared Out combines three oral histories, detailed archival research, a wealth of photographs, and rare film footage from the patrol. One extraordinary episode reveals the multiple perspectives on the moment of contact.

Line drawn maps and black & white illustrations complement the text.