Bruce Pascoe and Lyn Harwood will be in conversation with Bill Gammage on their new book, Black Duck . A Year at Yumburra , a personal reflection on life, Country and the consequences of Dark Emu through six seasons on Bruce Pascoe’s farm.

From the bestselling author Bruce Pascoe comes a deeply personal story about the consequences and responsibility of disrupting Australia’s history. When Dark Emu was adopted by Australia like a new anthem, Bruce found himself at the centre of a national debate that often focussed on the wrong part of the story. But through all the noise came Black Duck Foods, a blueprint for traditional food growing and land management processes based on very old practices.

Bruce Pascoe and Lyn Harwood invite us to imagine a different future for Australia, one where we can honour our relationship with nature and improve agriculture and forestry. Where we can develop a uniquely Australian cuisine that will reduce carbon emissions, preserve scarce water resources and rebuild our soil. Bruce and Lyn show us that you don’t just work Country, you look, listen and care. It’s not Black Duck magic, it’s the result of simply treating Australia like herself.

From the aftermath of devastating bushfires and the impact of an elder’s death to rebuilding a marriage and counting the personal cost of starting a movement, Black Duck is a remarkable glimpse into a year of finding strength in Country at Yumburra.

Bruce Pascoe, a Bunurong man, has published 36 books including Dark Emu which has sold over 400,000 copies and won the NSW Premier's Award for Literature in 2016 and Young Dark Emu which won the both the Booksellers Association Prize and the CBCA Non-fiction award in 2020. He is Enterprise Professor, Indigenous Agriculture School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, a Board Member of First Languages Australia, Black Duck Foods and Twofold Aboriginal Corporation.

Lyn Harwood has worked as a teacher, a dancer, an editor, a publisher and an artist. She is a director on the Board of Black Duck Foods, promoting Indigenous food agriculture. Lyn has instigated a community-based fuel management practice for the Mallacoota township. She feels that the country has much to teach us about proper care.

Emeritus Professor Bill Gammage AM, FASSA is an Australian academic historian and senior research fellow at the Humanities Research Centre of the Australian National University. His books include The Biggest Estate on Earth (2011), which won seven prizes, including the Prime Minister's Prize for Australian History and the Victorian Prize for Literature. And with Bruce Pascoe, Country (2021).

The vote of thanks will be given by Tim Hollo, Executive Director of the Green Institute.

This event is in association with Harry Hartog Bookshop. Books will be available for purchase on the evening in the Cultural Centre foyer. Pre-event book signings will be available from 5.30pm and again after the event.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

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A podcast will be made available after the event.
Symposium by University House Wine bar (Shop 13, 152 University Avenue, Acton, which is just next to the Kambri cultural centre) will now be open for dining after meet the author events. Food and wine details at https://unihouse.anu.edu.au/eat/symposium/. No bookings necessary.
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