NON-FICTION
The Grand Experiment

Released in April 2007 by Hachette Livre Australia.
Buy the book.

Shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards (Grollo Ruzzene Foundation Prize for Writing about Italians in Australia)

Longlisted for the Vogel Literary Awards.

Two boys travel three continents to follow one monk's dream, in this untold story from Australia's colonial history.

In 1848, the Spanish missionary Rosendo Salvado, founder of New Norcia Monastery in Western Australia, had an idea. He would prove that Aboriginal people could be educated and 'civilised', by taking two Nyungar boys to be schooled in Europe.

And so it was that Conaci, aged seven, and Dirimera, aged ten, left their tribe to travel by sea to the racially-divided colony of South Africa, Ireland at the beginning of their nationalist uprising, the United Kingdom in the midst of its industrial revolution, France ravaged by civil war and finally entered a monastery in Naples.

The Grand Experiment is a remarkable - and timely - book. It is a colourful detective story of research through libraries and archives across the world, and very much a beginning of the 'stolen generations' story.

EVENTS

ANTaR National Congress
National Museum of Australia, Canberra, ACT
Saturday 13 October 12.30-1.00pm

Warm Winter Words Festival
Krambruck Room, Apollo Bay Hotel, Apollo Bay, VIC
Sunday 5 August 2.00pm-4.00pm

New Voices Festival
St Margaret's Church Hall, Pitt St, Eltham
Sunday 8 July 2.45pm-4.00pm

Author Signing, Angus and Robertson
Angus and Robertson, Innaloo Shopping Centre, Innaloo WA
Saturday 26 May, 11.30am-1.00pm

The Grand Experiment launch
Readings Carlton, Lygon St, Carlton VIC
Monday 7 May 6.30pm-8.00pm

Past Matters Festival
Eltham Bookshop, 970 Main Rd, Eltham VIC
Monday 30 April 6.30pm-8.00pm