Life on the Hawkesbury River, from the 1880s to the 1960s, is vividly portrayed in this second edition of Jean Purtell’s 1982 book. Based on her Macquarie Towns Review and Hawkesbury Gazette articles, it has been expanded through more archival newspaper research and further interviews with local residents. The development and decline of the riverboat trade and changes to farming and community life are described, providing the reader with a colourful account of days long past and now largely forgotten. Further details about local people, early school days, housing and road workers are included and new sections cover the early days at Freemans Reach and their floodboat, the local musicians and dance bands, and early motor cycling.

Jean Purtell is well known to Hawkesbury River enthusiasts through her books The Hawkesbury River Traders (1988) and The Mosquito Fleet (1995). A long-time resident of the Windsor district, she ‘retired’ with her husband Barry, to Stockton in 1988. Jean became a foundation member of the Stockton Historical Society and, with co-author Ross Craig, wrote and produced the Society’s quarterly magazine from April 1996 to July 2008. In 2006 Jean was awarded a Certificate of Achievement from the Royal Australian Historical Society. Following Barry’s death in early 2008 Jean moved back to live in Richmond where she actively pursues her interest in local history.

This book will appeal to local residents, family historians, boating enthusiasts and everyone with an interest in the Hawkesbury River and its fascinating past.

This work is based on ten interviews with Aboriginal people who have lived or worked in the Hornsby Shire. Their histories and ideas are diverse as are their backgrounds. Some knew of the Aboriginality from birth. For others, it has been a journey of discovery. The basic idea for the work was to record and preserve some of these stories and to help others understand their journey. The people interviewed generously gave their stories to a non-Indigenous historian, Dr Annette Salt. Each interview was a conversation between two people but in many ways was also an act of reconciliation. The book covers the individual histories and also brings together various views on a number of themes that emerged from the interviews.

Annette Salt is a practising professional historian who has worked in a range of historical areas. Currently, her specific field is Australian public history and she is an Associate of the Australian Centre for Public History at the University of Technology, Sydney. She has a particular interest in Aboriginal history and in the ideology and application of reconciliation.

The individual histories include those of Aunty Edna Watson, Joan Bourke, Terry Chenery, Adam Cryer, Gwen Fazio, Angel John Gallard, Carolyn Gamble, Emma Hicks, Bonita Leahy, and Merrilee McNaught. The thematic history section covers: Lest We Forget – Aborigines at War; The Impact of the Stolen Generation’s Experience; Steps Forward? Official Policy; Small Steps Forward - the Hornsby Example; and The Way Forward.

This book is a valuable contribution to Aboriginal writings and will have wide appeal to those of Aboriginal descent and to everyone with an interest in Aboriginal views and reconciliation.