ROSETTA Books Maleny hosted the Hinterland launch of ‘Know Their Names’ by former resident Lesley Synge on Monday October 18. A much-published poet and fiction writer, Lesley’s latest work is a vital piece of Queensland history.
“I can’t really explain why I dedicated three years of my life to researching this story about the Aboriginal workforce that bred horses for Queensland Police,” Lesley reflected during her informative presentation in the Maleny Community Centre.
“Somehow in Brisbane, when I was writing book reviews for The CourierMail, I read about a horse stud staffed by Aboriginal workers and it grabbed me and wouldn’t let go.” she said. “I discovered the men’s names were barely mentioned in state government archives but I kept digging.
“By amalgamating information from the lean sources available, I realised that they were probably the most skilled stockmen in Queensland in the early 20th century.” Helping Lesley to achieve her goal, were two Hinterland locals.
Elsie Brimblecombe and Steven Moriarty. “Without their unwavering encouragement, I couldn’t have rescued this extraordinary story.” acknowledged the author. Know Their Names is available at Rosetta Books Maleny, RRP $40.
