Once part of the library of the Coburg West State School, Melbourne , this well worn 1929 book, published by the Government Printer , 260pp, profusely illustrated , with extensive notes and explanations, recently found in Darwin , still contains the borrower's card bearing the identification number, 6B 468.
It was the first volume in a series designed to take young readers to various parts of the British Empire, Europe and the United States to gain a knowledge of their rich heritage and a well founded pride of race.
In the preface, teachers were advised that the inculcation of sound morality was always to be kept in view, along with support to create a feeling against international strife and the implanting of a desire for world-wide toleration, an obvious aim not long after WWl , the Depression about to hit .
One of the many poets featured in the book was George Essex Evans (1863-1909) , of Welsh descent, born in London, who became a prominent literary and sporting figure in Queensland , there being a monument to him in Toowoomba . He is shown below with his poem about Australia's nation builders in the book.
Other poems of his within were about women who went out west ; An Australian Symphony which evoked the countryside with mention of sunlit plains, mangroves , the Curlew's melancholy call, campfires , illustrated with a drawing of gum trees on a creek ; the last literary item in the book, a short piece, A Poet's Song, was followed by a sprig of wattle overprinted THE END.
There are several illustrated pieces related to Aborigines , including Henry Kendall's poem , The Last of His Tribe. .
The ANZACS were covered in illustrated articles and a short poem .
There was a plea for Australian Federation in two poems . part of one penned by William Gay in 1894 below ,the last line sounding like girt by sea .
There was a map showing the first flight from England to Australia in 1919 by Ross and Keith Smith, 11,060 miles to Darwin , with mechanics James Bennett and Wally Shiers, along with the following first aerial post carried aboard their modified Vickers Vimy bomber .
Other subjects covered included early New Zealand , India , Lincoln and the Gettysburg speech , a Queensland jungle, Central Australia. C. J. Dennis, mentioned recently in this blog, wrote about timber workers .
