Bücher von Paul Dillon

Dillon's latest book investigates, with keen attention to detail, colonial Queensland's role in the development of British New Guinea. It reveals the rising importance of Torres Strait and its international steamship traffic, the contest with Germany in 1883 for the easterly or non-Dutch portion of New Guinea and the attractive islands of New Britain and New Ireland. Without the determination of Queensland, Britain would never have set up a government house at Port Moresby in 1888. Dillon reminds us that, in the eyes of some major politicians, the nearer parts of New Guinea were almost as essential as Tasmania. In essence, "New Guinea and the adjacent groups of Pacific Islands must form part of the future Australian nation."It is especially Dillon's skill in weighing evidence, and in cross-examining long-dead witnesses, that makes him a historian worth reading. That he ventures into new territory is a bonus.-- Geoffrey Blainey, from the Foreword.Paul Dillon is a Sunshine Coast-based author of Frederick Walker, Commandant of the Native Police and many other titles. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Australian National University. Paul joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1965. On 23 May 1986, he was called to the Bar of New South Wales and practised as a barrister in the Criminal Division of the superior courts of Queensland as counsel for the defence.

Bêche-de-mer is an edible sea creature used to make soup. These primitive sea creatures are a popular food in several Asian cultures, especially Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese cuisines. During the colonial period of Queensland's history, Aboriginals were employed to harvest the animals at low tide amongst the coral reefs of Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef. Many hands were required to hunt the exposed reefs and shoals, to wade the rock pools and dive the shallow waters of the fringing reefs.After a day of harvesting the animals, the work parties would return to the employer's bêche-de-mer station, located on the nearest island, and begin the equally labour-intensive process of bringing the product to a marketable condition so that it might be sold in Hong Kong.These island work camps or "sit-down country" proved to be locations of dissatisfaction where the Aboriginal workforce would, it appears, acutely experience or develop an intense feeling of isolation and disgruntlement through pining and fretting for their tribal country. Consequently, the imperative to return to their tribal haunts and habitats, drove them on occasion to steal vessels and even to murder their overseers. Employing Aboriginals or Binghis, as they were known, proved to be a challenging task knowing that their unpredictability might at any time lead to an outburst of violence, which would not only terminate the contract of labour but also the life of the employer.

This book is an attempt to tell that story as best one can with the information that still exists. It's a simple story but the problem nowadays is by what yardstick should it be told. Should we see it as the loss of a pioneer attempting to settle the Australian outback, attempting to advance Australia. Or is the real story the relentless march of the white man's livestock trampling the flora and fauna and encroaching on koori country. Who should come first the wool or the environment? John Dowling had a job to do. He never expected to be killed in carrying out the ambitions and aspirations of the white citizens of Queensland. On the other hand, the intrusion of foreign squatters onto the fields and streams of the outback has left a lasting trail of regret in the minds of some.

Each day and night a magical musical symphony is performed under the stars, the sun, and the moon.Each of the animals in the Balbirooroo wetland has a different voice and sound to make in their mysterious orchestra. Every day Sticky Webster, the symphony conductor, weave's a spider's web for each animal in her old gum tree. In the morning the sparkling dew drops settle on each web, and they become the musical notes that each animal is to sing in their part of the symphony.But...... the symphony is suddenly silenced when the oldest frog in the wetland The Balbirooroo Guru informs all the creatures that their water has been poisoned and all of the Pobblebonk frogs have left. Can Five girl's a nosy blue dragonfly, a banjo playing cockatoo, and a young hero frog called Kobi save the Balbirooroo wetland and the symphony........... If not it could even reach you humans too!!'' Wow, that story would make a great film" Yusuf {Cat Stevens}