Intro Foreword Preface

(This book) "is about celebrating the story of Tasmania's landscapes and environments. Without an Aboriginal sense of belonging to Country Undersong would not be as powerful." Dr Aunty Patsy Cameron AO

DAWN

"I wanted to track back and learn how people lived in the Tasmanian river valley I called home". Hilary Burden

LAND

"Land laws especially usually served to conform what had been done illegally". Eric Rolls.

BUSH

"Blackbirds and superb fairy wrens chirrup in the rhododendron bushes. Yellow wattlebirds guard the gums....... ( I can imagine) how much time the old people had to consider the beauty of the world" Hilary Burden

TRACK

"... why take that path, not this? .....I considered the journeys ventured on by colonists who crossed country in all weather, made tracks, followed Aboriginal paths, wallaby and cattle tracks" Hilary Burden.

COAST

"...through at least two ice ages, northwest people travelled back and forth along the coast from Table Cape to Macquarie Harbour ..... making the most of seasonal food supplies..."  Hilary Burden

LAKE

"...tough mountain gums dominated the horizon above the deeper green of banksia and leatherwood. We made our descent and there, after a day of walking, we finally saw a glimpse of the crystal waters of Lake Malbena." Hilary Burden.

FOOD

"They lived chiefly on animal food; the kangaroo, the wallaby, bandicoot....the wombat, nearly every bird and bird's egg ... near the sea, cray-fish and shell-fish ....". Rev. Francis Nixon.

GRASS

"A couple of acres of grass and its seasonal growing patterns had taught me so much about my relationship with the natural world." Hilary Burden.

DUSK & Thanks

"The temperature drops as the sun disappears below the tier, an orchestra of crickets softens and kookaburras steady their laughter for the night....". Hilary Burden.