Voices Under a Ghost Gum (Paperback)
Australian society is egalitarian in its nature where all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities despite the classes within it.
However, equal rights and opportunities have to be fought for.
When a Parliament is dominated and controlled by vested interest it means legislation is made to suit their needs. It has never been more evident than in outback Queensland during the 1880-90s. The Parliament was dominated by squatters, graziers and pastoralists. Legislation was passed in their interests. One man one vote didn't apply, working people had little say in the Legislative Assembly and eventually something had to give.
Those working people rose up and organised their way into Parliament and then to Government in their fight for equal rights and opportunities.
The outback town of Barcaldine was at the centre of it all and, because of it, now has its place in labour movement history.
Voices Under a Ghost Gum tells that story.
The Author:
Ken Purdham, B.A. History & Politics, is the Electrical Trades Union, Vic Branch historian who specialises in labour history and has written a number of books, essays and labour history articles. Books include, Challenge of Change, By the Banks of a Glass River, Sparkies at war. Stories and essays can be found on Kenpurdham.com.
