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My Australian Story
Our Race For Reconciliation
Mel Gordon loves running and watching Seinfeld, but mostly she loves Cathy Freeman. It's 2000 and the Olympics are going to be held in Australia. In a year of surprises, Mel finds out that Cathy Freeman is coming to talk to her school. And her family is heading to Sydney! It becomes an unforgettably journey to Corroboree 2000, bringing together all Australians as they march and sing and celebrate Australia's indigenous heritage and also acknowledge past wrongs.
199 pages, Paperback
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About the author
Anita Heiss
39 books577 followersProfessor Anita Heiss – bio
Anita is a proud member of the Wiradjuri nation of central New South Wales, and is one of Australia’s most prolific and well-known authors, publishing across genres, including non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction and children’s novels.
Her adult fiction includes Not Meeting Mr Right, Avoiding Mr Right, Manhattan Dreaming, Paris Dreaming and Tiddas. Her most recent books include Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms which was longlisted for the Dublin International Literary Prize and was named the University of Canberra’s 2020 Book of the Year.
The anthology Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia which Anita edited, was named the Small Publisher Adult Book of the Year at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards.
Anita’s children’s literature includes Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic, co-written with Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin. She also wrote two kids’ novels with students from La Perouse Public School - Yirra and her deadly dog Demon and Demon Guards the School Yard, and more recently, Harry’s Secret and Matty’s Comeback.
Anita’s other published works also include the historical novel Who Am I? The Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937, non-fiction text Dhuuluu-Yala (To Talk Straight) – Publishing Aboriginal Literature, and The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, which she co-authored with Peter Minter.
In 2004 Anita was listed in The Bulletin magazine’s “Smart 100”. Her memoir Am I Black Enough for You? was a finalist in the 2012 Human Rights Awards and she was a finalist in the 2013 Australian of the Year Awards (Local Hero).
As an advocate for Indigenous literacy, Anita has worked in remote communities as a role model and encouraging young Indigenous Australians to write their own stories. On an international level she has performed her own work and lectured on Aboriginal literature across the globe at universities and conferences, consulates and embassies in the USA, Canada, the UK, Tahiti, Fiji, New Caledonia, Spain, Japan, Austria, Germany and New Zealand.
Anita is proud to be a Lifetime Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and an Ambassador of Worawa Aboriginal College, the GO Foundation and the Sydney Swans.
She is on the Board of the State Library of Queensland, CIRCA and the University of QLD Press. In 2019 Anita was appointed a Professor of Communications at the University of QLD and in 2020 is the Artist in Residence at La Boitte Theatre.
Anita’s website: www.anitaheiss.com
Storytime with Aunty Nita: https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/lib...
Anita is a proud member of the Wiradjuri nation of central New South Wales, and is one of Australia’s most prolific and well-known authors, publishing across genres, including non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction and children’s novels.
Her adult fiction includes Not Meeting Mr Right, Avoiding Mr Right, Manhattan Dreaming, Paris Dreaming and Tiddas. Her most recent books include Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms which was longlisted for the Dublin International Literary Prize and was named the University of Canberra’s 2020 Book of the Year.
The anthology Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia which Anita edited, was named the Small Publisher Adult Book of the Year at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards.
Anita’s children’s literature includes Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic, co-written with Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin. She also wrote two kids’ novels with students from La Perouse Public School - Yirra and her deadly dog Demon and Demon Guards the School Yard, and more recently, Harry’s Secret and Matty’s Comeback.
Anita’s other published works also include the historical novel Who Am I? The Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937, non-fiction text Dhuuluu-Yala (To Talk Straight) – Publishing Aboriginal Literature, and The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, which she co-authored with Peter Minter.
In 2004 Anita was listed in The Bulletin magazine’s “Smart 100”. Her memoir Am I Black Enough for You? was a finalist in the 2012 Human Rights Awards and she was a finalist in the 2013 Australian of the Year Awards (Local Hero).
As an advocate for Indigenous literacy, Anita has worked in remote communities as a role model and encouraging young Indigenous Australians to write their own stories. On an international level she has performed her own work and lectured on Aboriginal literature across the globe at universities and conferences, consulates and embassies in the USA, Canada, the UK, Tahiti, Fiji, New Caledonia, Spain, Japan, Austria, Germany and New Zealand.
Anita is proud to be a Lifetime Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and an Ambassador of Worawa Aboriginal College, the GO Foundation and the Sydney Swans.
She is on the Board of the State Library of Queensland, CIRCA and the University of QLD Press. In 2019 Anita was appointed a Professor of Communications at the University of QLD and in 2020 is the Artist in Residence at La Boitte Theatre.
Anita’s website: www.anitaheiss.com
Storytime with Aunty Nita: https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/lib...
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 21, 2020
Trigger warnings: racism, Stolen Generations.
This almost feels like two different stories that don't quite blend together. One is about a young Aboriginal girl learning about Aboriginal history and the ways that Aboriginal people have been abused and mistreated since the arrival of Europeans. And the other is the same young Aboriginal girl idolising Cathy Freeman in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics.
It's definitely an important story about Reconciliation and it does a good job of emphasising to its middle grade audience how recently these things were happening. Obviously I'm not the target audience for this, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt, but I just felt like I wanted SLIGHTLY more marrying of the two plotlines than I got.
This almost feels like two different stories that don't quite blend together. One is about a young Aboriginal girl learning about Aboriginal history and the ways that Aboriginal people have been abused and mistreated since the arrival of Europeans. And the other is the same young Aboriginal girl idolising Cathy Freeman in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics.
It's definitely an important story about Reconciliation and it does a good job of emphasising to its middle grade audience how recently these things were happening. Obviously I'm not the target audience for this, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt, but I just felt like I wanted SLIGHTLY more marrying of the two plotlines than I got.
February 14, 2024
This novel was ok, but overall left me wanting more. It covers some important topics, treatment of indigenous people, the need for reconciliation and the resistance of the government at the time, but often the information just felt a little forced, rather than natural.
What didn't feel forced were the descriptions of Mel and her family. Their family dynamic was wonderful and reminded me of my own childhood at times. Mel was pretty dramatic and OTT at times, but I guess that's the way kids are sometimes.
I thought the author did a good job with George, portraying that kid who is a little annoying, a little nasty, but stays under the radar of teachers (until the book week scene, then I thought they should have shown more of a consequence coming from the teacher).
Would be a good class read in the lead up to reconciliation week, or the Olympics like we have this year!
What didn't feel forced were the descriptions of Mel and her family. Their family dynamic was wonderful and reminded me of my own childhood at times. Mel was pretty dramatic and OTT at times, but I guess that's the way kids are sometimes.
I thought the author did a good job with George, portraying that kid who is a little annoying, a little nasty, but stays under the radar of teachers (until the book week scene, then I thought they should have shown more of a consequence coming from the teacher).
Would be a good class read in the lead up to reconciliation week, or the Olympics like we have this year!
July 10, 2025
a sweet book. nothing overly special imo but would assume that's in large part bc i'm just not the target audience - i think it’s a great book for younger kids and introducing them to first nations culture and key events. mel is such a fun character!
- trish is such a lovely friend (the letter she wrote to cathy?!, “we can be friends and like different things”) - i wish we’d gotten to know her more
- didn’t love the stuff about food/health at a few points, especially not in a book for kids (did like mel’s retort of food giving her protein etc)
- her mums wiseness - boring if the same team wins every week, losing will make them try harder next time
- learning about aboriginal culture in an easy to understand way for kids, addressing issues like racism, the stolen generation, and blackface; key events/places like bennelong point, the people’s march
- the importance of culture, community, and representation
- didn’t love the ending - feel it wasn’t wrapped up well - like the fainting and stuff lol
- “books are about having fun too, mel, and by crying over this you are taking the fun away from yourself”
- trish is such a lovely friend (the letter she wrote to cathy?!, “we can be friends and like different things”) - i wish we’d gotten to know her more
- didn’t love the stuff about food/health at a few points, especially not in a book for kids (did like mel’s retort of food giving her protein etc)
- her mums wiseness - boring if the same team wins every week, losing will make them try harder next time
- learning about aboriginal culture in an easy to understand way for kids, addressing issues like racism, the stolen generation, and blackface; key events/places like bennelong point, the people’s march
- the importance of culture, community, and representation
- didn’t love the ending - feel it wasn’t wrapped up well - like the fainting and stuff lol
- “books are about having fun too, mel, and by crying over this you are taking the fun away from yourself”
June 1, 2017
It is very timely as tickets go on sale for the Commonwealth Games to be reminded of the time in 2000 when Sydney hosted the Olympic Games. Our Race for Reconciliation, part of the My Australian Story series, follows the story of an Aboriginal family from Ipswich. After a trip to her school by Cathy Freeman Mel, who loves to run, and her twin brother Sam and parents go to Sydney to attend Corroboree 2000. While there they join the first People's Walk for Reconciliation – when 300,000 people walked across Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of reconciliation. Anita Heiss is a wonderful author and this text reinforces that we should look to our recent history and see how far we have come with reconciliation but also to acknowledge what still needs to be done.
Suitable for 9+ Indigenous themes, Olympic Games 2000, family, race relations.
Suitable for 9+ Indigenous themes, Olympic Games 2000, family, race relations.
July 11, 2017
Written in the first person, present tense the story unfolds in the year 2000, keeping the pace of the story (told from 12 year old Mel’s perspective) going through a year that was a focal point in 20th century Australian history and national identity.
Mel is just like most other 12 year old girls in the year 2000. With twin brother Sam, Mel goes to her local school in Ipswich. Her best friend is Trish, and her idol is an athlete.
But, what makes this story refreshing, thrilling and original is that Mel is a Murri girl, in the year 2000.
This is the story of a girl and her family, during an amazing year of recent Australian history. We follow her through all the usual primary school events like Athletic Carnivals, Book Week and NAIDOC Day. But, we also get to other famous places, events and people from an Indigenous perspective.
Mel is just like most other 12 year old girls in the year 2000. With twin brother Sam, Mel goes to her local school in Ipswich. Her best friend is Trish, and her idol is an athlete.
But, what makes this story refreshing, thrilling and original is that Mel is a Murri girl, in the year 2000.
This is the story of a girl and her family, during an amazing year of recent Australian history. We follow her through all the usual primary school events like Athletic Carnivals, Book Week and NAIDOC Day. But, we also get to other famous places, events and people from an Indigenous perspective.
July 15, 2017
A great read! The book examines the long-lasting and intergeneration effects of issues within indigenous community ushc as the Stolen Generations, set around the Sydney 2000 Olympics. The protagonist Mel is warm, funny and engaging, and some difficult topics are made accessible to younger readers.
My 9yo liked it because it was good and Mel had her goals and her dreams and a very good setback. He recommends it to other people.
My 9yo liked it because it was good and Mel had her goals and her dreams and a very good setback. He recommends it to other people.
November 10, 2023
A fantastic book for Grades 5 and 6. Anita Heiss writes about historical events in a way that is accessible to students.
As a teacher, I also enjoyed reading this because it reminded me of the Year 2000 and experiencing some of those events.
As a teacher, I also enjoyed reading this because it reminded me of the Year 2000 and experiencing some of those events.
July 15, 2019
More like 3 1/2 stars
June 27, 2020
What a great snippet of Australian history told with great characters that have really gotten amongst it ❤️🖤💛
July 16, 2020
Thanks to Scholastic aus for a review copy. Review will be on my Instagram
December 31, 2020
Such an interesting story, and well-written
December 12, 2023
Representation: First Australian character
Trigger warnings: Racism
Score: Six points out of ten.
After reading a quite a realistic book to say the least I was hoping that I would enjoy this historical/realistic book and I keep coming back to this genre with mixed results and though I enjoyed this I just wanted more from it, like something was missing from it that made me drop this to 3 stars, where do I begin. It starts off with the main character Mel Gordon who is a First Australian living her normal life in the year 2000 when the Sydney Olympics were just around the corner. Also only a few pages later Cathy Freeman comes to her school and she wants to be an athlete in the future and that was a nice part of the book however there are a few things she has to do first. The story takes a turn when it mentions the Stolen Generations and how Australia still has to reconcile for what they did to First Australians and that was a nice message but I felt that was a bit disjointed and the book couldn't decide whether it was about racism or athletes but as far as I know it's both which I struggle to wrap my head around. In the end there was a character who said racist things to Mel and they were called out for it and that ends the book which is quite a mixed bag. On the plus side it's authentic so there's that.
Trigger warnings: Racism
Score: Six points out of ten.
After reading a quite a realistic book to say the least I was hoping that I would enjoy this historical/realistic book and I keep coming back to this genre with mixed results and though I enjoyed this I just wanted more from it, like something was missing from it that made me drop this to 3 stars, where do I begin. It starts off with the main character Mel Gordon who is a First Australian living her normal life in the year 2000 when the Sydney Olympics were just around the corner. Also only a few pages later Cathy Freeman comes to her school and she wants to be an athlete in the future and that was a nice part of the book however there are a few things she has to do first. The story takes a turn when it mentions the Stolen Generations and how Australia still has to reconcile for what they did to First Australians and that was a nice message but I felt that was a bit disjointed and the book couldn't decide whether it was about racism or athletes but as far as I know it's both which I struggle to wrap my head around. In the end there was a character who said racist things to Mel and they were called out for it and that ends the book which is quite a mixed bag. On the plus side it's authentic so there's that.
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May 31, 2017Uncorrected proof reviewed for Magpies magazine. Title is Our Race for Reconciliation.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews