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The Ballad of Abdul Wade
When Afghan entrepreneur Abdul Wade first brought his camel trains to the outback, he was hailed as a hero. Horses couldn t access many remote settlements, especially those stricken by flood or drought, and camel trains rode to the rescue time and time again.
But with success came fierce opposition fuelled by prejudice. The camel was not even classed as an animal under Australian law, and in a climate of colonial misinformation, hyperbole and fear, camel drivers like Wade were shown almost as little respect. Yet all the while, for those in need, the ships of the desert continued to appear on the outback horizon.
After his interest was piqued by a 19th-century photo of a camel train in a country town, Ryan Butta soon found himself on the trail of Australia's earliest Afghan camel drivers. Separating the bulldust from the bush poetry, he reveals the breadth and depth of white Australian protectionism and prejudice. Told with flair and authority, this gritty alternative history defies the standard horse-powered folklore to reveal the untold debt this country owes to the humble dromedary, its drivers and those who brought them here.
But with success came fierce opposition fuelled by prejudice. The camel was not even classed as an animal under Australian law, and in a climate of colonial misinformation, hyperbole and fear, camel drivers like Wade were shown almost as little respect. Yet all the while, for those in need, the ships of the desert continued to appear on the outback horizon.
After his interest was piqued by a 19th-century photo of a camel train in a country town, Ryan Butta soon found himself on the trail of Australia's earliest Afghan camel drivers. Separating the bulldust from the bush poetry, he reveals the breadth and depth of white Australian protectionism and prejudice. Told with flair and authority, this gritty alternative history defies the standard horse-powered folklore to reveal the untold debt this country owes to the humble dromedary, its drivers and those who brought them here.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2022
17 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Butta
6 books12 followersAfter starting out life on the opal fields of western NSW, Ryan was raised among the vineyards and horse studs of the Hunter Valley. His first work of historical non-fiction, The Ballad of Abdul Wade, recounted the previously untold story of the Afghan men that came to Australia in the1800s to work in the mining and wool industries. The Ballad of Abdul Wade was longlisted for the Indie Book Awards non-fiction book of the year for 2023. Ryan's latest work, The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli, retells the remarkable life story of Harry Freame, a Japanese-Australian adventurer, soldier of fortune, Anzac, orchardist and spy.
Ryan's feature writing has appeared in the Good Weekend Magazine and he is a regular contributor to Galah Press, writing about the people and places of regional Australia. Ryan’s works of historical non-fiction look to reveal and understand the hidden and forgotten stories of Australia and the Australians who, like his own family, came across the seas to make their home here. Ryan believes that only by dismantling the myths of the past can we build the country of the future. Ryan now lives on Dharawal country on the NSW South Coast.
Ryan's feature writing has appeared in the Good Weekend Magazine and he is a regular contributor to Galah Press, writing about the people and places of regional Australia. Ryan’s works of historical non-fiction look to reveal and understand the hidden and forgotten stories of Australia and the Australians who, like his own family, came across the seas to make their home here. Ryan believes that only by dismantling the myths of the past can we build the country of the future. Ryan now lives on Dharawal country on the NSW South Coast.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 20, 2022
My knowledge of Australian history has been turned upside down thanks to The Ballad of Abdul Wade – and I’m grateful for that.
“If Australia is looking for a migrant success story, then look no further than Abdul Wade.”
The book tells the story of pioneering Afghan cameleers who delivered essential goods and services to many Australian settlements – even saving numerous towns from starvation when no one else was willing (or able) to reach them.
“The services that his business provided were the lifeblood of two of the most important sectors of the colonial economies: mining and agricultural production, particularly wool.”
While it’s a story focused on unsung heroes (like Abdul Wade and Gunny Khan), it’s as much about Australia’s identity and issues which continue to plague our culture. It's impeccably researched by Ryan Butta; the result of four years work, on-the-ground visits and a broken-down Barina. I have never been to the regions featured, yet his vivid descriptions of the landscape instantly transported me there.
“On the far bank, a river gum had fallen into the water, and a pair of black cockatoos had landed on it, wanting a drink. They edged down the trunk, dipping their heads nervously, like two officers approaching a suspicious package.”
Ryan knows how to paint a picture with words. The book also has one of the best opening lines I’ve read. An impressive amount of research has gone into bringing Abdul Wade and his fellow cameleers to life. Despite this, it sometimes felt like I was reading a bunch of newspaper clippings and ‘letters to the editor’ – though this also helped create an intimacy, as if the likes of Abdul Wade and Gunny Khan were telling me their stories directly.
“Abdul Wade. Philosopher, political economist, chancer. With agates the size of Uluru.”
I struggled with depictions of violence towards animals. Thankfully, Ryan also shared the story of John Horrocks, an explorer, who was fatally shot in 1846 by his own camel named Harry! The included pictures were great at depicting people and places, with the map particularly invaluable and something I referred to multiple times.
I felt angry while reading about origins of the White Australia Policy, and beyond frustrated that the injustice and persecution experienced by Abdul Wade and his fellow countrymen is still being experienced by so many in modern day Australia. It was impossible not to get behind the Afghan cameleers and feel invested in their plight. The Ballad of Abdul Wade is a powerful rewriting of the history books.
“It is impossible to simultaneously know the story of Gunny Khan and Abdul Wade and accept the version of Australian identity as depicted by Lawson and Bean.”
It got me questioning the version of Australian history I was taught in school. I now feel inspired to seek out and learn about the other Abdul Wades of Australian history.
“Despite the ridicule, despite the persecution, Wade succeeded. Over and over again he succeeded, and that should not be forgotten.”
Because of this book, I’ll be sure to never forget the important role that Afghan people played in Australia’s history.
Many thanks to the author who gifted me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
“If Australia is looking for a migrant success story, then look no further than Abdul Wade.”
The book tells the story of pioneering Afghan cameleers who delivered essential goods and services to many Australian settlements – even saving numerous towns from starvation when no one else was willing (or able) to reach them.
“The services that his business provided were the lifeblood of two of the most important sectors of the colonial economies: mining and agricultural production, particularly wool.”
While it’s a story focused on unsung heroes (like Abdul Wade and Gunny Khan), it’s as much about Australia’s identity and issues which continue to plague our culture. It's impeccably researched by Ryan Butta; the result of four years work, on-the-ground visits and a broken-down Barina. I have never been to the regions featured, yet his vivid descriptions of the landscape instantly transported me there.
“On the far bank, a river gum had fallen into the water, and a pair of black cockatoos had landed on it, wanting a drink. They edged down the trunk, dipping their heads nervously, like two officers approaching a suspicious package.”
Ryan knows how to paint a picture with words. The book also has one of the best opening lines I’ve read. An impressive amount of research has gone into bringing Abdul Wade and his fellow cameleers to life. Despite this, it sometimes felt like I was reading a bunch of newspaper clippings and ‘letters to the editor’ – though this also helped create an intimacy, as if the likes of Abdul Wade and Gunny Khan were telling me their stories directly.
“Abdul Wade. Philosopher, political economist, chancer. With agates the size of Uluru.”
I struggled with depictions of violence towards animals. Thankfully, Ryan also shared the story of John Horrocks, an explorer, who was fatally shot in 1846 by his own camel named Harry! The included pictures were great at depicting people and places, with the map particularly invaluable and something I referred to multiple times.
I felt angry while reading about origins of the White Australia Policy, and beyond frustrated that the injustice and persecution experienced by Abdul Wade and his fellow countrymen is still being experienced by so many in modern day Australia. It was impossible not to get behind the Afghan cameleers and feel invested in their plight. The Ballad of Abdul Wade is a powerful rewriting of the history books.
“It is impossible to simultaneously know the story of Gunny Khan and Abdul Wade and accept the version of Australian identity as depicted by Lawson and Bean.”
It got me questioning the version of Australian history I was taught in school. I now feel inspired to seek out and learn about the other Abdul Wades of Australian history.
“Despite the ridicule, despite the persecution, Wade succeeded. Over and over again he succeeded, and that should not be forgotten.”
Because of this book, I’ll be sure to never forget the important role that Afghan people played in Australia’s history.
Many thanks to the author who gifted me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2022
I've always had great admiration for the Afghan camel drivers and their long-suffering camels. With the homesteads in outback Australia not seeing another person from one week to the next, and often just the wife and children at home, the arrival of the camel and all they carried would have been a boon for them. From trinkets, cottons and threads, to food and drink and much more, they were a lifeline for the outback community in the turn of the century - late 1800s to early 1900s.
With The Ballad of Abdul Wade by Aussie author Ryan Butta, I've learned much more and the story of Abdul Wade and his cousin Gunny Khan was a poignant and interesting one. For Abdul, who arrived in Australia from Afghanistan when he was sixteen in the 1890s, belonging in Australia, marrying and having children and becoming an Australian citizen - forty years in Australia and he was still seeing prejudice and racist vilification. Abdul's work with his many camels in and around Bourke was well known, but much was against him and his fellow Afghan compatriots. It was and is shameful.
This book shows impeccable research by the author, and he himself says it took four years, with many trips to Bourke in his battered old Barina (an inappropriate method of travel I would have thought!) The camel isn't attractive, they spit and are the worst animal to mount - but they - and their owners - are owed a debt of gratitude. Recommended.
With thanks to the author for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
With The Ballad of Abdul Wade by Aussie author Ryan Butta, I've learned much more and the story of Abdul Wade and his cousin Gunny Khan was a poignant and interesting one. For Abdul, who arrived in Australia from Afghanistan when he was sixteen in the 1890s, belonging in Australia, marrying and having children and becoming an Australian citizen - forty years in Australia and he was still seeing prejudice and racist vilification. Abdul's work with his many camels in and around Bourke was well known, but much was against him and his fellow Afghan compatriots. It was and is shameful.
This book shows impeccable research by the author, and he himself says it took four years, with many trips to Bourke in his battered old Barina (an inappropriate method of travel I would have thought!) The camel isn't attractive, they spit and are the worst animal to mount - but they - and their owners - are owed a debt of gratitude. Recommended.
With thanks to the author for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2022
A thoroughly-researched and fascinating journey into the history of cameleers in Australia, with lessons for today about the origins of the white Australia policy.
Far from a dry history, this is an entertaining account, infused with the author's humour and personal experiences on his quest to know and understand the fascinating Mr Abdul Wahid and his peers.
Thoroughly recommend.
Far from a dry history, this is an entertaining account, infused with the author's humour and personal experiences on his quest to know and understand the fascinating Mr Abdul Wahid and his peers.
Thoroughly recommend.
March 15, 2023
A stunningly powerful read
The research behind this drops a massive series of bombs onto the sanitised and very white centric history touted in this country. It should and I am sure will make you itch and squirm as you contemplate the stories about many of our founding fathers and storytellers.
I am sure there will be screams of rage from parts of the population if they have the courage to read it. I know it has made me painfully aware of how comfortably and complacently I have adopted many of the founding truths I have been taught.
The focus is largely upon the folk who became known as the Afghan camel drivers and the way the ethos of fair-go and equality for all was dealt out to them but also touches on the plight of the Chinese settlers and the Aboriginal peoples.
The research behind this drops a massive series of bombs onto the sanitised and very white centric history touted in this country. It should and I am sure will make you itch and squirm as you contemplate the stories about many of our founding fathers and storytellers.
I am sure there will be screams of rage from parts of the population if they have the courage to read it. I know it has made me painfully aware of how comfortably and complacently I have adopted many of the founding truths I have been taught.
The focus is largely upon the folk who became known as the Afghan camel drivers and the way the ethos of fair-go and equality for all was dealt out to them but also touches on the plight of the Chinese settlers and the Aboriginal peoples.
Read
August 15, 2022An excellent read. It was an education to learn about the Cameleers in Australia in the late 1800s. It also shone a light on how the White Australia Policy developed. I will visit Bourke with a whole new perspective about the town's history which helped shape the political attitudes toward the Migration Act when Federation was formed in 1901.
November 24, 2022
Author Ryan Butta tells of a hidden side of Australia's history, and its not a pretty one. Abdul Wade, the hero of his book, was an Afghan camaleer who provided essential transport in many areas of inland Australia, from Bourke to Queensland and West to the newly established goldfields. He was well educated and very smart, but he and his countrymen suffered from the worst form of racial prejudice, even to the point that murderers of Afghans got off scot free and their acquital was cheered by the locals. The shearers and the carriers unions led the charge against the Afghans and would not allow them to join the union and their applications were refused. I won't go through all the details (you'll have to read that for yourself) except like me you'll probably be surprised that this situation has been covered up for so long. My only feeling was one of anger at the bias and stupidity of the Australians from this generation and admiration for the Afghanis for their patience and particularly in the case of Abdul Wade, my admiration for him being such a clever man who was able to use the system successfully. I am also pleased that this appalling racial prejudice is now behind us, although I am still far from pleased at our refugee immigration policies and believe we still have a good way to go.
November 20, 2023
This book starts out with a spark of curiosity about the history of camels in outback Australia but builds, through great detective work, into a very human story of the impact of the White Australia policy on people who deserved to be treated much better.
This is not a dry historical read but a great tale as we follow the author on his trail to discover the truth … and correct the record.
This is not a dry historical read but a great tale as we follow the author on his trail to discover the truth … and correct the record.
November 20, 2022
I couldn't put this book down. An incredible account of history and the Afgan camel people in Bourke and beyond. An amazing record of this time and camels that were used to rescue many areas where horses and bullock teams were unable to go. A must read for everyone
September 24, 2022
Cameleers in Australia, were camel drivers who worked in Outback Australia from the 1860s to the 1930s. They serviced the Australian wool and mining industries by carting goods and transporting items by camel trains.They were commonly referred to as "Afghans", even though a lot of them originated from British India, primarily Balochistan and the NWFP (now Pakistan),Egypt and Turkey. Nonetheless, many were from Afghanistan itself as well.The majority of cameleers, including cameleers from British India, were Muslim, while a sizeable minority were Sikhs from the Punjab region.They provided vital support to exploration, communications and settlement in the arid interior of the country.They also played a major role in establishing Islam in Australia, building mosques in SA and WA.
Before the building of railways and the widespread adoption of motor vehicles, camels were the primary means of transporting goods in the Outback,where the climate was too harsh for horses and other beasts of burden. The camels hauled the supplies and their handlers erected fences, acted as guides for several major expeditions, and supplied almost every inland mine or station with its goods and services.
The majority of cameleers arrived in Australia alone, leaving families behind, to work on 3-yr contracts. They eventually lived in "Ghantowns" near existing settlements.
During the Federation Drought, which devastated eastern Australia from 1895-1902, the camels and their drivers were indispensable.Those who had dealings with the Afghans often vouched for them,however, prejudice arose due to cultural differences, fear of the unknown,and jealousy because of their success as it created competition with union teamsters, so discriminatory legislation was introduced by the government in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The cameleers added immense value to Australia than they ever hoped to take from it. Notable cameleers were Abdul Wade, Gunny Khan, Dost Mahomet, Dost Mahomed, Faiz Mahomet, Gool Mahomet, Fuzzly Ahmed, Haji Mulla Merban, and Dervish Bejah.
They were enterprising, persistent and principled. There's nothing like the bonds between human and animal.
Before the building of railways and the widespread adoption of motor vehicles, camels were the primary means of transporting goods in the Outback,where the climate was too harsh for horses and other beasts of burden. The camels hauled the supplies and their handlers erected fences, acted as guides for several major expeditions, and supplied almost every inland mine or station with its goods and services.
The majority of cameleers arrived in Australia alone, leaving families behind, to work on 3-yr contracts. They eventually lived in "Ghantowns" near existing settlements.
During the Federation Drought, which devastated eastern Australia from 1895-1902, the camels and their drivers were indispensable.Those who had dealings with the Afghans often vouched for them,however, prejudice arose due to cultural differences, fear of the unknown,and jealousy because of their success as it created competition with union teamsters, so discriminatory legislation was introduced by the government in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The cameleers added immense value to Australia than they ever hoped to take from it. Notable cameleers were Abdul Wade, Gunny Khan, Dost Mahomet, Dost Mahomed, Faiz Mahomet, Gool Mahomet, Fuzzly Ahmed, Haji Mulla Merban, and Dervish Bejah.
They were enterprising, persistent and principled. There's nothing like the bonds between human and animal.
January 11, 2023
There is much more to this book than the title suggests. The excellent research by Ryan has revealed many intriguing facets of our history that have been obscured by time or indifference. The book details the role played by camels is supporting the pastoral industry, the violent conflict between the Cameleers and the Teamsters, the emergence of the White Australia Policy and even reveals that the camel was not considered to be an animal. Ryan exposes the drama and consternation in Defence when Cameleer and wealthy intrapreneur Abdul Wade (of Afghanistani birth) sought the admission of his Sydney Grammar School son to the newly established Royal Military College of Australia (Duntroon). To be eligible for admission, a candidate had to be a natural-born British subject which the son, Abdul Hamid Wade certainly was. Brigadier-General Bridges, the founder and Commandant of the College, while admitting that the boy was eligible, thought that "only persons of pure European descent should be admitted as cadets and if the Regulation does not secure this, then it should be amended without delay". The regulation was, on account of urgency, duly amended and Abdul Wade was informed that Regulations do not permit the admission of his son Hamid to Duntroon. In 2022 there were two Afghanistani cadets at Duntroon among many others from other countries.
September 15, 2024
After his interest was captured as a school boy by a nineteenth-century photo of a camel train in a country town, Ryan Butta later found himself researching Australia's earliest Afghan camel drivers. Separating the fiction from the bush legends, he reveals the breadth and depth of white Australian protectionism and prejudice. He strips away the folklore to reveal the debt this country owes to camels and their drivers.
Abdul Wade was an astute business man and entrepreneur. Intelligent and well read, he was able to refute the prejudicial actions and claims of his rivals in business. Writing in the newspapers of the day he highlighted the the truth behind the prejudice he encountered.
if it hadn't been for the camel trains during drought and floods many outlying communities and individual stations would have faced starvation.
The research behind this book shows the independent and hard working bushmen often portrayed in works such as Henry Lawson's stories and poems to be a fallacy.
A great book if you enjoy true history without any whitewashing.
Abdul Wade was an astute business man and entrepreneur. Intelligent and well read, he was able to refute the prejudicial actions and claims of his rivals in business. Writing in the newspapers of the day he highlighted the the truth behind the prejudice he encountered.
if it hadn't been for the camel trains during drought and floods many outlying communities and individual stations would have faced starvation.
The research behind this book shows the independent and hard working bushmen often portrayed in works such as Henry Lawson's stories and poems to be a fallacy.
A great book if you enjoy true history without any whitewashing.
December 5, 2024
Ryan Butta has written an engrossing story of the cameleers in Australia. The book has added an important new chapter to my understanding of the country I moved to only a few years ago. Having just returned from a visit to the heart of Australia, I could envision how essential camels were as mining and pastoralism quickly overtook the lands of indigenous people. Though I was not surprised by the racism and exclusion with which the cameleers were so often greeted, I was surprised to realize how little I had come across them in the histories, guide books, and novels I have been devouring to inform myself on my new country. Butta makes his dismay at Australian racism clear. When I closed the last page, I added this to my list of books to recommend to family and friends. It makes a clear an all-too-often overlooked chapter in Australia's settler history.
November 16, 2022
This was interesting in many respects, especially as Abdul Wade was my great-grandfather, his daughter Bebe the mother of my father. I did find it odd that the author stated he could not find any descendants in Australia, as there are only a few and other researchers have found me. My grandmother married a man with an unusual name in the 20s and my siblings still have that surname. I guess I rated this down a bit as I found I was really annoyed that the author, who said he'd spent time in the outback as a younger man, would go out there in thongs and boardshorts and a totally unsuitable vehicle. A minor quibble against the mountains of research but I think it made me think he wasn't taking it all seriously.
February 22, 2023
As an audiobook. a fabulous researched account of an Afghan refugee Abdul Wade (The Battle of Abdul Wade) who came to Australia with his brother in the late 1800’s to work on a farm in South West Victoria, then following the shooting death of his brother on the property he was moved to outback NSW, the researcher follows the challenges of introducing camels to Australia, the laws, unions, politicians, all having a huge impact on Abdul to get transportation of goods and supplies to outback stations and wool from the stations to the regional towns and cities, what a tough life he lived. This was a history I knew nothing about. Now if only the historians would read it and rewrite some of our history and give Abdul and the other Afghans the recognition they deserve.
May 20, 2023
I'm really grateful that I came upon this book. I'd recommend it simply because its very well written and an amazing part of Australian history, but the book has more going for it than that. The depth of research is clear by the abundant inclusion of historical articles, and the author has done a fantastic job of weaving together a complex but logical narrative on a part of our past that has always deserved a wider spotlight than it has traditionally received. I feel I gained a unique insight and perspective on a rich part of Australian history from reading this book, and am happy to say I've been recommending it to anyone who will listen since I finished it.
August 31, 2025
I've always been fascinated by the history of the Cameleers from Afghanistan and India, having grown up in Alice where this history is a bit more known. I learnt so much in this book about the broader history, the impacts of the white Australia policy for the Cameleers, and the racist history of unions in Australia.
I'm not surprised by the false narratives painted about the Cameleers, but it's frustrating that so many myths of the white man being superior continue to prevail despite the evidence showing otherwise..
such an important book of truth telling. this history is fascinating, and should be taught in schools and universities.
I'm not surprised by the false narratives painted about the Cameleers, but it's frustrating that so many myths of the white man being superior continue to prevail despite the evidence showing otherwise..
such an important book of truth telling. this history is fascinating, and should be taught in schools and universities.
November 11, 2022
Butta captures an important, though little known, aspect of Australia’s history. Focusing on the figure of Abdul Wade, this book highlights the contribution the Cameleers made to the development of Australia. This work foregrounds Abdul Wade and the Cameleers’ work carting goods throughout the developing nation, making various industries viable, against the shifting political landscape that attempted to mandate a Eurocentric culture. An easy and intriguing read that will reward and inform all who open the cover.
February 17, 2023
This book gives a face to the blanket term “Afghan”, so long used to describe those immigrants who worked camels in Australia. Baloch, Indian/Hindu, and actual Afghans served to create transportation channels freighting with camels in the late 19th century and early 20th century and it is through the story of one Abdul Wade we learn not only about these men, but also about that period’s racist policies in Australia. Abdul Wade, like his camels, shoulders a burden that leaves the reader hungry to know more about this little-known Australian history.
January 23, 2023
a worthy contribution to the discussion; written in the first person but not too intrusive; adopts a strong and valid thesis on the origins and development of Australian character myths; anti-union bias shows through somewhat; well-researched; great cover; only one typographical mistake in the whole book
February 21, 2025
A history, hidden from us by misinformation and fear leading to the White Australia Policy, basically because these men and their camels, not only challenged the myth of the tough white (British) Aussie settler but because, when the chips were down, they did a better job of getting goods out and supplies in.
February 21, 2023
Best history book I've read in a long time,shows us that not much has changed in Australia.
July 17, 2023
Well written Australian outback history. I found it very informative and engaging.
March 29, 2024
Interesting history but it was so dry.
January 11, 2025
Enjoyed this book. I did not realise how important camels were to inland Australia. And knew nothing of this man.
September 23, 2025
A fascinating journey through the lesser known life and times of a Cameleer. These courageous humans who would help establish roads through the desert and saved many small towns from their isolation.
February 13, 2025
It’s always interesting when a biographer chooses the road less traveled when selecting a historical subject, and Ryan Butta has certainly achieved that much in The Ballad of Abdul Wade. Reading about the cameleers and their contribution to Australian history was fascinating for the first 31 chapters.
Then we had chapter 32 which I have subtitled “Ryan’s Soapbox” which I cannot believe made it past the editors. After leading us through what was a compelling story of Abdul Wade, the author decided to basically go on a chapter-long rant about “continuing” racism in Australia, his disdain for poet Henry Lawson (clearly a white supremacist according to the author), the modern refugee treatment, the struggle of immigrants in Australia, etc etc. I’ve read a lot of biographies, and I’ve never experienced one that was literally hijacked this way. His repetitive “both cannot be true” logic is baseless and reflects his own odd opinions.
Uniquely, I am an immigrant to Australia, and in my twenty years here, all I can say is that this country and its fine people have given me more than I could ever repay. I am not perfect and in turn, do not expect perfection out of my new homeland either. As an aside, my minority group makes up less than 1% of the total population, and if we would hypothetically represent say 14% of those incarcerated, it is obvious that my sector would have a much higher offending rate. It’s simply “cause and effect” and not the fault of an operating justice system. That’s a fact.
Now, as for Abdul Wade…While I found his story interesting, I feel that the author was responsible for some glaring omissions and suggestions that lack merit. For example, the extended detail of Wade’s attempt to get his son in royal military college was presented in a piecemeal fashion. I personally read the historical letters between Wade and the college. Within those, Wade claimed that he had lived in Australia for forty years already, which was false. He also wrote that he “had been a citizen for some time now.” Yes, Wade was a naturalised citizen but his son was born before that event which may have added further complication to the situation. In the end to be fair, the “of European appearance” requirement was amended shortly thereafter, which was a positive that the author conveniently gave no credence to. Importantly, there is no evidence to support Butta’s claim that Abdul Wade “never recovered from his son being denied admission.” Zero evidence means that above statement is merely conjecture.
Furthermore, once you get really deep in this book you realise that Abdul Wade didn’t “disappear from history,” he DISAPPEARED FROM HIS FAMILY. Yes, in 1925, he left the country taking one son with him and never saw his beloved wife Emily and the six other children ever again. What? Emily and the children are the real victims here—not Abdul Wade. How could the author merely gloss over something as devastating as this? In my research, I found court petitions in which the children are looking for their father. It was gut wrenching and conveniently left out of the book. No, Wade was certainly not “successful at everything he put his hand to” as Butta claims over and over again.
Now, what about natural descendants? Abdul Wade had at least seven offspring in Australia. They would have been easy to find in this day and age as they are even active on social platforms such as this. I think their personal perspectives and insight would have been a real benefit to this biography, so why they were not included is a mystery.
Additionally, biographies are, much of the time, an interesting journey as the author collects information on his subject. I’ve read many over the years, and I have to say I have never read one that includes personal email communication between an author and a government agency in a blatant effort to embarrass the agency. That’s a new one. We could have also done without his version of the meeting with the historical society in Bourke. The description of that meeting comes across as ego-driven and completely condescending. Were you trying to disparage them as well?
In the end, there are reasons that the obviously flawed Abdul Wade is not remembered that well in Australia’s history, and some of the reasons are indeed steeped in the attitudes of many (not all) of the turn-of-the century time period. I think that nine out of ten Australians today would say that those attitudes are unacceptable today. I am proud of this country and do not lay the historical treatment of Wade at the feet of anyone in this land today.
Ryan Butta treated the last quarter of the book like an opined blog post, using all of the malcontented comparisons and catchphrases available. He would have better served the reader by presenting historical facts about Abdul Wade, warts and all as we say, and then respectfully step back and let the reader decide for himself.
Then we had chapter 32 which I have subtitled “Ryan’s Soapbox” which I cannot believe made it past the editors. After leading us through what was a compelling story of Abdul Wade, the author decided to basically go on a chapter-long rant about “continuing” racism in Australia, his disdain for poet Henry Lawson (clearly a white supremacist according to the author), the modern refugee treatment, the struggle of immigrants in Australia, etc etc. I’ve read a lot of biographies, and I’ve never experienced one that was literally hijacked this way. His repetitive “both cannot be true” logic is baseless and reflects his own odd opinions.
Uniquely, I am an immigrant to Australia, and in my twenty years here, all I can say is that this country and its fine people have given me more than I could ever repay. I am not perfect and in turn, do not expect perfection out of my new homeland either. As an aside, my minority group makes up less than 1% of the total population, and if we would hypothetically represent say 14% of those incarcerated, it is obvious that my sector would have a much higher offending rate. It’s simply “cause and effect” and not the fault of an operating justice system. That’s a fact.
Now, as for Abdul Wade…While I found his story interesting, I feel that the author was responsible for some glaring omissions and suggestions that lack merit. For example, the extended detail of Wade’s attempt to get his son in royal military college was presented in a piecemeal fashion. I personally read the historical letters between Wade and the college. Within those, Wade claimed that he had lived in Australia for forty years already, which was false. He also wrote that he “had been a citizen for some time now.” Yes, Wade was a naturalised citizen but his son was born before that event which may have added further complication to the situation. In the end to be fair, the “of European appearance” requirement was amended shortly thereafter, which was a positive that the author conveniently gave no credence to. Importantly, there is no evidence to support Butta’s claim that Abdul Wade “never recovered from his son being denied admission.” Zero evidence means that above statement is merely conjecture.
Furthermore, once you get really deep in this book you realise that Abdul Wade didn’t “disappear from history,” he DISAPPEARED FROM HIS FAMILY. Yes, in 1925, he left the country taking one son with him and never saw his beloved wife Emily and the six other children ever again. What? Emily and the children are the real victims here—not Abdul Wade. How could the author merely gloss over something as devastating as this? In my research, I found court petitions in which the children are looking for their father. It was gut wrenching and conveniently left out of the book. No, Wade was certainly not “successful at everything he put his hand to” as Butta claims over and over again.
Now, what about natural descendants? Abdul Wade had at least seven offspring in Australia. They would have been easy to find in this day and age as they are even active on social platforms such as this. I think their personal perspectives and insight would have been a real benefit to this biography, so why they were not included is a mystery.
Additionally, biographies are, much of the time, an interesting journey as the author collects information on his subject. I’ve read many over the years, and I have to say I have never read one that includes personal email communication between an author and a government agency in a blatant effort to embarrass the agency. That’s a new one. We could have also done without his version of the meeting with the historical society in Bourke. The description of that meeting comes across as ego-driven and completely condescending. Were you trying to disparage them as well?
In the end, there are reasons that the obviously flawed Abdul Wade is not remembered that well in Australia’s history, and some of the reasons are indeed steeped in the attitudes of many (not all) of the turn-of-the century time period. I think that nine out of ten Australians today would say that those attitudes are unacceptable today. I am proud of this country and do not lay the historical treatment of Wade at the feet of anyone in this land today.
Ryan Butta treated the last quarter of the book like an opined blog post, using all of the malcontented comparisons and catchphrases available. He would have better served the reader by presenting historical facts about Abdul Wade, warts and all as we say, and then respectfully step back and let the reader decide for himself.
December 14, 2024
Again, Ryan Butta has opened my eyes and provided an education. Ryan has the knack of seeing past dates and events. He makes them real. He includes personalities and background information that is vital. I will never look at my Henry Lawson books the same way again.
Has Australia really changed? I would like to think so but sadly I doubt it.
Has Australia really changed? I would like to think so but sadly I doubt it.
September 17, 2024
Fascinating history of the camels as working animals in Australia, and the men who worked with them. I was a little sad that the author only mentioned horses and bullocks as the other working animals that moved goods around before mechanisation, when in fact donkey teams were also important at that time, but still, it's a book about camels so I will forgive that oversight. I had read enough to know there were problems for the men who came here to work with the camels, but I hadn't realised that there were so many objections to the camels as well.
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