My deepest respect to Elders past and present for their contribution to the survival and maintenance of the Wiradjuri language. Thank you to Dr Uncle Stan Grant Snr and Dr John Rudder for the first dictionary, and the final updates, and their unwavering work and vision. To Geoff Anderson and the Parkes Wiradjuri Language Group and Parkes Aboriginal Education and Consultative Group. To Bruce Pascoe for writing Dark Emu and for steering me in the right direction. Dr Naomi Parry for her expertise and assistance with the history of New South Wales missionary life. To the Rolex Arts Initiative and Wole Soyinka for their support and patience. Charles Sturt University and Booranga Writers’ Centre, Wagga Wagga, for having me stay and work on this novel countless times over the last decade.
To those early readers: Jenny Longrigg, Felix Riebl, Gavin Pryke, Nick Powell and Trent Everitt. To Stephen Kinnane, Gideon Haigh and Ben Ball for their belief in the book before it was a book. To Meredith Curnow and Nikki Christer for their unwavering support. To Rachel Scully and Melanie Ostell for pulling everything together, I cannot thank you both enough.
This book is for and with thanks to all Wiradjuri mob, and especially my family on both sides including dearest Nana, Mum, Dad, my aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, Tania, Andrew, John, Arnaud, and my heart, Lila, for always keeping me afloat and utterly loved.
And to Poppy, in the eternal garden.
And my brother Billy Joe, forever, and ever.