Tony Birch

And I think Sally Morgan's book, and then followed, I think, remarkably by Ruby Langford's Don't Take Your Love to Town.

These were books that were so foundational because I think for a younger generation of Aboriginal writers coming through,

They really, you know, they're only a couple of sort of role models, you know, Ujuru, of course, Cap Walker, but not many.

And I think Sally Morgan's book, you know, it's a very popular book.

It's sold hundreds of thousands of copies.

And I think there was some criticism of Sally Morgan at the time, which I think was terribly misplaced.

And in fact...

nothing more than bullying, because that book amongst Aboriginal people was really championed.

I think it encouraged a lot of people to write.

And I think this, just for a broader context of this now, of course, if I was running a course on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander literature, I could put...

you know, five courses together.

There's so much stuff coming out, so many emerging writers, which is absolutely fantastic.

But just to bring this home, I do a lot of work with schools.

I do a lot of visits with school students and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal kids.

For a young Aboriginal kid in high school to be talking to a person who is a published writer and is also an Aboriginal person, it is remarkably energetic.

So that mentor role in our community is absolutely vital.

So in that way, you could think of why books are important, you know, for various reasons.

And I think, you know, talking whether it be nonfiction for us in the audience, I'm sure that there are books that have been really important and influential on all of us, which may not be the best sells, which may not have won the literary prizes because there is something of great emotional resonance in the book that encourages us to do the things we want to do.

And I misspoke.

Well, I actually...