1. Art techniques
2. Biographies
3. Book design
4. Community
5. Environmental protection
6. First Nations people
7. History
8. Human rights
9. Illness
10. Pollution
11. Visual literacy

This detailed picture book history describes what happened in the Maralinga Tjarutja lands of South Australia to the people who lived there before and after the nuclear bomb testing. The traditional beliefs of the An̲angu people are explored and the story of how their culture was gradually encroached upon by white invasion – by missionaries, government policy, the expansion of the railways, and forcible removal from their lands – is told. The role played by historical figures such as anthropologist Daisy Bates, missionary Harrie Green and Miss Annie Locke of the United Aborigines’ Mission is also detailed. The colonialist re-naming of parts of this country are further aspects of this history. Most importantly, the voices of those Aboriginal People who lived on this land are heard. The book design seamlessly integrates these voices, their artworks and photographs of their lives, revealing the story with depth and passion. A map and glossary of the Pitjanjatjara language used in the book are also included

The British testing of nuclear bombs from 1956 to 1963 led to painful deaths and disfigurement, birth defects and lifelong illness for many An̲angu people who were removed from their traditional lands and re-settled at Yalata. A long fight for reparation resulted in recognition of contaminated land but no compensation for what the An̲angu endured from radiation.

Nevertheless, Yalata and Oak Valley residents have proudly developed functioning communities through the work of many people, such as educator and Aboriginal elder Stanley Minning. This award-winning title is based on the oral history testimonies of many An̲angu people skilfully curated by acclaimed writer Christobel Mattingley and meaningfully illustrated in workshops conducted by the community.

1. Allen & Unwin Book Publishers Teachers’ Notes by Fran Knight for ‘Maralinga: The Anangu Story’ https://www.pegiwilliams.com.au/pdfs/teachernotes/9781741756210.pdf
2. Kids’ Book Review interview with Christobel Mattingley about ‘Maralinga: the Anangu Story’, 21 Aug 2010 http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2010/08/interview-author-christobel-mattingley.html
3. My Book Corner (UK) review by Emma Perry of ‘Maralinga – the Anagu Story http://www.mybookcorner.co.uk/maralinga-anangu-story/
4. ABC News Maralinga story to be told through eyes of traditional owners affected by Britain’s atomic bomb testing, 1 July 2019 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-01/maralinga-retelling-the-story-of-britains-atomic-bomb-testing/11249874
5. BBC News ‘Lingering impact of British nuclear tests in the Australian outback’ by Jon Donnison, 31 December 2014 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30640338#
6. National Museum of Australia, ‘Defining Moments Maralinga, 1956: First nuclear weapons test by British at Maralinga’ https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/maralinga
7. Black Mist Burnt Country, ‘Testing the Bomb: Maralinga and Australian Art’, an Educational Resource for Years 9-12 https://blackmistburntcountry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/BMBC_Edu-Resource-web.pdf
8. The Conversation, ‘Sixty years on, two TV programs revisit Australia’s nuclear history at Maralinga’, by Mick Broderick, 4 June 2020 https://theconversation.com/sixty-years-on-two-tv-programs-revisit-australias-nuclear-history-at-maralinga-139313