John Ramsland OAM is Emeritus Professor at the University of Newcastle NSW and a well- regarded historian. He is an author of several books and many articles. Children of the Backlanes, Custodians of the Soil (now translated into French), and Remembering Aboriginal Heroes (co- authored) are considered classics in their field. Brave & Bold won a prestigious NSW Writer's Centre award. His most recent books are The Rainbow Beach Man (2009) and Cook's Hill Life Saving & Surf Club (2011).