This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Warrumbar by William J. Byrne. Thirteen-year-old Robbie Brennan befriends Moses, an old man whose stories unravel a hidden connection to Robbie's own family and Aboriginal heritage. When Robbie witnesses a tragic event at the Warrumbar dam, he must decide whether to speak the truth in a town where a boy like him is rarely believed. You can also meet Australian Writers' Centre graduate William on our blog and on episode 699 of our podcast. Here’s the blurb:
On the day man first walks on the moon thirteen-year-old Robbie Brennan meets Moses, an old man camped by the side of the road. Over the following months, Robbie is drawn to Moses’ stories – tales of hardship, war, and redemption – unearthing a past entwined with his own. When Robbie learns that Moses grew up at the Mission, the Aboriginal reserve that once existed on the outskirts of town, with his mother Delsie, Robbie’s understanding of his family’s history and identity is forever changed.
At home, Robbie must navigate the unpredictable wrath of his beloved but sometimes violent father, a man whose temper keeps the household in a constant state of anxiety. But when Robbie witnesses a tragic event at the Warrumbar dam, his world is shaken further. Haunted by his past in the boys' home and terrified of the consequences, he faces a choice: speak the truth and risk everything or stay silent and carry the burden forever.
But in a small country town where a boy like Robbie – poor, on society’s margins, and with ‘some of that black blood in him’ – is rarely believed, does the truth matter? Set against the backdrop of 1969 Australia, The Warrumbar is a compelling coming-of-age story about love, injustice, and the courage it takes to do what’s right.
If you’d like to win a copy, simply enter your details in the form below. Three lucky people will win a copy!
Entries close midday (Syd/Melb time) Monday 10 August 2026. Winners will be notified within a week of the competition closing.
GOOD LUCK!
THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR YOUR ENTRIES! WINNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL AND ANNOUNCED IN OUR NEWSLETTER.
