Paul Kelly: 100 years - The Australian Story

By GILBERT WONG*

Our fortunes have been so closely aligned that it is easy to imagine some of the chapter headings of this history of Australia applying to this country - "Child of the Empire," "Land of the Fair Go" and "Farewell, Great and Powerful Friends."

But the partnership has been uneven. When we say Australasia, we are talking about New Zealand, Australia and Asia; when Australians use the term New Zealand isn't included.

This history, published to coincide with an ABC series, makes no mention of New Zealand in the index and little in the text. Objectively that shows the impact or lack of same this country has in Australia - though the author might have mentioned the New Zealanders who fought alongside the Australians at Gallipoli, and explained why the acronyms Anzac and Anzus have NZ in them.

Allen and Unwin

$39.95