Walkabout (Urban Hunters) (2012) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Write a summary of the plot or a synopsis of this book.

Characters edit see section history

• Cast of Characters: Please refer to the Cast of Characters in Book 2 - Tribal Scarring for the entire list.
• Billy (13): The one chosen by the spirit of his mother, in a dream, to venture into the world of the whitefellas, to show his clan that it’s safe for them to come out of hiding to find a new future.

Quotes edit see section history

• “‘Great Young Adult book!’ Dannie, USA. “I really loved Billy and his adventures. I can’t remember when I last read a story with such an original and likeable character. Billy is tribal but contemporary, he’s funny but seriously determined. Billy is all about outwitting his brothers with some hilarious pranks, and he’s all about saving his tribe by heading off to the big unknown city to find some girls.I laughed with Billy, I cheered him on and I learnt so much about indigenous Australian culture and survival. After reading the first three books in the Urban Hunters series, I have a whole new appreciation for the Australian bush and Billy’s tribe.This writer has done something rare – he’s come up with something so original that I can’t even compare it to other books. It stands alone. And his humour is really sensational – just when I think I can’t laugh anymore, he twists the tale just another little bit and notches the hilarity up even further. Can’t wait for the next book in this series – hurry up Gary Taaffe, get it uploaded!” 5 Star Review by Jack Scribble, Australia”

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• The Wollemi National Park: The clan’s million–acre sanctuary. A mountainous region of steep gorges, treacherous cliffs, and dense forests. Too harsh for the whitefellas to colonise with vast amounts of more accessible land elsewhere, and a mere two hour’s drive north of what became the bustling city of Sydney.

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• Aussie Spelling and Colloquialisms: Please refer to the Glossary in Book 1 - Four Small Stones for the entire list. I have added new words that appear now.
• Bream *NEW*: Bream are a hard fighting, great tasting, saltwater anglers delight. They grow to about 48cm.
• Bung *NEW*: Bung is to throw, or to refer to something that’s broken or sore: “Got a bung leg,” “Bung another banger (sausage) on the BBQ.” Early European settlers in the Brisbane region heard the local Aborigines using their Yagara language to describe something dead by saying that it was “Bung.” Before long the settlers were using it to describe anything diseased or dysfunctional. It’s another one of those very satisfying “B” words. All Aboriginal languages, of which there are hundreds, are heavily laden with the letter “B.” So it’s no surprise that many colloquial words we use today originated from Aboriginal words. I believe Australian’s easygoing, fun loving, laid back nature also originated from a combination of the Aboriginal and convict culture. They both had lots of time on their hands to joke around and deride the authority of their British overlords who changed their lives forever.
• Dead–set *NEW*: Dead–set is pretty much the same as “Fair dinkum.”
• Ditch *NEW*: Ditch is to throw away. It’s also a drainage ditch.
• Fair dinkum *NEW*: Fair dinkum is used in a variety of situations: “Fair dinkum, you scared me!” Someone might say after you jumped out at them in the dark. “Fair dinkum?” You might ask if you don’t know if someone is telling you the truth. It originated in the Australian gold fields. The Chinese described their gold in their language as “Din” and “Kum”, meaning good gold or true gold. So it became a good news term to all the desperate miners. “Yeah, mate, it’s fair dinkum alright!”
• Howdja *NEW*: Howdja is short for “How did you?” So you might say “Howdja do that?”
• Pelican *NEW*: Pelican if you don’t know what a pelican is then you’re a bloody pelican.
• Pyjama *NEW*: Pyjama or pajama is bed clothes.
• Sheila *NEW*: Sheila is a pretty young woman with every imaginable good quality that a man could possibly want. It’s a compliment of the highest order. A term of endearment.
• Sunnies *NEW*: Sunnies are sunglasses.
• The Rainbow Serpent *NEW*: The Rainbow Serpent was the first child of the great creator, in Aboriginal beliefs, and is the guardian of the land. The rainbow in the sky is The Rainbow Serpent travelling from one water hole to the next, filling it with fertility and creating regeneration for man and nature.
• Vinnies *NEW*: Vinnies is short for St Vincent de Paul Society. It’s a charity that collects unwanted clothing for the poor.
• Willy–willy *NEW*: Willy–willy is a tiny cyclone, like a dust devil.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by Tribal Scarring (Urban Hunters), and followed by Budgie Smugglers (Urban Hunters).

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Gary Taaffe (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

‘The more I read, the more I am convinced that this story should be designated reading for schools. Billy is a real role model in every sense of the word.’ Anne, Australia

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction › Action & Adventure
• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Action & Adventure
• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Humorous
• Books › Children's Books › Educational

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Urban Hunters: About the Urban Hunters series. For those in search of something different to read: The Urban Hunters series follows the adventures of thirteen-year old Billy and Amber. Billy’s an Aboriginal boy from an isolated part of the Australian bush. All that's left of his family are men. So the spirit of his mother chooses him to go walkabout through the whitefella culture, to find some girls and a future for his clan, or die out and watch the Dreamtime fade away. But Billy’s never even seen a girl before and he doesn’t want to go. So his mum calls upon the forces of nature to bring on his initiations and unleash the warrior within. Sometimes you’ve just gotta grow up. With his mother's guiding spirit, Billy sets off on his Walkabout where he comes across Amber, cowering in a back alley in the city of Sydney. She’s cold, wet, upset and wearing a bloodied pair of pink pyjamas. He’s mesmerised by her beautiful blue eyes and she falls for his happy smile. Rather than scrounge in bins for food, they use their combined hunting skills to dine on fat rats, feral cats and brandied pigeons. They fight off those that would do them harm, save the lives of those that have nothing, and build a wonderfully colourful community around themselves. Billy and Amber’s adventures and misadventures will have you laughing your head off, crying your eyes out, and wishing you could join them.