The Heartbeat of the Land

Cathy ran barefoot every day across the great ancient land, as her people had done for sixty thousand years before. And when she ran, she could hear the heartbeat of the land. Ba Boom Ba Boom Ba Boom...

Then one day, Cathy hears a cry. She answers this cry and, with one small step at a time, the seeds of change are planted.

Cathy Freeman has always been an inspiration to young people. Here, she does it again, through storytelling - just as her people have done, for sixty thousand years before... Listen, and you too, will hear the Heartbeat of the Land.


About the Author
Coral Vass is an award-winning Australian children's author. She has always loved telling stories and has been writing books for more than a decade. Coral is an ambassador for Reading Out of Poverty and is passionate about giving all children an equal opportunity to read.

Tannya Harricks is an award-winning illustrator and artist who has previously illustrated several picture books about Australian animals and the vast Australian landscape. Tannya lives in Sydney near a National Park which provides endless inspiration for her illustrations and oil paintings.

Cathy Freeman is a proud Kuku Yalanji woman. She is also an Australian Indigenous Olympic champion. Cathy Freeman was a member of the 4x100m relay team at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games, and became the first female Australian Aboriginal to win a gold medal at an International athletics event. She was awarded Young Australian of the Year in 1991 and Australian of the Year in 1998. She was crowned World Champion in the 400m in 1997 and 1999. At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney she became the first competing athlete invited to light the Olympic flame. She also won the gold medal in the 400m.