Hi there,
Writing has always been part of my life and writing in its many forms, from letters, emails and stories… etc is one of my favourite things. I am comfortable in my skin when I recognise myself as a storyteller. I started blogging because I needed somewhere to refine my ideas and to put my thoughts. I would like to expand my world, gather my friends and share what is my life with you in these pages.
Welcome to my world of Blogs.
Me and The Man
I grew up in the Aussie bush which ran alongside the Georges River in Sydney and although I come from a large family at times it was a lonely place to be. A thought which reminds me:
Life was really never meant to be easy, it was meant to be a journey and an adventure.
Writing became my escape, my private life and my first love. My second love was my hubby and he is my best friend, my confidant and my soul mate. Even though there are occasions when I could gladly strangle him, he does make me laugh at myself at times and when I am angry with my soulmate, I still have my friend.
Come with me on my journey and lets see what we can discover together.
The Man and I live on the wallaby now, we travel Australia in our van with our pups and explore all those places we always dreamed of visiting. We love the freedom of Freecamps, we enjoy the quiet of the Outback and the adventure of visiting towns and communities. If you see us along the way, say Hi.
The best part about travelling is the people you meet and befriend along the way. You will know us by the blue kayak on the roof and the two adventurous pups, the fur kids. I would like to apologize in advance for the enthusiastic greeting the pups will give you, please forgive them the pleasure they take in meeting someone new.
Tuppi … packed with the luggage. Not going without her!
Scotty Dog – He owns Us
Catch you around the ridges.
Australian Author, Jan Hawkins, was raised in the bush on the outskirts of Sydney. She spent 20 years in Secondary Educ. in the IT field. Her love of computers pales in comparison to her love of the Aussie bush.
Jan is passionate about the history of her country and a strong desire to discover and experience new places fuels her travels throughout Australia
You can find out more about books by Jan Hawkins at http://janhawkins.com.au/Publications.html
Please check out the discounts available on the Web site.
Send me a note, I enjoy hearing from my readers and would welcome you input and opinion. Just leave a comment and I will get back to you.
Jan Hawkins Author 
Hi Jan, I am currently studying Indigenous philosophy, and through my studies I ran into this site, the information you have acquired here is astounding, my father has conversated with Feather foots, various clans used to stop on our Sugar cane farm at Eimeo, Mackay, North Queensland. Through their travels they rested with us, a few times there would be Feather foots and you are right there was also around 3 of them plus a shaman and an elder. One story I know of is a clan came down from inland of Townsville perhaps further north to hunt a man in Clermont, QLD.
It was fascinating to hear these stories as a Child and then to actually see a pair on your website along with some other information about them. I have spoken to many Aboriginal people who did not have any knowledge of Feather foots and thought the story was a myth. One interesting thing is how word of various crimes travelled there is around 500 kms in between site of origin and where the crime took place and word travelled fast. Also, Feather foots hunted men from different country, it seems even country had some sort of hierarchical structure or perhaps due to colonization other feather foots from other areas were employed as they did not exist in certain parts of Australia any more. Also it seems they had to travel a certain route and visit certain sites before they commenced the hunt. So I don’t know how It worked before colonization but a hunt would take around 3 months or so.
If you are interested I can gain some further information for you. Thank you for keeping the spirit alive. All the best.
Hi Murray, I am always researching while I travel as I find the ‘unknown’ history of our Country infinitely interesting. The knowledge of Lore is an evolving thing and while I know it survives, so much has been lost. I decided to dedicate a lot of my research, as well as storytelling in my books, to help unravel this ancient Lore. Hence this site has evolved over the years and i appreciate your comment here. As for artefacts, you can find good displays and other items at the Sydney Museum often, in their indigenous gallery.
I have found that there is without doubt a hierarchical structure within the Lore and I am still pushing the boundaries of my own knowledge. After all this is the oldest of surviving Lore, largely unadulterated by influences from other lands and it is a Lore that is so intrinsic to its ‘Country’. It is fascinating and its depth is astounding. There is a great deal that the feather foot or Kadaitcha men had to do before undertaking a hunt and I tried to portray this in the second series ‘The Spirit Children’ … there is still so much that is left unsaid and that which is difficult to weave into essentially what is a work of fiction in my novels and attempt to bring it to life.
I can but try I figure and in doing so bring some knowledge to bear. The Lore-keepers are essentially bound by their own Lore to silence but the Land, speaks also and it is not bound to such a degree.
I am always interested in hearing tales, furthering my own understanding. I would enjoy any conversation. Please feel free to email at any time to jan@janhawkins.com.au
I travel widely and as such email is my mail contact with other storytellers and researchers.
jan
Hi Jan, how lovely to find you and your blog. I also share a love of travel and writing. That and of course my family means the world to me and I look forward to sharing your adventures. Cheers from a fellow Aussie.
Hi Miriam, thank you for the kind words. You are most welcome here and I hope you enjoy the tales. Travel well… cheers (is it 5pm yet?)
Lovely to connect Jan. And nearly 5pm in ten more minutes!
Hi Jan, we’re also roaming about and learning so much about this wide brown land of ours. No doubt we’ll see you around a campfire somewhere. I look forward to following your adventures. Cheers Lindsey
Hi there Lindsey, Yep travelling is such a pleasure. It is always great to catch up with friends along the way… one of the real pleasures of travelling. You just never know who you will meet. Travel well.
Hullo Jan
Amongst a lot of evidence for Indonesian contact with east Oz is the word Kadimakara.
Sanskrit /Javanese kadhi makara is the sea -crocodile monster, linked with temple pillars and water-spouts as the Aboriginal name is also. ( gum- tree trunks and spring- mounds of Lake Eyre). Lots of details involved . Maybe I could email you some stuff?
John
Armidale NSW
Hi John, the Kadimakara is interesting. I have studied the subject but was unaware of the Sanskrit/Jav connection. Where the term ‘Kadimakra’ is used in pre-historic Aus’it is a term often used to refer to the Spirit Creatures of Lore, where they are extinct in our physical history. I used the term in my books ‘The Dreaming Series’ in reference to the shape shifting of the Shaman. Book 2 is primarily about Sean, who discovers this ancient talent and has to learn to control it.
I do have a lot of material I have gathered over the years however presently my research is related to the Caverns and the serpents of Lore along with the Djaranin. However the reference is interesting and the migration of the tribes down into Aus in our pre-history is a on-going topic of interest.
Thanks for your comment, we are taught so little about our own land and its evolutions.
hello Jan , all very intersting stuff, could you please contact me whenever you get the chance,
Hi Scott, welcome to my blog. How can I help? Please feel free to email me on jan@janhawkins.com.au
Hi Jan,
Have enjoyed reading your blog. My partner & I both hope to join the migrating herds one day and it’s always educational to read someone else’s tales. Thanks for sharing!
Ken
Hi Ken, Thanks for your comment, it is always nice to hear from others. The mass travelling of the grey nomads to the extent that you find in Aus. is unique to our country and it is a wonderful thing. The people you meet are just damn entertaining and a joy to know commonly. We look forward to welcoming you to the moving mob and I know you will love it. You know practice makes perfect 🙂
Travel well, Jan
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