Is it time to update the history books?

While many Australians are familiar with our colonial history, few have delved into the dark past of slave ownership in settlement days.

Lachlan Macquarie was a slave owner — and he wasn't the only one.

Researchers from the Universities of Western Australia and Melbourne are tracing the history of some of our most influential figures, from founding politicians to religious leaders.

Historian and ABC Top 5 Humanities resident, Dr Georgina Arnott, is part of this research. As part of her residency with RN, she's produced an article and an episode of The History Listen, casting a light on this shadowy past.

As a monumental year of news winds up, we'd like to thank Patricia Karvelas for helping us make sense of it all as the indefatigable host of Drive. As she moves to hosting RN Breakfast, we're thrilled to welcome Andy Park to the Drive chair.

Andy joins us from ABC TV's 7:30, where he's covered major stories, including fires, floods, war games, government policy and politics, following stints with The Feed and SBS World News.

He'll be a key player in our 2022 offering, which also includes an extended timeslot for Between the Lines, a new show about Australia's weird and wonderful plants and animals, and a new weekend destination for book lovers.

We hope you'll love it as much as we do.

 

Enjoy your weekend,

Annika Blau, digital editor
 

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Many Australians are unaware that some prominent early settlers had links to British slavery — New South Wales governor Lachlan Macquarie, for one. ABC Top 5 Humanities resident, Dr Georgina Arnott, says it's time to update the history books.

Deciding what to do when your favourite sportsperson behaves badly might seem simple – stop supporting them. But what do you do when your identity is tied to the team you love?

Looking for a good read this summer? Here are the best books of the year, according to The Bookshelf's Kate Evans and Cassie McCullagh, and The Book Show's Claire Nichols and Sarah L'Estrange.

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