Collection of Poems by Julie Janson, published by Five Islands Press 31st May 2026

Julie Janson writes with extraordinary honesty and emotional depth. These poems carry the weight of history, family and Country but are threaded with tenderness and fierce love. Julie’s work reminds us that survival is not passive; it’s creative, strategic, and spiritual. This collection is moving, unsettling and profoundly important. – Larrisa Behrendt, writer and Distinguished Professor, Laureate Fellow UTS

At once beautiful, evocative, deeply moving, unsettling and compelling, My Kaathi Sister  is fiercely impelled by truth-telling and the celebration of kin, country and the power of memory. It richly reflects Julie Janson’s compassion, unique human insights and generosity – and a remarkable life steeped in words, love of family and place. It is Janson, the poet, at the pinnacle of her craft. – Paul Daley, Guardian writer and author of The Leap

Julie writes: this collection is my first published book of poetry and I am very grateful to Five Islands Press for taking it on. Mark Tredinnick and Steve Meyrick are established poets and publishers themselves who have given extraordinary editorial attention to the poems. Some poems in the collection have received awards and some have been published in magazines. I wrote my first poem when I was ten years old and my parents encouraged all my artistic efforts and I owe a debt of gratitude to mum and dad. Family appear in different forms within the poems but I also I have been inspired to write a poem while working on a long form novel or play. The Australian geographical stretch celebrated in the collection range from Western New South Wales, South coast New South Wales, Sydney and Northeast Arnhem Land. On some occasions I have created papier mache puppets to bring some historical Indigenous characters to life in a puppet theatre form. I have made Bangalow palm and emu feathered dilly bags or art works such as installations or drawings. Its all part of the creative process. I choose subjects that embrace my Burruberongal Darug Nation heritage and my time spent living in traditional Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and outback NSW. I am grateful for all the elders, and especially the women who have nurtured my journey to learn about my heritage. I am descended from English, Irish, Portugese and Burruberongal ancestors, I celebrate them all.