Brendon Patrick officially presents his novel: AFGHANI to the President of the RGSSA, Leigh Radford OAM
A descendant’s journey to reclaim erased history culminates in prestigious library recognition
In a remarkable achievement that bridges personal heritage with national history, the novel AFGHANI was introduced into the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia’s special collections on 9 Dec 2025. This rare honour, which is typically reserved for scholarly works and historical documents. It represents a significant milestone not only for its author, Brendon Patrick, but for the recognition of Australia’s multicultural foundations.
From Silenced History to Special Collections
When I started this journey, I was just hoping people would read my story, the author said. Now it’s being preserved for generations to come!
AFGHANI tells the compelling story of George Sher Gul, a 19th century Afghani cameleer whose contributions, under the employment of Henry Yorke Lyell Brown helped discover early Gold and Uranium deposits in South Australia. For the author, a direct descendant of these pioneering cameleers, the novel represents both a personal heritage journey and an effort to restore an important chapter of Australian history that has been largely erased from mainstream narratives.
The novel’s introduction into the special collection marks a poetic full circle moment. It’s now 150 years since Afghani cameleers first traversed Australia’s harsh interior, their story returns to South Australia, preserved among the very historical records that once overshadowed their contributions.
The journey to publication wasn’t straightforward. Like many independent authors, the road involved countless late nights of writing, researching, editing, and marketing on a shoestring budget. The author also went so far as learn book promotion from YouTube tutorials, and wondering if anyone would ever care about these words, he’d poured his heart and soul into.
Yet this recognition from one of Australia’s most prestigious geographical and historical institutions proves that self-publishing can be a powerful vehicle for stories go untold. It further demonstrates that literary merit and historical significance can transcend traditional publishing pathways.
Reclaiming Australia’s Diverse Cultural Roots
The novel’s recognition comes at a time when Australia continues to grapple with questions of national identity and historical narrative. The Afghan cameleers, often called the Afghanis, were instrumental in opening up Australia’s interior through their knowledge of desert travel and their hardy camels, which were better suited to the harsh conditions than horses and bullocks.
Despite their crucial role in establishing supply lines, supporting exploration, and building infrastructure across the continent from the 1860s to the 1930s, their contributions have been systematically minimised in traditional Australian historical accounts.
Brendon Patrick’s AFGHANI serves as both historical fiction and cultural reclamation, offering readers a window into the lives of these pioneers while initiating important conversations about who we are as Australians and whose stories deserve to be remembered.
AFGHANI by Brendon Patrick is now available via Amazon Click Here to purchase
A Story Coming Full Circle
The Royal Geographical Society of South Australia’s decision to include AFGHANI in their special collections represents more than recognition of a single novel. It acknowledges the importance of diverse perspectives in understanding Australia’s complex history.
For the author, who personally delivered AFGHANI in Adelaide on 9 Dec 2025, this honour is the culmination of both a personal creative journey and a mission to ensure that the contributions of Afghani cameleers take their rightful place in Australia’s historical narrative.
The novel joins the special collections alongside works from literary legends and historical documents dating back to the 19th century, ensuring that this once-overlooked chapter of Australian history will be preserved and accessible to researchers, historians, and curious readers for generations to come.
Brendon Patrick resides in Brisbane QLD and is available for interviews or to provide review copies of AFGHANI. The novel offers a fresh perspective on Australia’s diverse cultural foundations and connects past with present in ways that start ongoing conversations about Australian identity.
