Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttal have just won the International Songwriting Competition for their song Caught in the Crowd. This song tells of experiences with bullying at school. The ideas of acceptance and tolerance of others, and the reasons why we might not hold true to these values, are explored in the song.

In terms of The Secret River it makes me think about Will's son Dick making friends with the Aboriginal children of the area they live in. Will and Sal struggle with the notion of Dick interacting with the Aboriginal people, Sal instructs Will, 'You best go down and fetch him back, Will, she said calmly. He got to learn when he's gone too far'. While this illustrates a fear of difference Grenville actually writes hopefully, implying there is a chance for understanding, tolerance and acceptance in the future. The narrative imparts, 'At times Dick went down to the river ... Thornhill had seen him there more than once ... playing with the native children ... Dick was stripped off as they were, to nothing but skin. His was white and theirs was black, but shining in the sun and glittering with river-water it was hard to tell the difference'.