A Tasmanian author has examined the influence and impact of historical disaster events on national identity in his new book Kosciuszko.
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Nick Brodie's latest book looks at the disappearance of two cross-country skiers who went missing on Mount Kosciuszko in 1928.
Laurie Seaman, a photojournalist whose world photographs were shown in Launceston in the 1920s, and his skiing partner Evan Hayes, forge ahead of their skiing group and are never seen again.
"These disasters are tools of history, they bring out lots of rich [media] detail that you don't often always get, and because they focus on the emotional energies of the nation," he said.
"The misadventure captures the imagination of the country. People were fascinated in what might have happened," he said." For the first few days, there was a sense of hoping for the best and praying that it is all going to end well. Over time reality kicks in, and it turns into a more sombre reflection."
Brodie said Kosciuszko is a story of a young Australia between wars.
"This is one of those stories that are worth remembering because it tells us something about who we are," he said.
"It was so culturally significant for Australia at that time... it informed our sense of coming together as a nation.
"Australia wanted to be a sporty, outdoorsy nation, which also fed into the National Park movement and the need for recreational space and wilderness."
The book was released in March.