The sun has set. The gums trees rustle in the wind and I am driving through the Royal National Park Sutherland. I love driving through the bush along roads that wind and dip…. but there are
NO signs
ROAD BLOCKS
My PHONE is DEAD
I have no idea where I was and drive along the road, over a weir with no people around and no help.
LOST in the NATIONAL PARK and I’m late with 100 girls waiting for my talk.
I flag down a ute with 2 young guys in it. I am hoping it’s not Ivan Milat. No it’s not – 2 young guys towing their trail bikes. ‘Follow me.’ I zoom behind them. ‘That way.’
It is the track from ‘deliverance country’ – winding, bush, dark with road blocks all the way – watch out for the wallaby. Just missed the wombat . Get to the winding river.
No humanity. Huts …. then I find it – Rathane House filled with girls and teachers and excitement – I’m an ambassador for the National Year of Reading and finally arrived.
It was a wonderful hour of sharing story, my ‘Ships in the Field’ (Ford Street Publishing) with endless enthusiasm from the SCEGGS girls.
Loved it.
Then I took a breath. Mist had descended as I headed throughout bushland back to the highway missing kangaroos and wallabys.
Love August – Book Week, Book Month – as I get to speak to kids from everywhere.
As an ambassador for the National Year of Reading and author, I have two roles – advocating reading as well as sharing my books.
Denistone East Public is a wonderful school.
I enjoyed being part of their Open Day with morning tea cake sales, Life Education, classrooms filled with displays and the opportunity to share my books with the kids and teachers.
They are such smart kids with thoughtful questions and answers and shared their own backgrounds – from China to Greece – as we explored ‘Ships in the Field’ and the journey of finding home in new lands.
Thankyou for the hospitality of librarian Jenny Cavenaugh and her team with the lovely poster of my books.
Thankyou to Mr Middleton the Deputy Principal who helped out with my Ships in the Field powerpoint and is a great teacher.
I love Melissa Egan’s work which captures the spirit of the childhood in amazing magical lyrical sophisticated ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and Spanish influenced works.
There’s this feeling of the uniqueness of childhood and narrative with the sophistication of adult foibles in stunning works by this acclaimed award winning artist.
I’ve known Melissa for many years as she stays at The Hughenden Woollahra and we’ve been known to party late into the night. She’s vivacious and fabulous and I may take up her offer of staying with her in Queensland when I’m there to launch my first picture book Ships in the Field at the Somerset Celebration of Literature next year.
Melissa’s exhibition was opened by artist Christabel Blackman.
Melissa exhibiton was inspired from her Spanish sojorn with the Blackmans. Her artwork is encouraged by Charles Blackman who was there.
Charles Balckman was born 1928, and is one of the best known Australian artists still living today, especially for the famous Schoolgirl and Alice in Wonderland series of the 1950s. He was a member of the Antipodeans, a group of Melbourne painters that also included Arthur Boyd, David Boyd, John Brack. Robert Dickerson, John Perceval and Clifton Pugh.
