Lisa Forrest, launches Ships in the Fie...

Ships in the Field is dedicated to my wonderful aunts who made the journey from war and communism to a new country and new life. Illustrator Anna Pignataro dedicated it to her immigrant family who were expelled from Egypt and found home in a new country and established a new life. It was such a pleasure to have the wonderful Lisa Forrest launch ‘Ships in the Field’ – Lisa will be the Olympics commentator on Foxtell in August. So I’ll be watching her report. It was such a beautiful celebration at The Hughenden with - Jennie Orchard from Room to Read...

RAAF Hornet fly past for Oz Day Celebrat...

The sun was shining, boats in the harbour, yellow sands. New Australian citizens proudly received their citizenship from Mayor Rob Westbury. Lee J Collier Marshall lead 1000′s of people singing ‘Advance Australia Fair’ while three hornet jet plans did a fly past. I loved giving the Australia Day Address celebrating inclusion of all Australians. I shared my family’s journey as refugees from Hungary finding home here. My first picture book ‘Ships in the Field’ just released celebrates this journey. There were bands, Port Stephens FM 100.9...

THANKYOU to Port Stephens for welcoming ...

The sun came out, the show tents were up, the band played …. and the festivities began for a joyous day on the banks of the Hunter River. Thankyou especially to Mayor Bob Westbury and Councillor Glenys Francis for making me so welcome. Thankyou to all the Council and Council Officer especially Steve Crowe. Appreciated Shadow Minister for Development and Tourism Bob Baldwin coming along was moved by the email he sent me:- “…your address on the challenges in life and how your family overcame them was inspirational.’ Highlights:- Dogs of all sorts...

Marie Bashir, Sneaky Sound System, Roy S...

What a fantastic Australia Day lunch in  beautiful Darling Harbour on a bright sunny day. I forgot to wear my OAM medal – it’s one of the few occasions that I can, as an Australia Day Ambassador. Oh well, I’ll have to pin it on when I go to the supermarket to make up for it. Ha!   Highlights:- Governor Marie Bashir sharing her life where she came from the country, shared friendship with aboriginal young people, went to school at Sydney High School with kids of post war Holocaust European refugees, studied Medicine at Sydney University and met her...

Australia Day & the Fabulous CIRCUS...

Circus Oz is now 30 years old. It’s an animal free circus with multi skilled performers who sing, play multiple instruments, tumble, swing from the trapeze, dance, are funny, sad, amazing – the talent captures you. Circus Oz has a social conscience and supports disadvantaged groups, kids and  people impacted by war and loss of their homes. Tory and I loved Circus Oz. A great Australia Day experience. You should see...

Paper Tigers Ezine ROUND the WORLD Readi...

  PaperTigers – is a wonderful website devoted to multicultural books from around the world for children and young adults, with a particular focus on the Pacific Rim and South Asia. www.papertigers.org JOIN & ENJOY. Subscription is complimentary www.PaperTigers.org Pacific Rim Voices 300 Third Street, #822 San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 648-4528 Round the World Reading Challenge It was especially felt to have ‘Always Jack’ and a book by David Almond paired as recommended read for the Round the World Reading...

2012 ~Thankyou for the kindnesses that h...

A year of dramas, highs and lows, loves and betrayals, hopes and friendships, sickness, marriages, death and birth … Lots of travel from Bahamas to Perth. Festivals from All Saints Perth to Ipswich Literature Festival Spoke to 1000′s of young people across Australia Monkey Baa Theatre’s ‘I AM JACK’ third season of performance   Supporting : Room to Read, Cancer Council, The Alannah & Madeline Foundation, NSW Writers Centre, Monkey Baa Theatre,  The National Year of Reading 2012, Australian Day,Books In Homes, SCBWI, The Writers...

Bill Bachle USA sculptor supports Montes...

Bill Bachle,  Chairman, The Luxury Marketing Council UK, sculptor, writer, consultant for DreamWorks to United Nations, is in Australia. Had a lovely dinner with him at The Hughenden Hotel Woollahra. He worked on the European segment of Speilberg’s Shoah. Bill’s Sydney exhibition of minature sculptures of elegant and original dresses raised funds for Montessori Education was warmly successful. I loved the small fragile sculptures but would have liked to have seen his major works in marble and carved wood. They’re in Europe/UK. Christmas is nearly here...

Governor Marie Bashir – a remarkab...

One of my favourite photos of 2011 Order of Australia OAM Susanne Gervay is when the Governor Professor Bashir, the first woman to be appointed Governor of New South Wales, presented me with an Order 0f  Australia (OAM) for children’s literature and other associations at Government House Dr Bashir is a leading light in children’s services, psychiatry and mental health services, and indigenous health programs. and when appointed was  Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Sydney ; Area Director of Mental Health Services Central Sydney ; and...

Keeping Books Alive ~ Australian Childre...

I was so impressed that librarians and teachers came from not only Melbourne, regional Victoria and even South Australia to this fabulous conference on a Saturday. They were enthusiastic and inspiring.  Special hello to Lulu and Faye  and Jim. Keeping Books Alive Conference opened with an informative keynote on the state of publishing and the rise of the e-book. Dianne Bates and I spoke about issue based novels. Dianne’s YA novel ‘Cutting the Skin’ is published by Ford Street Publishing. My first picture book, ‘Ships in the Field’ will be...