CBCA at the Convent

My friend Jackie Kerin and I went along to the CBCA Book Week gig at The Convent in Abbotsford. It's a great venue and I like going back there because before it became an arts precinct and after it was a convent, it was part home to Lincoln Institute and I studied there. But...back to Sunday...

Jackie was storytelling, based on her book, Phar Lap the wonder horse. I had no official function and as I had no copies of Sheep, Goat beyond my own, was keeping a low profile. I did catch up with a few people (hello Jacqui Grantford, Ann J) and meet some new ones (hello Sarah Davis, Mark Austin and Richard Mordern) and ended the day reading Sheep, Goat to a few people (Jacqui G had painty hands)

L to R...me, Jackie Kerin, Mark Austin, Pemberthy Bear and Jacqui G. To those who know Sally Murphy's Pemberthy Bear, this is Pemberthy, taking a bow.

Phar Lap is launched

Today I attended the launch of a picture book I've watched grow from a simple spoken idea nearly eight years ago. Phar Lap the wonder horse (the picture book) began as part of a conversation while watching children do circus classes (okay so the connection isn't that clear yet). It's in ballad form and is gloriously illustrated by Patricia Mullins using collage.


Jackie Kerin is the author and her Phar Lap story is the first picture book on his history. It follows his story from birth to death and all the wonderful excitement in between. It uses the language of the racetrack, of the time. Jackie is a talented storyteller and performed 'Phar Lap the wonder horse' for the audience. The launch, held at Melbourne Museum, in the presence of the tall red horse, was attended (amongst others) by a class from a local primary school and others. Jackie held us all in thrall as she performed.


Patricia's wonderful original artwork was on exhibition and it was great to see the textures and layers in her work. Afterwards we retired to The Windsor for a wonderful lunch.


Congratulations to Jackie and Patricia and Melbourne Museum (publisher). It's a wonderful book.