Stories on Sunday

Hazel Edwards. Image courtesy Hazel Edwards.

Date: Sunday 29 June 2008
Time: 11am – 12 noon
Venue: The Hall, FREE

Melbourne writer Hazel Edwards helps National Museum visitors get into the winter spirit with an exciting time-travelling tale of Antarctic adventure!

Hazel will read from her book Antarctic Close-up, and share her experience of going to Antarctica.

Hazel's book is based on a telescope which belonged to John Close, who explored Antarctica alongside Sir Douglas Mawson. You can see the telescope, and learn more about John Close, in our Eternity gallery. You can also see footage from the 1911-14 Antarctic expedition (MPEG4, 4mb).

Hazel has published over 130 books and is a 2006-7 National Literacy Champion. Her well-loved children's book There's a Hippopotamus on My Roof Eating Cake has been in continuous publication for 28 years, and a copy was even gifted to baby Princess Isabella of Denmark. Hazel has also travelled to Antarctica and published several books inspired by her travels.

To learn more about Hazel and her Antarctic adventures, check out Hazel's personal website.

Author Jackie French. Image courtesy Jackie French.

Jackie French

Award-winning author Jackie French visited the National Museum on 20 January 2008.

Jackie read from her book The Day I Was History. This National Museum of Australia Press publication was inspired by a badly burnt wheel hub from one of the fire trucks destroyed during the Canberra 2003 bushfires.

The bushfires hold special significance for Jackie, whose son was involved. Her Museum visit coincided with the fifth anniversary of the firestorm.

The Day I Was History is part of the Making Tracks series of books, which features a series of online games, including a bushfires memory pairing game.

The burnt-out wheel and hub which inspired the book is on display in the Museum's Old New Land gallery.

Jackie has written many children's books, including the much-loved Diary of a Wombat. She has also written historical novels for children and numerous books on gardening and self-sufficiency.

Learn more on Jackie French's personal webpage.

Libby Hathorn

Multi-award winning author Libby Hathorn visited the National Museum on 17 February 2008.

Libby Hathorn read from her summer holiday book Caravan Kids, which was inspired by a pink caravan in the National Museum's collection.

Caravan Kids is part of the National Museum's Making Tracks series of books for young readers.

You can see the pink caravan in our lower Nation gallery, or enjoy a virtual 360 degree tour of the caravan.

Libby Hathorn is the author of more than 40 children's books, including the much-loved Tram to Bondi Beach and Thunderwith.

Her stories have been translated into many languages, as well as being turned into plays, a movie (The Echo of Thunder based on Thunderwith) and even an opera.

Libby lectures in creative writing for children at The University of Sydney and also travels regularly talking about Australian literature.

Learn more and enjoy online games, stories, and poems on Libby Hathorn's personal website.

Anthony Hill

Award-winning author Anthony Hill visited the National Museum of Australia on 9 March 2008.

Anthony Hill read from his book River Boy, which was inspired by the PS Enterprise in the National Museum collection.

River Boy is part of the Museum's Making Tracks series of books for young readers.

The PS Enterprise was first launched in 1878, and for the first 100 years of its life worked transporting goods along the rivers of south-eastern Australia. It has now been restored, and is one of the oldest steam-powered vessels afloat in the world!

The PS Enterprise is open for public inspection at the Museum's Acton Jetty every Saturday between 11am to 3pm (weather permitting).

Anthony has written for both children and adults, and has received many accolades for his work, including the 2002 NSW Premier's Literary Award for Soldier Boy, a biographical novel about the youngest known ANZAC soldier.

Anthony has worked as a journalist and speech writer and is now a fulltime author based in Canberra.

You can learn more about Anthony's publications on the Penguin website.

Libby Gleeson. Image courtesy Libby Gleeson.

Libby Gleeson

Libby Gleeson visited the National Museum of Australia on Sunday 27 April 2008 where she read from her book Ray's Olympics.

This book was inspired by the ABC outside broadcast van in the National Museum collection.

The van was brought to Australia in 1956 - the same year television came to the nation - to telecast the Melbourne Olympics!

See the van on display in our League of Legends exhibition (until 11 May 2008) or take a virtual look at the ABC van interactive (requires Flash version 8, see link below).

Libby grew up in New South Wales, and has always loved reading. She has worked as a teacher both in Australia and overseas, but now works fulltime writing books for children and young adults. Over the past 20 years Libby has published 20 books, and has also written for television, including Bananas in Pyjamas and Magic Mountain.

Find out more on Libby Gleeson's personal website.

Gary Crew. Image courtesy Gary Crew.

Gary Crew

STORY TELLING SESSION CANCELLED

Queensland author Gary Crew joins the National Museum to share his insights into the travelling tradesman known as the saw doctor.

Gary's book, The Saw Doctor, is part of the Making Tracks series. It was inspired by a unique wagon in the National Museum collection.

You can see a blade from the wagon, and learn more about its maker Harold Wright, in our Eternity gallery.

You can also enjoy an interactive exploration of the wagon (requires Flash version 8, see link below).

Gary has been writing for young adults for over 20 years and his work has won many awards. Gary lives on a block of land with his wife and several dogs, and he also writes crime and science fiction short stories for adults and young people. He is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Learn more on Gary Crew's personal website.