Rose in Bloom
Page 6
‘Absolutely,’ said Aunt Alice.
Rose cheered and rode off again, her hair loose and blowing in the wind, her face up to the sun. Just think – in a few years, instead of a bicycle, she might be driving a car!
Times were changing. Rose could feel it.
I was born and grew up in New Zealand, on a dairy farm, and travelled all the way around the world before I eventually came to Australia. My oldest sister, Karen, was a world traveller and I wanted to be just like her.
I arrived in Australia in 1978. I was only planning to stay for three months but I’m still here, and now I am a citizen.
At school, I learned a lot about European history but nothing about Australia. I had no idea how the government worked, or that the states were independent until Federation. And what was Federation anyway?
Writing Rose’s story meant a huge amount of research, which I love, and I suspect I now know more about early Melbourne and Federation than most Aussies!
I was born and grew up in Italy, a beautiful country to visit, but also a difficult country to live in for new generations.
In 2006, I packed up my suitcase and I left Italy with the man I love. We bet on Australia. I didn’t know much about Australia before coming – I was just looking for new opportunities, I guess.
And I liked it right from the beginning! Australian people are resourceful, open-minded and always with a smile on their faces. I think all Australians keep in their blood a bit of the pioneer heritage, regardless of their own birthplace.
Here I began a new life and now I’m doing what I always dreamed of: I illustrate stories. Here is the place where I’d like to live and to grow up my children, in a country that doesn’t fear the future.
An invitation to the Evening Reception where you might be presented to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York was very special. But the most important invitation would have been to the opening of the first Parliament, earlier in the day.
THE path to Federation wasn’t smooth. Politicians from Victoria and New South Wales argued for years about how it would happen and who should be the first Prime Minister.
They also argued over where the new capital of Australia would be – Melbourne or Sydney? In the end, it was decided to create a brand new city, Canberra, in the new Australian Capital Territory. But because at the time of Federation work on the new city hadn’t started yet, Sydney and Melbourne divided the Federation ceremonies between them.
The Proclamation of Federation was held in Sydney on 1st January, 1901. Then the opening of the first Commonwealth Parliament was in Melbourne on the 9th of May, 1901.
Both cities tried to outdo each other, with processions, carnivals, fireworks and parties. It seems the rivalry is still going on today!
the
OUR AUSTRALIAN GIRL
Song
We are all Australian girls, each one unique
Reaching out across centuries, far lands and seas
And even though I might seem different from you
If you take my hand let’s share history too.
Each of our girls has a story to tell
An adventure, a journey, a growing as well
Each one of them shares part of our history
Each one an Australian girl like you and me.
If you’d like to hear the OAG song, you’ll find it on our website. Go to ouraustraliangirl.com.au
OUR AUSTRALIAN GIRL
ouraustraliangirl.com.au
Want to find out more?
For all the latest news, behind-the-scenes information and to enter competitions, visit our website. We’d love to hear from you!
Nellie
1849
An Irish orphan in South Australia
by
PENNY MATTHEWS
Meet Nellie O’Neill as she arrives in Adelaide, full of dreams.
It’s 1849 and Nellie’s left the famine in Ireland far behind her and crossed the world to find a better life. Now that she’s come to South Australia, Nellie hopes she’ll never be hungry again. She has other hopes, too – to learn to read, and to be part of a family once more. Most of all, though, she wants to be seen not just as an Irish workhouse orphan, but as a person in her own right.
Brave, bonny and full of fun, Nellie is a girl you’ll never forget. Meet Nellie and join the adventures of an Irish girl with a big heart, in search of the freedom to be herself.
Alice
1918
A ballerina in World War One
by
DAVINA BELL
Meet Alice Alexander, at home with her big family in their house on the banks of the Swan River.
It’s 1918 and Alice’s deepest wish is to become a real ballerina. But as the war in Europe causes problems in Perth, her family is torn apart. Alice must make difficult choices between the thing she loves and the people she cares for most. Can she really give up on her dreams forever?
Loyal, lively and graceful, Alice is an Australian girl living on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Meet Alice and join in the adventures of a girl with a beautiful gift in a world at war.
Meet the other Australian girls and authors
A HOME FOR GRACE
1808
It’s 1808 and Grace loves caring for baby Alice and working with her mistress, Beth, on the property at Rose Hill. Grace tries so hard to be a good servant – but still her master, Tom, doesn’t trust her. Does he blame her for what happened to Glory, who is injured and growing sicker every day? Grace has to do something to help, but who can she turn to?
Sofie Laguna, author of the Grace books, is a highly regarded and award-winning writer of several books for children. Bird and Sugar Boy was shortlisted for the 2007 CBCA Book of the Year Award, Younger Readers, and Sofie’s adult book, One Foot Wrong, was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award in 2009.
LETTY’S CHRISTMAS
1841
It’s 1841 and the Grey family have fallen on hard times. Letty is forced to return to Sydney. She has no money and nowhere to live. The journey back over the Blue Mountains is tough, and Harry doesn’t make it any easier. As Christmas draws near, will Letty ever make it to a place she can call home?
Alison Lloyd, author of the Letty books, is the popular and highly regarded author of several books for children, including Year of the Tiger and Wicked Warriors and Evil Emperors, a fantastic and fact-filled book about Ancient China, shortlisted for the 2011 CBCA Eve Pownall Award.
Poppy Comes Home
1864
It’s 1864 and Poppy, disguised as a lost princess from India, has joined a travelling medicine show. They’re about to enter the town of Beechworth, where her brother Gus told her he was heading months before. Poppy is so happy to think that that she might find Gus at last! But when she follows the clues, they lead her to the cemetery. Gus couldn’t really be there, could he?
Gabrielle Wang, author of the Poppy books, is a much loved writer for young people. Gabrielle’s recent books include her bestselling Young Adult novel Little Paradise, and the very popular Ghost in My Suitcase, which won the 2009 Aurealis Award for young fiction.
Follow the story of your favourite Australian girls and you will see that there is a special charm on the cover of each book that tells you something about the story.
Here they all are. You can tick them off as you read each one.
PUFFIN BOOKS
Published by the Penguin Group
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Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Published by Penguin Group (Australia), 2011
Text copyright © Sherryl Clark, 2011
Illustrations copyright © Lucia Masciullo, 2011
The moral right of the author and the illustrator has been asserted. All rights reserved.
Every effort has been made to contact the copyright holders for material used in this book.
If anyone has information on relevant copyright holders, please contact us.
Image of A Federation Invitation reproduced with kind permission from the Parliament Art House Collection
puffin.com.au
ouraustraliangirl.com.au
ISBN: 978-1-74253-402-2