A great tool to August 2011 improve literacy www.ozkids.com.au in schools! Print Post Approved P.P. 334553/00001

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Entries closing soon! 2011 On the Young Australian Art Awards website you can browse the entries from all over Australia, and consider entering artwork yourself. It’s free. Young All entrants must be no older than 18 years of age or attending either a primary or secondary college. There are four categories: painting, drawing, photography Australian or computer art. To enter, check out our website www.youngatart.com.au and

request an entry form, then submit a digital copy of your artwork online. If you do not have access to digital imaging you may send your artwork to ACLB Ltd., P.O. ART Box 267 Lara, Victoria 3212. Further information available online. awards www.YoungAtArt.com.au Original design and illustration by Lee Burgermeestre by Original design and illustration 

Contents

From the Editor’s Desk...... 4 Verfrumdungseffekt: Jackson’s Last Stand...... 21 Book Review: Mole Hunt...... 4 Estranging the Audience...... 37 By Andrew Holland, Eynesbury Senior College, Adelaide, SA Fictionalising History...... 5 By Elizabeth Waldron, Newtown High School of the Performing Shellshock...... 22 The Challenge of a Computer Gaming Sequel... 8 Arts, Newtown, NSW By Blake Lovely, Mosman High School, Mosman, NSW Lions Australia...... 9 The Wetland...... 39 To Survive in War...... 23 Ambassadors...... 17 By Cassandra Thaller, Oxley College, Chirnside Park, Vic. By Alana Lambert, Redcliffs Secondary College, Redcliffs, Vic. The Plains of Enfer...... 39 Nothing Really Ends...... 24 AWARDS FOR POETRY By Talia Walker, Cerdon College, Merrylands, NSW By Nerys Brown, Deloraine High School, Deloraine, Tas. Polaroid...... 39 Own It...... 28 The Dance of Darkness...... 6 By Sarah Jenkin-Hall, Eynesbury Senior College, Adelaide, SA By Amelia McInnes, Merbein College, Merbein, Vic. By Melissa Lay, St. John’s Regional College, Dandenong, Vic. Moonlight Connection...... 41 Animal’s View – My Mistress’ Death...... 29 Feral Pets...... 13 By Talia Walker, Cerdon College, Merrylands, NSW By Savarnah Wilkie, Bothwell District High School, Bothwell, Tas. By Kimberley Keoh, Apollo Parkways PS, Greensborough, Vic. Morning Maze...... 42 Waiting...... 32 Nobody For You...... 13 By Matthew Harper-Gomm, Kambrya College, Berwick, Vic. By Huyen Nguyen, Eynesbury Senior College, Adelaide, SA By Kithma Kaluwitharana, St. John’s Regional College, Dandenong, Vic. The Never Ending Journey...... 46 New Year’s Eve Mouse...... 33 By Victoria Toh, Oxley College, Chirnside Park, Vic. By Daniel Hillan, Eynesbury College, Adelaide, SA Invasion...... 13 By Milla Barrett, Nambour Christian College, Woombye, Qld. Deaf and Blind...... 46 And the Sky Bled...... 34 By Nina Lee, Mt. Martha Primary School, Mt. Martha, Vic. By Hannah Nugent, Fairholme College, Toowoomba, Qld. Torn...... 15 By Talia Walker, Cerdon College, Merrylands, NSW Waiting...... 46 Life Returning...... 38 By Amy Blackshaw, St. Louis de Montfort PS, Aspendale, Vic. By Gemma Randall, Caulfield Grammar School, Wheelers Hill, Vic. The Anzacs’ Fight...... 15 By Shannon Allas-Scott, Belgrave South PS, Belgrave South, Vic. Greet’s Big Plan...... 38 By Jasmine Menzies, Middle Park State School, Middle Park, Qld. Beautiful Soul of a Fragile Mind...... 15 AWARDS FOR SHORT STORIES By Adrian Harper-Gomm, Kambrya College, Berwick, Vic. Daredevil...... 40 By Owen Small, Crescent Head Public School, Crescent Head, NSW The Battle at Eureka...... 16 The Moon Lit Lake...... 6 By Daniel Gates, Huntingtower School, Mt. Waverley, Vic. By Amelia Vine, Lauriston Girls’ School, Armadale, Vic. The Fire...... 42 By Abbie Sayce, Woodleigh Junior School, Minimbah, Frankston Sunflower grow grow!...... 27 Some Dreams Are Deadly...... 7 South, Vic. By Hannah King, Regent College, Victoria Park, WA By Prisca Ochan, Mansfield State High School, Mansfield, Qld. Journey Through Space...... 44 Sitting by the Window...... 30 A Big Lesson for Kings...... 10 By Grace Blanch, The Essington School Darwin, Nightcliff,N T By Owen Small, Crescent Head Public, Crescent Head, NSW By Jack McGill, Mountain Creek State School, Mountain Ck., Qld. Friendship...... 34 A Dragon Saved My Life...... 11 By Simone Fritchley, Kolbe Catholic SC, Craigieburn, Vic. By Lily Evans, Mountain Creek State School, Mountain Ck., Qld. Front cover image by Colour Palindrome...... 35 Sunset Ride...... 12 Marc McBride By Jemma Curran, Essington School, Nightcliff,N T By James Burwood, St. Mary’s Primary School, Hampton, Vic. Front cover image by Marc McBride The Colour Poem...... 35 Fear...... 12 Photo credits – ‘Fear’, p. 12: Vectorportal.com. By James Kearney, The Essington School, Nightcliff,N T By lsabelle Messenger, Ravenswood School for Girls, Gordon, NSW ‘Animal’s View – My Mistress’ Death’, top p. 29: My Imagination...... 35 Mr Linden’s Library...... 14 Maria Li, http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1176401; bottom By Jennafer Milne, Eynesbury Senior College, Adelaide, SA By Isabel Nakonieczny, Lauriston Girls’ School, Armadale, Vic. p. 29: Jeremy Wrenn, http://www.morguefile.com/ archive/display/698577. ‘Moonlight Connection’, p. School...... 35 Road to Desperation...... 18 41: Lize Rixt, http://www.sxc.hu/photo/945067. ‘In By Olivia Chum, Mt. Pritchard Public School, Mt. Pritchard, NSW By Jessica Carpenter, Kelmscott Senior High School, Kelmscott, WA a Melbourne minute...’, p. 20; ‘Life Returning’, p. 38; My Amazing Grandpa...... 37 In a Melbourne Minute...... 20 ‘Daredevil’, p. 40: Frank Jones, Desktop Dynamics, By Francois Kruger, Nambour Christian College, Woombye, Qld. By Sarah Jenkin-Hall, Eynesbury Senior College, Adelaide, SA Geelong.

Published by: The Selection Committee: Fund Committee:...... Gail Woods CPA Australian Children’s Literary Board Managing Editor:...... Carol Dick Paul Warburton CPA (an initiative of the Children’s Charity Network) Editors: ...... Rachael Hinga, Rob Leonard ABN 58 109 336 245 Bronwyn Jarman Directors:...... Prof. Margot Hillel OAM (Chair) Phone: (03) 5282 8950 Publisher:...... Robin Leonard Prof. Peter Blamey Fax: (03) 5282 8950 Assistant Publisher:...... Leanne Johnstone Dr. Elaine Saunders 170 Forest Road, Lara, Victoria 3212 Finals Judge: ...... Professor Margot Hillel OAM Gail Woods CPA Postal Address: Australian Catholic University Rob Leonard (Executive) PO Box 267, Lara, Victoria 3212 Marketing Manager:...... Christi Valentine Layout/Pre-press:...... Desktop Dynamics, Geelong Sponsorship Manager:...Ernest Bland Website Production:...... The Media Warehouse Advertising Manager:....Graham Johnstone www.mediawarehouse.com.au

August 2011  From the Editor’s BOOK REVIEWMOLE HUNT Desk The Maximus Black Files: Mole Hunt by Paul Collins (Ford St. Publishers) ISBN 9-781-921-665-2-64 Young Adult Fiction – June 2011 The colder weather is upon us, in some PB RRP $19.95 Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis States anyway. What better way to pass the time than to sit snuggled up with a aximus Black is the youngest are action super-heroes similar to good book? An even better way to keep the recruit to ace all areas of those of the comic books, warring fingers warm is to create your own work training in the spy agency against the good and evil inside and for others to read. M RIM (Regis Imperium Mentatis), outside their selves. Their violence, Keep sending those stories and poems in. the galactic law enforcement agency. energy and power are matched to the We are fast approaching our 2011 Young He is single-minded in his quest forces of nature that surrounds them Australian Writers’ Awards in November. to uncover the co-ordinates to the in the Galaxy. So get your entries in before September. weapon caches belonging to the Please don’t leave it to the last minute or Old Empire that have been hidden Mole Hunt is action-focused, vicious you could miss out. away for ages. At seventeen, the big and bloody. The characters are plans for his life are supported by his constantly challenged by their ENTER ON-LINE exceptional intelligence and mastery fast-changing circumstances. This at of data collection and disguise. This trilogy would make a terrific movie. will give him power and control over Visual scenes are formed vividly www.ozkids.com.au the Galaxy. Nothing and no one is in the reader’s mind due to the getting in his way. A trail of dead extraordinary writing style, and the bodies early in the book establishes tension is palpable throughout the his position and character in the book. story. A trailer for the book can be found Maximus has been allocated the at: http://www.youtube.com/ task of uncovering the mole in the watch?v=3S-eKDYqpEs company. The greatest irony is that he is the mole. But because of his unique skills, he is able to manipulate all information – coded and otherwise – to his benefit, shielding himself from suspicion KEEP ON WRITING by creating smoke screens. (TYPING)! The only threat to Maximus’ ambition is Anneke Longshadow Carol Dick who has vowed to bring him Managing Editor down. Anneke is a warrior; courageous, capable, focused, and determined. She appears equally as intelligent as, and ANNOUNCEMENT apparently more resourceful than Maximus. She has different Changing Yesterday things to prove. by Sean McMullen Both characters have secrets and Published by FORD STREET secret pasts; have experienced . Sean has just been short-listed for the grief and loss of family. They Hugo Award in the novella category for ‘Eight Miles’. CHILDREN’S CHARITY NETWORK SUPPORTS CHARITIES AND http://www.fordstreetpublishing.com ORGANISATIONS WHO SUPPORT US! Oz Kids in Print  Fictionalising History MOLE HUNT By Goldie Alexander – [email protected]

hen I write historical fiction I Great War, and what happened to him after try to portray significant events that, Jaxson reads about Gallipoli. As a Was well as keep my audience result his close friendship with Turkish Abi reading. I’m careful to place my characters wavers. Does this make Abi his enemy? inside their environment. I’m careful to only use research as background where My other historical novel is YA. One of the people move about in an everyday way. lesser known explorations into the interior Convincing characters, plots and structure was led by William Gosse in 1873. The keep us reading. Show, don’t tell can mean various members of this exploration (both that instead of paragraphs of description, European and Afghan) did exist and my I use key phrases and relate them to the story is based on Gosse’s own day to day action. Characters must move about as if journal. This expedition was the first non- this is their ‘today’. indigenous group to come across Uluru. Without the use of camels and Afghan In My Australian Story: Surviving Sydney cameleers they might not have survived Cove I had to become a thirteen year old the harsh conditions they encountered girl convict in the Sydney of 1790 when in the outback. Though it is the first time terrible hardships prevailed and the First any cameleer was praised for helping Fleet felt as if they were cut off from the open the interior, these facts are not rest of the world. In the YA Body and well known. Nor that an aboriginal boy Soul: Lilbet’s Romance I became a disabled was an invaluable member of this party. eighteen year old living in Melbourne just Some cameleers even lent their name before the outbreak of World War Two, to landmarks, such as Kamran’s Well and What happens to that land when it rains? threatened with being institutionalised. Alannah Hill. My intention was to bring The same for Gallipoli Cove. this expedition to life by creating a fictional Gallipoli Medals is aimed at emerging character that was part of it. Thus I came If we don’t have Aboriginal ancestors, we readers, with the intention of giving up with Ahmed Ackbar, a fourteen-year- are all migrants. My parents arrived in context and background to the soldiers old Afghan and my ‘youngest cameleer’. Australia in the first part of the twentieth who died at Gallipoli Cove. I tried to bring century and settled happily in Melbourne. 1915 up to date by having the story swing Dialogue and first person narrative help Our great migrant waves have occurred from the present to the past and back create characters, so Ahmed tells his at various times: during the gold rush, again. In it, Major Peter Romsey contacts story in fluent Pashtu, since his English is straight after World War Two, and in the Jaxson’s dad to ask if some medals he found poor. He is the only surviving male in his seventies when the ‘boat people’ arrived. in an op shop could possibly belong to the immediate family. In late 1872 he sails into It’s good to recall that Afghans have Donoghue family. Intrigued by the story the prosperous city of Adelaide to help look been responsible for opening up our vast of his great, great uncle being part of the after four camels. But he has other things continent and that without their camels on his mind. What if his uncle Kamran the task would have been harder than it isn’t as innocent of his brother’s death as already was. he seems? As the expedition treks into the interior, Ahmed must cope with Jemma When I was young I always longed for a Khan’s enmity, his own homesickness, machine that would allow me to become and the difficulties of exploring unknown part of a story. I always wanted to befriend by Goldie Alexander territory. some of the characters I read about. Then I could have had a fresh start with a whole You might like to track Ahmed’s new set of people. Back then as a somewhat journey on a map and discover what solitary child who spent her life reading has happened to these places since and imagining I was somewhere else with then. You could delve into how our a ‘nicer and far more sympathetic’ family, Aboriginal people behaved when they I would have given anything to be assured came across these explorers, suggest that my loneliness would surely pass. I reasons, and what their appearance hope that maybe I can interest my readers was back then. You can research into thinking the same way. I would like contemporary Uluru, both as an icon to help them look beyond the immediate and tourist attraction and discover its present to see life as the continuum that it original name. What route does the surely is. Because that’s what literature is Ghan railway take? What was there all about… isn’t it? before the railway? What is the climate and terrain around Alice Springs like? www.goldiealexander.com August 2011 

could hear the ceiling fans twirl foggy and no one could see. I moved My eyes opened; I was still underneath. above my head. Today was the hottest through the fog and reached a place where I felt as if my whole body got heavier as Iday in summer. I could hear the radio I had never been before. It was a lake, a I sank to the bottom, and something was blaring out the weather. Mum and Dad moon lit lake. pulling me. I looked down to see if there were at work as usual and I was left at home was something holding my leg, but there with my two dogs Darcy and Willow. From up on the ground the lake looked was nothing. Why didn’t I go up? Nothing dark and black. It was too hard to see if was holding me. I soon felt like a bird as In the country it gets pretty hot, but I’m there were any signs of fish or something I flew up to gasp for breath. I quickly got used to it. I remember on days like this dad else! All I could see was the reflection of out of the lake and stood to see what pulled would come with me to buy an ice cream the moon. me, but all I could see was the reflection from the ice cream van, now he’s too busy of the moon. with work. The breeze was getting colder and colder as I walked closer to the lake. I circled the lake By Amelia Vine Darcy and Willow pranced up and down, to see if it was okay to swim in. I took off Year 6, Lauriston Girls’ School they could feel something. Suddenly the my sandals and jumped in. The water was ARMADALE – VIC. sky turned grey and the radio became cold and refreshing as if it were drinkable. Teacher: Andrea Walter clear. It blurted out something, it sounded I gazed out to try and see home but the fog like a warning! I walked outside to check was still in the way. I put my head under if everything was okay but it just turned water, was it a bad choice! The Moon Lit Lake

A dead twig snaps like a connection being broken It’s funny how something dead can still remain, Lingering in one’s mind like the puddles left from last night’s rain Slowly evaporating when the sun begins to break through the clouds. In the disappearing puddles are blurry images The Of sadness and loneliness Etching themselves into my brain Painful memories that have haunted me for years Leaving my heart scarred and heavy Dance A teardrop falls, Causing ripples in the water And as quickly as they came, The images disappear Fading, to be forgotten forever. of The sun suddenly disappears and again, I am surrounded by darkness that threatens to consume me – The thought of spending more endless nights alone bring fear into my eyes The cold wind blows like icy hands wrapping themselves around me Tightening their grip, suffocating me. Darkness I start losing my breath, As the cold darkness closes in on me. And I fail to see any light. I am happy knowing that when I pull out this dagger I will finally be welcomed into your warm arms again Where we will dance together forever In the sky.

By Melissa Lay Year 9, St. John’s Regional College DANDENONG – VIC.

Oz Kids in Print  Some Dreams Are Deadly

he ivy wrapped itself tightly around She didn’t answer. Being a completely “So you read minds too?” exclaimed the trees making furrows on the rational person, she was trying to locate Charity, exasperated, beginning to feel Ttrunks. “Abigail, Abigail wake up!” their whereabouts and come up with a very uncomfortable. “This could be a yelled Charity. “Someone’s coming.” logical explanation for their circumstances. problem.” Numerous thoughts rushed through her “Hmm”, Abigail mumbled, not yet awake. head but after thoroughly thinking about Charity was right, for what the creature it, they each didn’t make much sense. was doing could become a very big Charity stared at Abigail for a while. How Abigail concluded that only one thing problem, because little did she or Abigail tranquil and peaceful she looked in her could make sense at that moment: she and know that in exactly two minutes they’d be sleep. Pity that was about to end. WHACK! Charity were in her dream. dead. Two minutes to find a way to defeat She slapped Abigail hard against the face the creature. This could be a big problem, with her hand and she woke up with a “Charity, we’re in my dream”, Abigail a very big one indeed. start. stated. Charity just looked at her like she had grown four more ears and continued Fifty seconds had already passed. A minute “What the yell did you do that for?” yelled looking around. “That is ludicrous, Abigail, and fifty left to kill, or is it that the girls Abigail, infuriated, her eyes almost red. “I how can we possibly be in your dream? would perish? Twenty seconds more gone, was having the awesomest dream.” Tell me how?” surely they were going to die.

“Awesomest is not a word”, snapped “Charity, I’m not sure, but I promise “One minute, thirty seconds. The back Charity. you, that’s where we are. I remember the of neck. Now!” Abigail had a sudden surroundings, the smell, and the flow—” realisation, all her dreams about this “Is too.” Charity interrupted her, “That’s impossible. situation came back to her. Somehow in Get real Abi, I don’t care what you say.” the next one and a half minutes they had “Is not.” to kill the ‘thing’. It was the back of his neck “I think you’d find that your friend is right.” that needed to be crushed, after that he’d be “Is too.” The girls both turned around and standing dead. It was like a game, and the prize was there was a dark figure. It didn’t seem to life. Such a dangerous game to play. “Shut up.” have a mouth but somehow spoke. The figure looked like a skeleton wrapped in One minute left, thirty seconds had gone. A ruffling sound emerged from behind the cling wrap covered in a dark cloth. For Abigail somehow sent a telepathic massage ancient trees and a dark figure emerged. eyes he (?) had dark green acorn shaped to Charity. While Charity distracted the As suddenly as the figure came into view, things pushed into his head. For hands abominable thing, she jumped onto his The the world they had come to know as home it had sharp claw like things, it looked back and used a stick she’d carried to disappeared. terrifyingly menacing. Something neither crush and jab into his neck. Blood oozed of the girls wanted to get close to. out rapidly. BANG! His neck cracked and Abigail had been having the same dream for he yelped in pain. BANG! He fell to the almost three nights in a row; it contained The figure moved closer to the girls and ground and quickly began to dissipate Dance the same people, same surroundings, and began to encircle them. His breath smelt and evaporate. same smells. But each time she’d dreamt it, of garlic – something familiar to Abigail. one little detail would change. Whether it Well this is awkward, thought Charity, still “Abigail”, yelled Charity, shaking Abigail be the colour of one leaf on one of the trees, trying to take in and digest thoroughly back and forth. “Wake up!” the colour of a flower or even the smell. what had just happened. Some skeleton of Abigail realised this, but what she didn’t thing had just materialised behind them “What are you doing here in my room? I know was that one day she’d be living her and is able to talk without moving his lips was having the awesomest dream.” dream – in this case her nightmare. – he didn’t have lips. Yep, this happens to everyone and I should not be one bit “Me too.” “Where are we?” asked Charity anxiously, worried, Charity thought Darkness legs shaking. again sarcastically. “Was your dream about a weird skeleton thing that looked like it was wrapped in “If I knew I’d tell you”, Abigail “No you’re wrong cling wrap and covered in a black cloth?” replied sharply trying to hide her girl”, declared not so imperceptible fear. “This the ‘thing’ still “Is a lion carnivorous?” place does seem familiar.” e n c i r c l i n g the girls in a And yes, a lion is carnivorous. “You mean you’ve been green coloured here?” Charity inquired substance. “This By Prisca Ochan looking at Abigail doesn’t happen to Year 8, Mansfield State High School incredulously. many people and you MANSFIELD – QLD. should be worried”. August 2011  The Challenge of a Computer Gaming Sequel By George Ivanoff To them, the world they live in is very know what the characters will do after the real. Of course, during their adventures, end of book two… and I know how they revelations are made and by the end of the will do it, who they will meet and what book, Tark and Zyra finally realise that they threats they will face. are actually in a game. Will book three ever actually get written The ending of Gamers’ Quest is deliberately and published? I don’t know. But what I do ambiguous. I wanted readers to think know is that if my publisher rings me up about what had happened to Tark and to say that he wants a third book, I won’t Zyra. I wanted readers to ask questions. I have to hesitate for even a second. I’ll just wanted readers to work out for themselves say “YES!” straight away. what Tark and Zyra would do next. I had a lot of fun writing Gamers’ Of course, I knew exactly what happened Challenge! when I wrote the ending. I knew what Tark and Zyra would do next. To me it I hope you have a lot of fun reading it! ometimes an author will write a was obvious. Now that they knew they novel to be the first in a trilogy or were inside a game, they would try to get Want to know more about Gamers’ Quest Sa series. Sometimes an author will out. But… I didn’t know how they would and Gamers’ Challenge? Check out the write a novel and at the back of his mind, go about it. And I didn’t know who they official website to download stories, music he’ll be thinking, “I know where to take this would meet along the way. Or what their and a computer animated video: www. if I ever write a sequel”. And sometimes an obstacles might be. gamersquestbook.com or check out my author will write a novel, intending it to be website at www.georgeivanoff.com.au . a standalone book. And the “how”, “who” and “what” are very important. They are the things that will I wrote Gamers’ Quest, a sci-fi, action/ make a story interesting and exciting. So adventure, computer gaming novel, this was my challenge in writing the sequel intending it to be a one-off. A standalone — come up with some interesting and novel that people could read and then work exciting “how’s”, “who’s” and “what’s”. out for themselves what the characters did after the ending. One of the things I loved about writing Gamers’ Quest was the ability to go over- So what do you do when your publisher the-top — to people the computer game rings you up and says “Gamers’ Quest is world with a host of bizarre characters really popular. Can you write a sequel?”. and creatures and to pitch Tark and Zyra Well, I thought about it for, like, two against an array of way-out threats. In that seconds before answering, “Sure thing!”. first book they had to deal with a dragon, a cyborg, a giant robot spider, a gang of Now the problem was… what to write? mutants, some warrior monks, a space battle, a magical rat, a finger-cracking Well, I had a title — Gamers’ Challenge. But thief, a couple of mages and even a legion now I had to give some serious thought to of Roman soldiers. a storyline. So, with book two, I was again able to Once I stopped to actually think about it, let my imagination run free. This time it really wasn’t that difficult. Even though around we have prophetic cheat-codes, I was not planning a sequel while writing dinosaurs, zombies, homicidal balls of Gamers’ Quest, it was very clear in my static, a unicorn, a super-human soldier, mind what happened to the characters a pinball wizard, an insane computer after the events of the novel. virus and the Ultimate Gamer. And a few familiar faces from the first book also make Gamers’ Quest follows the adventures of appearances. two teenage thieves, Tark and Zyra, as they embark on a quest to reach a place called This time around, the big difference for Designers Paradise. It’s fairly obvious to me was that I was thinking about future the reader from early on, that the world possibilities as I was writing. So by the Tark and Zyra inhabit is inside a computer time I had finished writing book two, I had game. But Tark and Zyra do not know this. an outline in my mind for a third book. I Oz Kids in Print  Lions Australia

Rob Eyton, Project Chairman, and Council Chairman Bob Gilchrist Supporting School Visits and Author Workshops School visits by children’s authors can be arranged by the schools through the Children’s Charity Network. This provides an opportunity for children to participate in literary workshops with our patrons, including renowned children’s book authors Hazel Edwards, Paul Collins, Anna Ciddor, Libby Hathorn and Lorraine Wilson. These workshops provide a wonderful experience for children.

A display of student work welcomed Artwork produced by a pupil during Marjory Gardner shows some of her Marjory Gardner to Minyip Primary Marjory Gardner’s illustration workshops collage artwork to pupils at Minyip School at Minyip Primary School Primary School

Marjory Gardner visits Minyip Primary Marjory Gardner shows pupils at Minyip School Marjory Gardner shows Minyip Primary Primary School a drawing she did when she School pupils artwork from her picture book was their age. ‘Grandma’s Place’. August 2011 10 A Big Lesson for Kings nce upon a time long ago, there After Ted had finished talking, the knight “I want the duel to happen NOW!” shouted lived a Royal King. The King’s heard an evil laugh behind him. The knight the knight. Oname was King Gary Gilbert. looked around and saw the King with a King Gary was rude and selfish. The King bow and arrow. The King shot the arrow “Fine”, replied King Gary Gilbert. would punish anyone and everyone if he and it struck Ted’s heart. The King gave or she would do or say something that one last look and walked calmly away. A few minutes later, King Gary Gilbert and would offend the King. He would shoot The knight looked sadly at Ted. He was the knight were in the lounge room of the them out of a cannon or not let them sleep bleeding profusely. The knight began to King’s palace. for a hundred hours. Once he even made weep, then he started to cry a waterfall someone eat boogers because he swore at of tears. “Once I say go”, said one of the King’s the King. guards, “you can try to chop each other’s heads off”. As you can probably see, nobody liked the King. All the townspeople “GOOOO!” shouted the guard. wished they could get rid of the King but they had no power over him. But As quick as lightning, the King pulled a just when all the townspeople had gun from his pocket. Just then, the knight thought all hope had gone down the remembered his old friend’s words that drain, a knight in shining armour the King was a cheat. (well not exactly a knight in shining armour – he actually had the most “Bang!” went the King’s pistol. hideous green armour that you could ever think of with bright hot pink But the knight’s quick reflexes allowed polka dots) came along. Everyone in him to block the bullet with his sword. the town just looked at the knight, shocked, but the king did exactly The knight didn’t give up. Finally the the opposite. He just started laughing knight said, “Look, an eagle is behind like mad. you”.

“Don’t laugh at me you rude little man The king was never good at school because I challenge you to a duel”, said and didn’t know that eagles don’t the knight. live in or near London. So, he turned around. The knight pushed the King But inside he was scared out of his to the ground and pointed his sword wits. at King Gary’s chest.

“Next Friday is the duel”, said the “I want you to get out of this town and King. never return”, said the knight, pressing the sword more threateningly into the As the knight was walking around the King’s chest. town, searching for a hotel to stay in, he bumped into an old man. The old But suddenly, the King’s guard pushed the man said, “My hotel is nearby, you can knight over, away from the king. stay there for free for the week if you get rid of the King”. As quick as a flash, the King got up off the ground. “OK”, agreed the knight. After a few hours the knight stopped crying. He buried Ted in the backyard of “Bring it on”, said the knight. The next day the old man told the knight his hotel. that his name was Ted. Ted and the knight And with a flick of his wrist the knight was practised sword fighting. At the end of the The next day the knight pounded on the able to strike the King in his heart with his session Ted told the knight, “Beware, the King’s door. sword, killing him instantly. King never plays by the rules”. “What, what?” said the King, half asleep. Just as the King’s guard was about to On Sunday, Ted and the knight practised strangle the knight, they both heard an ear- ducking. “Last night you killed my friend”, said the piercing, terrifying, ghastly “ROAAAR”. knight. “Perfect, just perfect”, congratulated Ted. “What’s that?” asked the knight to the “The King is violent, so be very careful.” “So!” shrieked the King. guard. Oz Kids in Print 11

“It’s the flying freak, also known as rock and threw it at the mighty beast’s eyes. “Sorry about the King”, said the knight. Gliderine. It’s been terrorising the town The flying freak fell down to the ground “He killed Ted so I had to.” for ages. We don’t know why.” instantly. The strong knight pushed the monster’s beak up to get the guard out. “That’s okay, I never really liked him”, said The knight and the guard went outside the guard. because the knight wanted to see the Flying “Thank you, oh thank you”, said the Freak up close. Once they got outside, they guard. The knight waved goodbye for one last both looked up into the sky. They saw the time and rode off into the horizon. flying beast. It suddenly swooped down “All in a day’s work for a knight like me”, and grabbed the guard in its strong beak. boasted the knight. Every year in that little town near London, they have a celebration on that very day the “HELP!” shrieked the guard. The knight and the guard walked back to King died. Now the knight is in Hong Kong town. The told the townspeople that the or somewhere around the world helping He must be in real trouble, thought the King and the Gliderine were both dead. other towns. knight because he sounded like a four year All the townspeople cheered. old girl. The brave knight didn’t need to All the townspeople lived happily ever think twice. He ran as fast as he could and The knight looked around and he saw a after, including the guard and the knight. followed the beast to its cave. The knight horse. He ran over to the horse, jumped hid behind a rock. He pulled out his sword on and said “Goodbye” to the townspeople. By Jack McGill and threw it. Unfortunately, it missed. Then he rode over to the guard. Year 4, Mountain Creek State School Without stopping to think, the knight ran MOUNTAIN CREEK – QLD. straight at the Gliderine. He picked up a Teacher: Doug Larsen

t all began when I was on a boardwalk the palace were very kind. They said that huge pile of chocolate wrappers on my in the jungle at 3:00 in the morning. I they would send me home with 1,000 bedroom floor. Iwas there so early in the morning chocolates. When I heard that I said, “Well because I loved the peace and quiet. The can I please have them now? I’d better “How do I get to this chocolate palace?” boardwalk was far from the ground and go home because my mum and dad are my mum suddenly enquired. above all the spiky trees and bushes. I was probably looking for me”. all alone in a jungle and it was so dark. By Lily Evans Then I heard this unusual noise. I looked “OK then”, they said. The dragon offered Year 4, Mountain Creek State School down at my feet, then realised that the me a ride home and I said, “Yes please”. MOUNTAIN CREEK – QLD. wood underneath me was cracking. I When I got home I told my mum and dad Teacher: Doug Larsen stared at the floor in terror. But it was too the whole story, but of course they didn’t late to run, I was already falling. believe me. But that was only until they went up to my room But in a flash, I was lifted into the air. and saw the Hang on a second, who was lifting me up? Then I looked up and a dragon was carrying me up into the clouds. When the dragon stopped flying, we landed at a palace made of chocolate. When we got in to the palace the dragon told me her A name. She was called Fairy Floss and she had pink and green triangles all over her body. I told her my name. She Dragon thought that my name, Lily, was the most beautiful name in the world. The dragon introduced Saved me to the King and Queen of the chocolate palace. The King My Life and Queen of

August 2011 12

watch from the sky as I gaze in The surf at Bells Beach made Torquay wonder at the panoramic view. The look waveless. A few surfers were catching Isummer sky was setting and the hue massive waves before sunset. They were of the bright sun was slowly fading away. hard waves to catch, but the locals I felt the fresh autumn breeze brush mastered the waves and made it look my face as I slowly drift above Torquay simple. I decided I should come back to Sunset beach. Torquay, so I steered against the wind.

I was tempted to grab my surfboard and I overlooked the horizon one more catch some waves myself alongside the time, then sailed softly downwards Ride other surfers. I could notice every detail and landed with a gentle thump in the from here, like a canopy of trees about giant basket and hopped out before the five kilometres away, covering Torquay deflated balloon could squash me like a road. Below there was a nice camping pancake. ground packed for the Easter holidays with children playing games. The winds By James Burwood blew me away from the herd of tents Year 5, St. Mary’s Primary School below and led me towards Bells Beach. HAMPTON – VIC.

crouched on a battered cobblestone the openness of the road; it would catch My legs shook but I pushed myself of what was once part of a road. A cold me too easily. Taking a chance and hoping forwards. There was a roar of anger Ibreeze picked up and my eyes searched for the best, I spun round and ran straight alarmingly close behind me; the creature the old ruins for any sign of life. My long into the cover of the ruins. A deep, bone was mad at how its prey had chosen to run hair matted with twigs and leaves fell in rattling growl echoed through the ruins away instead of just standing and being my eyes when I turned my head to check and I froze. I resisted the urge to turn caught. In and out of the pillars I darted, my behind me. I irritably brushed it out of the my head, but stood horror struck to the eyes scanning desperately for somewhere way then tensed. Something in the shadows ground as the creature thundered across I could go where it wouldn’t be able to next to me had stirred at my sudden the cobblestones towards me. follow me. Even my swiftness in running movement; the thing was no match for it; it I had been dreading. was about ten metres The figure was hunched, behind now. I rounded and as I watched it started to a corner and to my right I saw a rise. The creature might lunge staircase, worn down after years if I moved suddenly and ran. I in the bitter wind, but the ledges didn’t want that, because from would still make good footholds. the size of that unfriendly dark Fear I swerved towards it and leapt up smudge, it didn’t look like I stood much two stairs at a time. I reached the top of a chance. I darted to the nearest one and collapsed and looked around me, desperately looking behind it. My breathing was ragged and for a place to hide. The stairs had led up It opened its eyes, and through the dense heavy, and although I knew I should be the side of a hill and all around me was just shadows I found myself staring into two breathing quietly, I couldn’t help it. My fields and fields of grass. I couldn’t run any large orange diamonds of fury. The shape back to the rough marble, my chest rapidly more and there was nowhere to hide for moved forwards slowly and the sound of rising and falling, I listened for the sound miles except a few broken pillars. heavy feet snapping twigs rang loudly and of pursuit. There it was. The soft crunch of clearly in the eerie quiet of this forgotten paws on grass. My fingers dug into the dirt. By lsabelle Messenger place. I rose slowly to my feet and backed The sound grew louder and louder as the Year 7, Ravenswood School for Girls away, being careful to not move too creature came closer and closer. Then the GORDON – NSW suddenly. Seven, eight, nine paces back... sound stopped, directly behind me, and Teacher: Sharon Shapiro If I didn’t get this right, it would be the the ground shook as the creature gave a death of me. I couldn’t start running in roar and closed in on its prey. Oz Kids in Print 13

Dogs growl, Dogs bite, They give my brother such a fright, Cats spit, Cats scratch, They eat the cookies baked batch by batch, Feral Pets Fish splash, Fish swim around, I’d rather have a pet that lives on the ground, Mice nibble, Mice make me sneeze, At the dead of night they’ll steal your cheese, Hamsters squeak, Hamsters look funny, Hamsters cost us heaps of money, Horses neigh, They leave stinky manure, Their illnesses cost a fortune to cure, Birds screech, Birds soar, I’d rather have a dinosaur, Just thinking about them gives me blisters, But I’d rather have them all instead of my little sisters

By Kimberley Keoh Year 4, Apollo Parkways Primary School GREENSBOROUGH – VIC.

Laughter has gone The feeling has returned The patches of color fade And the darkness of gloom takes its place.

Cold air hangs around you Invasion The burden of weight is on your back The echo of nature has been replaced I saw them with my very own sight. They were spirit people. They were white. With the noises of man Some of them had a gun. They didn’t look like they were fun. There is no one around Nothing moves I didn’t think they would stay. The memory of sound I thought they would eventually go away. Is a million miles away They just caused plenty of trouble, I need to get away quickly, by the double. Black, black and black Is all you see As we died from getting sick. Pain and sorrow is all you feel They made more houses out of brick. Today As the animals leave I feel sad. My family begin to die, I am mad. Darkness is your only friend There is no one else for you We are a family, our skin beautiful brown. You think you are all alone Our lives now change forever, we wear a frown. There is nothing you can do They are the people with skin of white. To keep our way of life we must fight! By Kithma Kaluwitharana Year 9, St. John’s Regional College By Milla Barrett

Nobody For You DANDENONG – VIC. Year 4, Nambour Christian College WOOMBYE – QLD. Teacher: Mrs Eracleous

August 2011 14

stella van Lockwood was a shy, regret. “It is cursed”, he said softly. The The Vine Creeper. But she was just so, so quiet girl. Though her father was the Book of Fairytales seemed to quiver in tired... Erichest man in all of town and lived Estella’s hands. in the infamous Van Lockwood Manor, she She laid her head on her pillow sleepily, the always preferred to stay within the tall, safe Estella gave a forced laugh, gripping the book still open by her side. Gently closing walls of the Linden Library. book even tighter to her chest. “You need her eyes, she fell into a deep slumber. to work more on your jokes, Mr. Linden.” The owner of the library, Mr. Linden, was She smiled broadly, but it wasn’t a true Just at that moment, a leafy vine snaked very fond of the timid girl. He always smile. “I’ll take the book anyway.” out of the book and wrapped itself suggested dozens of different books for around Estella’s dainty gloved wrist. More Estella to read and together they would Mr. Linden shook his head. “Take it if you vines followed and soon the ropes were chat about the hundreds of thick volumes must, child”, he warned her. “But you will surrounding the sleeping girl. If you were the library held. regret it.” there at that time, you would’ve seen by the dim lamp light the sharp vine wrap On one particular day in late December, H H H around Estella’s neck, and watch as it slowly when the bitter English weather was leeched all the breath from her body. You chilling everybody to the bone and snow As soon as Estella arrived at her home would’ve seen as the vines engulfed her fell gently from the sky, Estella was rifling she sped into her bedroom and sat on body and wrapped around her torso, through the fiction section of the library. her bed. Opening the Book of Fairytales crushing her. As her gloved hands pulled out book after on her lap, she flicked on the lamp and book, a dusty old volume bound in blue began reading. Far away in the library, Mr. Linden silk caught her eyes. sipped casually from a mug of steaming She had already finished the first story, chamomile tea, in full knowledge that at Estella picked it up curiously and flipped which was called The Ebony Forest, in less that moment, Estella Van Lockwood was through its yellowing sheets of paper. There than twenty minutes. It told the gruesome dead. were pages and pages of words written story of two young children who entered elegantly in violet ink with stunning an evil wood and were taught many lessons He shook his head sadly. illustrations painted on every third page. before being killed mercilessly. On the front cover, the title was written He had warned her about the book. stylishly in curling silver letters: The stories, though strange, entranced Estella and she read on and on until she Now it was too late. The Book of Fairytales. was at the last fairytale. By then, moonlight was streaming through the open window By Isabel Nakonieczny “I wouldn’t read that”, a low, scratchy and the Van Lockwood Manor was silent Year 6, Lauriston Girls’ School voice whispered from behind her. Estella as its inhabitants slept peacefully. ARMADALE – VIC. jumped, startled, and turned around to find old Mr. Linden stooping in front of Estella was only two pages of the book her. away from finishing the last fairytale,

“Why?” she asked curiously, clutching the book tightly in her arms.

Mr. Linden looked steadily at her, his clear blue eyes revealing years of sorrow and

Mr Linden’s Library (inspired by the illustration from 'Harris Burdick' by Chris van Alsberg)

Oz Kids in Print 15 TORN THE ANZACS’ FIGHT A torn country of fighting and destruction; As they stood, intrepid, Its people abused and afraid. they fought, for they were loyal. The screams of the hurt pierce the air, As they braved the warfare, Though they are drowned out by the air raid. they fought, throughout the toil Devoted to their country, The soldiers flock to the battlefront they fought, for they were fearless Fighting for a forgotten cause. Despite the death and the war, In the bloodshed and the hate, they stood, and they were tearless. In the aftermath they stood, There is not the slightest pause. guns standing at their sides. After the aftermath they stood, The heartache and the suffering, respectful, for all those who died. The constant shedding of tears, Now we remember, Are what the country has been known for throughout all the troubles. Throughout all these years. how the men fought, and fought in the rubble. Bombs fall on the weakened country, And the soldiers, Already poor and stricken with grief. we honour them now Too long the people have prayed and hoped, for they are the ANZACs. Help is now beyond belief. And they survived, somehow.

By Talia Walker By Shannon Allas-Scott Year 11, Cerdon College Year 6, Belgrave South Primary School MERRYLANDS – NSW BELGRAVE SOUTH – VIC.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH H HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

A tune that is my cure, A melody so sweet and pure, With a harmony of joyful delight, Beautiful Has the world an abundance of beautiful sight.

Beautiful soul of a fragile mind, Hearts are blessed with a love so kind, Soul of a All eyes twinkle with a special spark, The brightest light amongst the shrouding dark.

In a world of forgotten tears and cries, Of rights and wrongs and truth and lies, Fragile In a world of happiness and unwanted demise, One’s dreams are filled only where one tries.

Failure is not part of a given routine, But a chance to step away from where you’ve already been, Mind To venture the path where no one else will go, To give an experience to those who don’t know.

Where all the money in the world can’t buy us love, But for those greedy few who have never enough, By Adrian Harper-Gomm In times of despair we seek the truth, Year 9, Kambrya College In the absence of trust we find the proof. BERWICK – VIC. Teacher: Mrs Leia Hands Knowing a person and sharing their dreams, Changing their life while mending the seams, Taking advice and learning their mind, Beautiful soul of a fragile mind.

August 2011 16 The Battle at Eureka

The miners who worked at Ballarat, They marched upon the Eureka Hotel, The soldiers stormed the stockade Were fed up with the law. In kerosene it was drowned. And beat it into the dirt. They had to pay a licence fee, They all took up their torches The miners lost quickly, It was making them all poor. And burnt it to the ground. Some died and most were hurt.

Governor Hotham told police The licence hunts continued On the third day of December, To search them every day. And they happened more and more. Eighteen fifty four. If they didn’t have their licenses, For the very angry miners, Governor Hotham won the fight, He gave them hell to pay. This was the final straw. But badly lost the war.

The miners were already seething, They found themselves some leaders, Public sympathy was with the miners, When they eventually snapped. Harris, Lalor and Vern. They were shocked by Hotham’s gall. A drunken miner murdered, They met one night on Bakery Hill They said he had no place to fight, With a shovel he’d been whacked. And said the licences should burn. Against the miners in a war.

’Twas the seventh of November, They made themselves a brilliant flag, Scobie’s killer was retrialled Eighteen fifty four. From the stars that light the night. And very quickly jailed. When James Scobie and another friend, It was this flag that incited them, There never is a perfect crime, Knocked on the Eureka Hotel’s door. That they should stand and fight. His escape attempt had failed.

The landlord told them both to leave, The miners built a stockade, The licences were scrapped With anger in his voice. As tall as any man. And never used again. They kept on knocking anyway, The miners picked up weapons The miners’ suffering had ended, The landlord had no choice. And dropped their picks and pans. There would be no more pain.

Creeping like a hunter, On the second of December, Lalor made Parliament, He swung his shovel round. Eighteen fifty four, Harris and Vern, heroes they became. He caught the side of Scobie’s head Some miners left the stockade, And foolish Governor Hotham And knocked him to the ground. They would stay there no more. Took all the public’s blame.

Scobie’s neck was broken, They thought that Governor Hotham, The miners at Eureka, Killed by this vicious blow. Being a leader and all, Fought the unjust boss. Although the miners all complained, Would not attack on a Sabbath day. For the right to earn a living, Justice was being slow. They’d be safe outside the wall. They died by the Southern Cross.

The police had all ignored, But these miners were misguided, By Daniel Gates Their justified demands. The redcoats all advanced Year 6, Huntingtower School So the angry miners took the law On Sabbath day, at morning time. MT. WAVERLEY – VIC. From Governor Hotham’s hands. To start the deadly dance. Teacher: Mrs Margaret Jones Oz Kids in Print 17 Ambassadors

 Krista Bell is an award-winning author of twenty-one books for young readers. Krista has been professionally involved in children’s literature for over thirty years, as well as being the mother of three sons, all of whom are good readers and writers! Krista’s middle son, Damien, is the illustrator of her junior novels. Having grown up in Sydney, Krista had her own bookshop, was a publicist for a publishing company, then a book reviewer on ABC Radio for fifteen years, and during that time moved to Melbourne with her family. It was in Melbourne that her first book, JEZZA, a picture book illustrated by Kym Lardner, was published in 1991. Krista calls the way she writes FIBTION, because she takes real life experiences, embroiders them with fibs and turns them into stories. Krista lives with her sons and transport planner husband next to a railway line so she can quickly catch a train to the MCG to watch a football match, or go to the theatre, a concert or the National Gallery in town, or visit South Bank or Federation Square where she can be a professional “stickybeak”, collecting story ideas. Visit www.kristabell.com .

Paul Collins was born in England, raised in New Zealand and moved to Australia in 1972. In 1975 he launched Void, the first professional science fiction magazine Australia had seen since the demise of the joint Australian and British production Vision of Tomorrow. His first fantasy novel for younger readers was The Wizard’s Torment. Paul then edited the young adult anthology Dream Weavers, Australia’s first heroic fantasy anthology ever. This was followed by Fantastic Worlds, and Tales from the Wasteland. Paul’s recent works include the highly successful fantasy series (co-edited with Michael Pryor), The Quentaris Chronicles, to which Paul also contributes titles (Swords of Quentaris, Slaves of Quentaris, Princess of Shadows and Dragonlords of Quentaris); The Jelindel Chronicles, in which Dragonlinks was the first title, and The Earthborn Wars trilogy, of which The Earthborn was the first title. Visit www.paulcollins.com.au for more. 

 Anna Ciddor has always been fascinated by the question, ‘What if I lived in another time or place?’. She changed career from maths teacher to author so she’d have the excuse to spend lots of time doing research. She has written and illustrated over fifty books, including the highly popular and exciting Viking Magic trilogy: Runestone, Wolfspell and Stormriders. Bravery, friendship, and a dash of magic are the keys to these adventure stories, which are based on real Viking history. Runestone was chosen as a Children’s Book Council Notable Book in 2003 and has been shortlisted for many awards. You can find out more about Anna and her books at www.annaciddor.com. Anna keeps in touch with her readers through school visits and her website, but she is also keen to encourage the writing efforts of budding young authors through the Young Australian Writers’ Awards.

Meredith Costain lives in Melbourne with a menagerie of pets: five chooks, a cat, a kelpie and a red heeler, which often feature in her stories. Her work ranges from picture books through to popular fiction and non- fiction for older readers, and she is the literary editor of national children’s magazines Challenge, Explore and Comet. Meredith’s books include the series A Year in Girl Hell, Dog Squad, Bed Tails and Musical Harriet, which was adapted for television by the ABC. Her picture book Doodledum Dancing, illustrated by Pamela Allen, was an Honour Book in the 2007 Children’s Book Council of Australia awards. Meredith regularly presents writing workshops for kids and adults in libraries and schools, and enjoys helping writers create stories based on their own experiences. To find out more about her books, pets and early writing years, visit www.meredithcostain.com . 

 Jeni Mawter (J.A. Mawter) is the best-selling children’s author of the hilarious ‘So’ series: So Gross!, So Feral!, So Sick!, So Festy!, So Grotty! and So Stinky! (HarperCollins) as well as the Freewheelers adventure series: Unleashed!, Launched! and Extreme! (HarperCollins). Jeni’s picture book There’s a Sun Fairy in Our Garden was based on her family life with her three children. She has also published fiction, non-fiction, poetry and verse narrative for the education market. Jeni’s enthusiasm for words and books is infectious. She inspires both children and adults. With a Master of Arts in Children’s Literature Jeni has taught creative writing at Macquarie University, the NSW Writer’s Centre and the Sydney Writers Centre. She presents at numerous other schools, conferences and festivals and is a speaker for the Lateral Learning, Show & Tell and Speaker’s Ink speaker’s agencies. If you’d like to find about Jeni’s books or to get some hot writing tips please visit www.jenimawter.com

August 2011 18

Road to Desperation

corner of my eye I could see the amount of satisfaction he had achieved from that effort, but as I open my mouth I gasp for ordeal. With one last envious bit of effort, my final breath. One last word seemed to I slammed the door behind me and ran was panting. All the energy was taken mimic death and that was desperation. My for the corridor. out of me but yet I still must run. Yes cold heart lay restlessly and my eyes are Irun. As far away as possible. Memory strained open looking into the distance As I walk down on the newly polished tiles, glazed and head spinning. Everything is of, let’s say, reality. I think to myself. The school doesn’t seem a great blur. What’s wrong with me? I, I the same today. Its atmosphere feels denser can’t… feel my legs. I reach down and feel I awaken with a stutter from the horrid and people seem really tight up. Maybe the warm blood trickling down mixing image in disbelief. That seemed so realistic… it’s because it’s a Monday, must be the with the fresh sweat beads. There is a large Just a figment of my imagination I guess. reason. Ever since I moved into the city of gash piercing through the bone under the But it’s been happening so often lately it’s London, my life has changed dramatically. skin of my leg. When did this happen? not funny. The images are haunting me Everyone is so different from the people My heart, it feels like a lump of steel being but why is it so hard to believe?… What in my home town of... of... Oh my Gosh I belted across my chest in each merciless was that? Must try getting back into focus, can’t even remember where I was born! A second. How much longer will I last? My why must I be prone to headaches… tear falls from my eye and dribbles down breaths are getting slower and yet I still Victoria?… huh… VICTORIA!!! Wake up, to the tip of my nose. All of my memories must run. Run... run... faster. Ignore the you good for nothing slacker! It was Mr have faded too far back into the past of my desire to stop, something is after me! As I Jones my... unusual biology teacher. What consciousness to recall. As I walk around collapse to the ground my thoughts sing to do you want sir? That’s the third time this the corner, I start to feel tenser. Something me in a song of defeat. I can’t breathe and week you’ve drifted off during one of my really seems peculiar around here. Almost there is no one to save me. I tried to free the lessons! I can’t hel... And don’t give me any there I thought to myself, just keep your world of war and regret but as each breath of your excuses, I have had enough. But head up and don’t turn back. As I approach passes my life and livelihood drains away. Sir... That’s it you’re going to see the school the counsellor’s office I stop for a moment A tear forms in my eye followed by another counsellor NOW. As he wiped the pool of to peer at the door. It was an old wooden until my sight had been totally vanquished sweat of his forehead I gathered myself design, probably jarrah, and had a nice into sorrow. I try to yell with a distinctive up and stumbled towards the door. In the glazed glass through the middle. Very old Oz Kids in Print 19

school if you asked me. But as I lurched there. An expression, a priceless expression the evidence. Somehow they had spotted forward my heart froze with fear. Through emerged from his effortless frown. This me and were trying with all of their the glass I could make out two distinctive was the moment I knew I was found but effort to stop me in my tracks. Suddenly shadows. Shadows that resembled people. strangely enough he just crinkled up his a loud gunshot breaks the silence in my I just gazed at the door but couldn’t move. nose and closed his eyes to let out a… nightmare and I am stunned awake. In this I closed my eyes relaxingly and focused. sneeze? After he had cleaned his nose on it was an opening back into my memory, Slowly voices were making their way his sleeve he walked off without another I reach down and feel the scare along my through the crevices of the door seemingly word. lower leg where once had been a bullet whispering down the corridor. Their words wound. They are after me; they will kill became clear and apparent to me. So we Giving myself one last push I had made me with any chance. I have the evidence, have a new problem on our hands I see, it through the corridor into another which could in fact send them to jail and how could she have hidden here for so long room. I think this was the old principal’s ruin their lives. The blank expression on Road to without anyone noticing? She doesn’t even workroom until he got fired and they my face turns eager when I realise I have know what is happening; can’t you give her decided to knock it down, I guess they the power to do something for the world. Desperation some slack? No I have to take care of the never actually got rid of it. It was almost problem before she remembers, do you pitch black apart from a dim light. Wait My only chance to do so was to get the want a law suit slung onto your backside? did I just see a dim light? I ran towards the photos to the police services so they could No I guess not... Just don’t make a big deal light almost knocking a few things over. It contact the government straight away about it OK, we don’t want them to find was a window overlooking the fence into and give an end to this operation. Before out. Them? Who are they I thought to the grassland next door. This could be my making any drastic decisions I knew that if myself. My focus becomes disturbed from escape out of here. I felt around for a light I were to jump out the window, I wouldn’t sudden silence. All of my reflexes start to switch but couldn’t find one; they must be able to jump the fence because it had panic. Small footsteps start proceeding have taken out the power. A deep black electric currents running through it. their way up towards the door. As each object made itself present to my eye. I Killing myself would be the least of my agonising creak of the floor boards gets picked up this smooth heavy object and problems at this stage but wouldn’t help closer my muscles start aching. My leg walked towards the window. I have to do anyone in anyway. By now the people takes one step to the side, followed by it, either I make it out of here, or die trying. would be getting closer to me as I did set off another but then paused for a moment. As My arm reflexes back and lunges forward the trigger. Wait I think I have an idea. My soon as the doors’ handle started moving to hurtle the object straight at the glass. only chance now was to feel around and try and I heard the door make a dreadful Within the time frame of flexing my arm and find something to save my evidence. moan, I ran for all that I was worth. This I heard something unusual. Similar to a What’s this? I feel a machine… and not any seemed to be a lot from what I had heard. pin dropping. But as the glass shattered machine, a fax machine. A high-pitched I think by now they would have figured it speared my heart to think how could noise I hear coming from the wall, they out that somebody was listening to their I have been so stupid. I was not alone in are drilling their way in! Quickly I must try conversation. So I was in hot pursuit. the room. What I threw must have been a and turn it on. Feeling around I discover motion sensor and the sound it had made an on switch, luckily this machine was still I ran for the closest turn off so they couldn’t was the silent alarm. connected to the power and started up in see me, if only they couldn’t see me. I a jiffy. Looking at the wall it is starting to wouldn’t dare look back in case I was to Without a second thought I turned to my form a crack with plaster falling off of the be conceived. Footsteps were pounding right and saw my reflection looking at me interior. I empty my pockets and find a PIN their way along the tiles, getting closer to through the many pieces of glass. My head number and a photo to yet be processed. I me by the second. Before me I perceived starts spinning and my mind wonders stuffed them into the machine and wrote to be a small corridor, one that I had off. Words whisper themselves into the “Government Property, please fax ASAP never seen before. But of the position I nothingness. Desperation and the desire to to the police if found”, pressed “send” and was in, I was sort of forced to squeeze live. I think I’m having another nightmare, hoped that wherever they went they would into the narrow opening and shuffle my Images flow but the people have no voices. get to authority urgently. Suddenly the wall way down the other end. Slowly I pushed There is a large factory and I see myself crashed down and I heard footsteps rush and shoved forward getting myself almost hiding in one of the air vents above what into the room yelling in another language, stuck in between the two narrowing walls. was probably a consolation meeting. These I think Japanese. I ran to the window and My breaths were forced to slow down as I people were seemingly up to nothing good stood on the ledge having these many eyes wait patiently for the people to find me. My grinning and smiling at draft plans held in gaze at me and pointed guns. Without a heart rate is building up quickly as if I can their possession. For some reason I was second word I had stopped breathing and almost hear it. A middle aged man runs taking photos and was being very cautious fell to my knees in disbelief. My eyes closed past the corridor in great determination to to whether I had been perceived or not. and I saw nothing, for a change in my life. find the offender. I try and waffle further All so suddenly all the people went quiet A grin was left on my face for I had no down but in the process I manage to scrape and stopped looking so up themselves. more to despair. My road to desperation my elbow just scuffing the skin. Soon after An alert message came through on the big was no more. another man follows but stops dead in his wide screen at the front. All that I could tracks at the corridor opening. He looked make out was that something had gone By Jessica Carpenter to be slightly intrigued by the discovery he wrong in their power and the source was Year 10, Kelmscott Senior High School had made. This man was looking directly somewhere nearby. This was my getaway KELMSCOTT – WA at me but somehow didn’t see that I was time, to retreat and have concealed all of Teacher: Mrs Gwyne August 2011 20 In a Melbourne minute...

always loved Melbourne in the like to be told that their only living relative The saying that ‘time heals all wounds’ is, autumn. It’s the time of year that signals has passed on. Sadly though, life has a quite frankly, a rather deceptive phrase. Ithe transition from the vibrancy of habit of dealing some people continual Sure, wounds may heal, but how long it will summer into the bleakness of an icy winter. bad hands. I’ve never seen her like that take for the scars to fade is never specified. The occasionally bleak concrete jungle is before. Caitlyn isn’t exactly the kind of girl I think that everyone needs some sort of engulfed in a cocoon of burnt crimson who is lost for words and truthfully I don’t way to let their emotions out and allow leaves and there’s something about the think she ever thought it was possible for their wounds to heal. Otherwise they just wind that’s hard to explain. I must admit, her to be speechless. Yet, in the middle of get smothered and sometimes end up I’m one of the only people I know who helping me measure out a sodium chloride cutting even deeper. Some people paint, shares this lovely (if not slightly clichéd) suspension, I saw my best friend look as some dance, some eat large amounts of opinion of my home town. My friends vulnerable as some of the homeless that premade chocolate cake frosting, but for think I’m a nutter. Especially Caitlyn. She line the city streets each day, begging for Caitlyn it was writing. Caitlyn blamed may be the kind of girl who makes her own a second chance. She looked as if a part of herself internally for a very long time after clothes, dyes her hair with some Indian her had died. her grandmother’s death, but slowly she forest gunk and is always talking about came to realise that not only it wasn’t her ‘chakras’, yet if I even mention my love of They say that it was a heart attack that took fault, but it was up to her to deal with the this city she looks at me as if I’m just a sad Mrs. Kale’s life. It seems so strange to me roller coaster of life in the best possible teenage girl. Which, quite rightly, I am. that a person’s heart can be so weak that way. That girl is one of the strongest people it just doesn’t want to function any more. I’ve ever encountered. It’s not a surprise That’s what I thought was happening to There’s one thing I will always remember really, when you think about what she’s Caitlyn too. She became like a ghost of about this girl, even when we’re old and been through. her former self: her usually confident grey. One autumn day in the bustling stride seemed to droop, her vibrant and beauty of one of the greatest cities on earth, When Caitlyn was eleven, her Grandmother occasionally startling hair slowly faded she looked me in the eye and explained: got really sick. I’m not just talking a cold and she wasn’t reading as much any more. “We are all authors in some way. Our lives with some minor flu symptoms; I mean This was the part that scared me the most are our novels, our masterpieces, and as that she got so sick that she was admitted about what was happening to her, because the writers of our own lives, it is our job to into intensive care. Caitlyn kind of turned the girl loved to read. She had a habit of set the plot, cast the characters, choose the into a hermit for the worst weeks of bumping into people in the corridor at scene and paint the picture for our readers. the episode. My bubbly, hippy, slightly school because she would be so absorbed Life can’t be perfect, just like a book can’t be eccentric best friend was an emotional in the papery world of her favourite books. perfect; it would bore its readers to death. mess who slept in her clothes each night The fact was though, that every time I tried But at the same time, we need to be the because she was waiting for ‘the call’, the to get her to open up to me, to talk so that ones in control. My life is a book, and this call that would inevitably mean the loss of I could try and understand what was going was just a complicated chapter”. her favourite person in the whole world, on in that amazing head of hers, she would the person who had practically raised her. somehow manage to give me nothing. I felt By Sarah Jenkin-Hall The call did come eventually, but it wasn’t like a journalist that was trying to publish Year 11, Eynesbury Senior College at night, and Caitlyn was most certainly not a story with all the wrong sources. Scrap Adelaide – SA prepared. Chemistry class is generally not that, I felt like I was failing at being a best Teacher: Bronwen Dohnt the place people expect, or for that matter, friend. Oz Kids in Print 21 In a Melbourne minute... Jackson’s Last Stand couldn’t believe it had been a year get to Rundle Park, and we still had to find It was 2:00am when I decided that I was already. Time couldn’t have passed this Jackson. We searched the entire room, top time to call it a night. I knew Jackson was Iquickly. I remember speaking to him to bottom, back to front and could not even still there so I went to his caravan to say just the other day. I can still remember find a clue as to his whereabouts. We rang good night. The air was still that night every little detail about him: his Mohawk reception, our manager who was already at and everything seemed calm. Too calm. that flowed into a rat’s tail, skin tight jeans, the festival, our party organiser, everyone I walked through the stage area and let button up shirt with his tie hanging slightly we knew in Adelaide and got nothing. It out a piercing screech. That’s where left and flannelette on top. He was your was 7:00pm when we knew we could wait I found it. That motionless mass typical young metro-sexual male, full of no longer. just hanging carelessly from the joy and passion with an excitement for life! ceiling. His skin was as white as Or so we thought. We arrived at the festival in the nick of a ghost. I let out a horrible weep time. Sam and I were wearing sunglasses as the wind turned the body We were an up-and-coming house/ and hats to cover our bloodshot eyes and to face me. I looked up at electronica band out of Perth who were flared nostrils. We were preparing to play the face and realised who starting to become a household name. minus one when out of nowhere Jackson it was. After all the years There were Jackson, Sam and me, just three appeared handing us a riff of us, our trio. We had the silly idea of sheet. Its title was ‘Jackson’s making a name for our band before we had last stand’ and he told us even decided what genre we were going to that he would like us to play. We had regretted that decision ever play it last. At first since but the name stuck. We were known Sam and I were as Muis Crowd, Muis meaning mouse in a little uneasy Dutch. about the

We arrived in Adelaide on the 13th of March, a day before the finale of the Future that we had Music Festival. It was the biggest gig of known each our band’s short career. So that night we other, that is decided to go out clubbing as we did the the image that night before every gig. We went to all the I w i l l a lw ay s clubs in town and were treated like royalty. remember of him. It was our normal routine before every Jackson, eyes wide show that we performed, big or small, open, mouth gasping except that this was the biggest show of for air, pale white skin our careers. We would start with line after as though every last line of the purest stuff available to us then ounce of life had been move onto popping the party pill all night. decision but we sucked from him. That We did this the night before every gig, our could see how much is the image of my best excuse being it ‘helps to calm us down’ but he wanted it so we friend that I will take to I think we thought we were the kings of the reluctantly agreed. the grave. world when we were out of it. Except this time Jackson hit it harder than usual. It was the best It was at that point when s h ow we h a d a scrunched piece of With a heavy yawn I woke the next day to performed for paper fell from his find that it was already 5:00pm. Our show the entire festival pocket. I opened the was scheduled for 8:00pm. I looked around and ‘Jackson’s last piece of paper and the bombed wreckage that was our hotel stand’ was an saw written as the room. It bore not a single resemblance to instant hit. They title ‘Jackson’s last the hotel room we’d arrived to except for even asked stand’. the number on the door. Staggering out of us to play it bed, I managed to crawl myself to the toilet again, but before the fire hydrant that was my mouth Jackson said, exploded in a projectile manner all over ‘No’. We then By Andrew Holland the back of Sam, whom I had not noticed had to do all Year 11, had beaten me to the throne. Heads down, the publicity Eynesbury Senior College backs arched we did not move from the and sponsor ADELAIDE – SA bowl for almost an hour. When we finally things. Teacher: Bronwen Dohnt came to we knew we had no time at all to August 2011 22 Shellshock died last night. to go to bed when the others decided to. had deserted the battlefield; I knew what I We had been told that we were heading the penalty was. Death. When I asked him if it would hurt, being into battle the next day. Just the thought shot, he just shook his head. However like of being in the midst of all the death and I was dragged back to camp and charged so many times before, he was wrong. killing almost sent me into another panic with desertion. What the sergeant didn’t attack. I could feel my heart beat increase, understand was that I couldn’t help it. Shell I was officially told that what I was suffering and I took a few deep breaths. I trudged shock is not something I can control. It’s from shellshock less than a week ago. I back to my damp and eerily quiet tent, fell like a demon, controlling my every move, knew something was wrong, headaches into my bed and almost instantaneously terrifying me, horrifying me. and dizziness had plagued my every move, slipped out of consciousness. so it wasn’t a big surprise when I was told. I hadn’t thought about how much I had to But the thing that really bothered me was Agitated images of helpless soldiers being lose. My wife, my children, my life. But I how people looked at me after that. It was shot down like flies haunted my dreams. didn’t have time to think about the value of like I was the enemy, every one of their The next thing I knew I was falling, falling life. I was thrown against a tree, already in manipulating eyes glaring into mine, like into eternal darkness. My heart was beating so much pain, I knew this was the end. I was unwelcome, isolated, alone. out of my chest; it hurt so much, so much. Then I was plunged into a sea of blood, I I died last night. Shellshock was seen as a sign of cowardice, was drowning, sinking to the bottom. Just almost as if you were trying to get out of as I was about to black out I awoke from my When I asked him if it would hurt, being fighting. So I was always treated ‘differently’ disturbed sleep, drenched in sweat. shot, he just shook his head. However like from the other soldiers. so many times before, he was wrong. Out the small window in my tent I could I was one of the first to be diagnosed see the first signs of light painted across By Blake Lovely with shellshock; therefore no one really the sky. I got dressed and went outside Year 8, Mosman High School understood what I was going through. to find everyone else had already dressed Mosman – NSW How the bombs would echo throughout and was ready. Teacher: Mrs Robinson my skull, making a deafening roar in my head. How my dreams would turn to “’Bout time”, mocked the sergeant while nightmares as quickly as my life was ended. the other soldiers sniggered. How with every passing moment, I was slowly slipping into eternal madness. I didn’t reply and simply stood in line as we marched towards the battlefront. Darkness engulfed the small forest once We collected our guns, loaded with again, in which was our camp was located. ammunition. The closer we got, the The constant sounds of bombs exploding more afraid I become, the quicker my and gunshots firing had subsided for the heartbeat went, the more I felt like night, leaving the chorus of crickets to take I was about to break down. An its place, however the smell of artificial overwhelming sense of self doubt smoke still lingered in the air. surged through me, my mind started racing. My memory had begun to fade as the effects of the shell shock began to worsen. I can’t do this. I’m not ready. Everyday I would run the simplest things through my head, and slowly begin to work I started to feel dizzy, my my way through to the harder memories. legs began to shake. The sergeant blew the whistle My name is Bennett Elijah. I am 29 years and suddenly everyone of age. I am married to Greta Coral. I have began to sprint. Firing three children, Cameron, Jarrod and Josh. aimlessly in front of them. It is July in 1916. I am fighting in the First I was frozen, I couldn’t World War. I have shell shock. I am slowly move. I could feel myself going insa– beginning to black out; I turned around and ran My mind always goes blank at that point. A back. Something was wrong wall in my mind that no matter how hard I with me, the shell shock. try I can’t seem to break through it. Something grabbed onto me, It had been weeks since I’d actually slept the sergeant. A wave of pain hit through a whole night. So I felt no need me as his fist met my stomach. I Oz Kids in Print 23 To Survive in War he thing about life is that you can Lidijia had managed to steal from a nearby One shot rang out in particular and I knew live it and breathe it, but it would vendor. it came from someone not very far from Thave to be one of the only things you behind me. My back was facing the open as can never really own. No one can control There was a rush of noise and suddenly I was covering Droil. A searing pain spread what happens, it just does. many men surrounded the area, guns up my arm and Droil let out a squeal of shooting, dressed in the army clothes of terror. I had fallen to the side, leaving It can be taken from you without a second the foreign people who had supposedly Droil unprotected, breaking my promise thought. I just didn’t think mine would come here to help us. Our nation’s troops to Mama and Papa. Another explosion, end so quickly. were fighting back. We fled behind the more deaths, and I looked down to my solid brick wall. arm, trying to grasp what happened. Heat radiated through the thick brick wall that my back was pressed against, noise Not long after that had we heard the Blood poured from a small hole in my arm shuddered around the area, travelling in first of the explosions that were to go on and upon closer inspection I saw the faint an almost visible barrier and light boomed through the night. It made the Earth below metallic colour of a tiny bullet lodged in out, lighting up the whole area between us shudder before another loud crack my arm. I looked closer; watching it like it the buildings. boomed and another blew up more of the would do something. Although I was very surrounding buildings. aware of both the old and new tears that Lidijia, my younger sister, huddled close had been on my dirt streaked face I hardly to my side and Droil, my younger brother, Flying machines zoomed over, guns felt the pain. was huddled on my lap. shooting from the sides. Airplanes they called them, scary machines we called I looked over to Droil, to hold him close My name is Anjera, and I am eight years them. once again, to see that he was gone. He old. Lidijia is four and Droil six. Ten had been right next to me. I scampered minutes before we had been huddling A startled cry filled the air and I looked from the wall, crawling from hiding spot close in a gutter, enjoying a loaf of bread to my side, knowing already what had to hiding spot. I looked around for Droil, happened. Lidijia fell from my arm, blood constantly aware of the spots appearing pouring from her chest, which no longer in my vision. I had to get to Droil! There moved steadily up and down. Her black was no way I would leave him. They would hair, dirty from the weeks on the streets have to kill me first. was drenched with blood. I peeked out of a gap seeing Droil standing Droil cried loudly, scared by the noise in the middle of the dusty street, looking and by the suddenness of Lidijia’s death, scared and helpless. I stood up and ran and I wrapped my arms around him to him. A piercing explosion filled the protectively, guarding his small, air and the Droil standing before me was frail body with my own. blown to pieces. I stopped in my tracks, frozen, finally feeling the terror of where We had become so thin over I was. More were dying, just another day the last few months while in the war, but my two remaining family the war was going and our had been taken. parents has been shot, leaving me, as the oldest, Another loud explosion, followed by to look after them. another, and another, but none reached me. A bullet flew through the air, its Everywhere I looked intended destination unknown, but the someone was getting destination it would end up in, I knew, shot or blown up but though no one else did. that was just what was expected from Smashing through my small body it had war. We knew death hit. If someone were to find my body would come upon later, beneath the rubble, they would not us sooner than the know why I had a smile spread across my children in other face. Finally there was black, exactly what countries. Older ladies I wanted. were crying, men were shouting and children By Alana Lambert were screaming. Year 10, Redcliffs Secondary College RedCliffs – VIC.

August 2011 24 Nothing Really Ends

arbara wrote in her secret blog You were very rude yesterday. I was just Barbara stared at the computer in shock, daily. It contained her thoughts, trying to help, the writing said. heart tightening and hot salty tears Bthe thoughts she never shared with running down her face. A memory flashed anyone else. It wasn’t a public blog, just one Barbara scrubbed her eyes before looking through her mind, the car going off the on her own computer she shared with no- back at the page and reaching to type a bridge, followed quickly by another. one. It was password protected especially reply. Marishka smashing the glass and shoving from her annoying little brother. One day Barbara out, oblivious to the fact that the after sharing what had happened yesterday “I’m sorry”, she muttered as she hit the car was about to hit the bottom of the river and how shocked she had been, writing corresponding letters before waiting for and rocks were going to slam through began to appear on the page in reply, her a reply. her window, more concerned about her blog was talking back! friend. Just try not to run off like that. I was worried Barbara didn’t read the writing that was that you’d gotten in trouble. Always have “You died. Drowned, hit your head on making the page scroll down, instead she been a little trouble-maker. a rock at the same time, you’re dead”, reached under the desk and yanked out Barbara typed quickly, trying to block the the power cord, staring in shock at the Barbara felt a swell of confusion. How did image of Marishka lying in her coffin. computer screen as it went black and the whoever or whatever it was known she was computer stopped humming. a trouble-maker? No, don’t cry, you’re meant to be happy. I’m back, we can talk again, the letters “I’m imagining things. I’ve had a long day, “How do you know I’m a trouble and I’m tired, and I’m imagining things”, maker?” Barbara typed, Barbara’s mind desperately repeated, changing the font to help make trying to rationalise the situation. sure she didn’t get the reply confused with her sentences. “Need to sleep”, Barbara muttered before walking to her bed and sliding under the It’s me, dummy. Don’t tell me covers, oblivious to the fact she was still in you’ve forgotten me. Your first her school uniform. blog entry was all about me.

Her eyes landed on the computer sleepily The page changed to Barbara’s and something seemed off, but everything first blog entry and she felt her was a sleep-addled haze in her mind. heart tighten. She fell asleep quickly and only in the morning realised what was wrong. She had “You’re lying. She’s been dead for unplugged the computer, the tower wasn’t two years!” Barbara typed quickly making any noise, and yet one question with one hand, scrubbing her was written on the screen. eyes furiously with the other.

Barbara, are you there? It’s me, okay? I told you that ghosts were real and you never believed The next day Barbara sat in front of her me. Well, I’ve showed you, haven’t computer tapping her foot nervously as she I? moved the mouse to hover over the icon that would take her to her blog. Steeling NO! It can’t be! I won’t believe it! her nerves she clicked on it and waited for Now, I want the truth. Who are the writing to start appearing on the page. you?? When none happened Barbara breathed a sigh of relief and reached for the keyboard The tooth fairy! Who do you think?! to type. “Marishka?” Barbara typed, hands Suddenly, before her fingers even brushed shaking. the keys words started to appear on the page looking like someone was typing it. The answer came quickly but it seemed She jerked her hands back quickly and like an age to Barbara. It was simple, a one- watched as the letters stopped, words word answer, yet it made no sense. written in a curling script she’d never use. Yes.

Oz Kids in Print 25 spelled out quickly, faster than any other Really? I thought you could. Then again I Don’t you dare! I will murder you! sentence. always was stronger. Look, I’ll try and use the school ones, or your phone to talk to you, Barbara scowled and jumped off the bike Barbara shook her head roughly and you’re allowed that as long as you work. reluctantly, still wanting to drive to Dan’s slammed her hands into the desk, pushing place and tell him about Marishka. It was the chair backwards with a grating Barbara thought for a second before only fair, they were dating for about six, sound. realising something. seven months before the accident.

NO! Stay! Please??? “What about Dan? Can I tell him??” I don’t want to get his hopes up only to destroy them! I’m living in your phone and Barbara hesitated before dragging the chair The reply didn’t come for ten minutes and computer. Bar, there is no way I’ll be able forward again reluctantly. Barbara was scared the Marishka couldn’t to corporealise for a few more years, and I stay, that she had been torn away. When it won’t really be there then! I can never be Thank you. I missed you and saw you were came it was jumbled, like she didn’t know with him again. upset and I couldn’t stand it, and this was how to reply. the only way I could reach you. Please don’t Barbara sighed before dropping the phone go. I just wanna talk, like old times, and be Dan? Oh, I, I, don’t think you should. I wish as an electric shock travelled into her hand. here for you. I could tell him I still love him but I-I-I have Sparks danced across the screen, exactly to go, sorry honey. like some water had got into the casing. “Oh Ris, it’s not the same and you know Marishka was upset, and if she was alive it.” Barbara stared at the computer as the blog would be crying and it was affecting the closed itself, choosing not to save changes. phone. Barbara waited for the reply nervously, The wolf that was her background picture trying to figure stared back at her. “Ris get a grip!” Barbara growled as she out if it could snatched the phone. be true, if it “Coward”, she mumbled as she stood and really could be stretched, muscles screaming in protest to The sparks danced across the screen for Marishka. the movement. a few more minutes and more shocks hit Barbara’s body but she kept a grip on the Urgh! Don’t call Barbara stared at the screen again before phone until Marishka had calmed down. me that! You walking out of her room and grabbing the know I hate it. keys to Marishka’s bike she’d kept. “I won’t tell him, I promise”, Barbara It’s the best I can reassured, realising she must look like a do. “I’m going out, mum!” she yelled before crazy person talking to the phone. slipping her phone in her pocket and “It’s really you! running outside to the garage. Go ahead, I don’t care. Do whatever you Oh God, Ris want. I missed you Barbara had never liked motorbikes, but and I’m calling this one was different. It was Marishka’s. Barbara started to retaliate but the phone you that! Don’t Barbara had no helmet, no bike licence, screen went black, and she sighed. like it, too bad. but she still rode it, mainly on the dirt What about at tracks behind Dan’s house. This time she “I guess I didn’t realise how much this school? I can’t was going to try to drive there in the rain hurts her”, Barbara thought numbly as she carry a computer when the bike and her normally ended up walked inside. with me all day, on different sides of the dirt track. genius.” Her mother Mia called out, “You had a “Dan’s isn’t too far down the road”, Barbara phone call honey, it was Dan again”. reasoned as she shoved the keys into the ignition. Barbara’s eyes widened in fear and she mumbled her thanks before running Her phone buzzed in her pocket upstairs and locking her door behind her. and she grabbed it angrily. She hesitantly picked up the phone in her Someone was texting her? room and dialled his number slowly, finger Wow, after avoiding hesitating over the green button. her like the plague people want to talk Sorry Ris, Barbara thought before hitting suddenly. the call button and listening to the dial tone. Writing scrolled down the screen, writing that “Hey, Dan here”, Dan answered groggily. should’ve been impossible to have on a phone. Continued on page 26 August 2011 26

Continued from page 25 “Dan! She had unfinished business. You there, that they’re still like internal organs, and school and the rest of her life were not shrivelled husks. “Dan, are you asleep again? It’s only four unfinished! And here you are meant to be in the afternoon!” Barbara scolded as she the supernatural expert”, Barbara fumed. Barbara heard a knock on the front door watched her computer turn on and a Word and grinned. document open. Dan didn’t reply for a few minutes and she waited for his voice to sound but instead “EW!! Ris I did not need the mental image “Shut up, just because I actually work and the dull dial tone rang in her ears. of internal organ husks dancing through you just lounge around that bomb zone my mind!!” you call a room”, he teased, oblivious to “He hung up on me”, Barbara scowled as the fact Barbara was distracted. she slammed the phone into its cradle. There was a worrying pause but Marishka didn’t seem to sense Dan in the house. “Uh, yeah, right”, Barbara agreed as she Marishka didn’t come back for nearly a watched the words repeat over and over week and when she finally did Barbara had Don’t be ridiculous Bar, husks don’t dance. on the screen. a plan. Invite Dan over at school, not tell They float, clumsily flying around your Marishka, force her to reveal herself. It was head, eating all your brainwaves and that’s YOU PROMISED! was appearing over brilliant when she first came up with it but why you said dance!! The zombie husks are and over and over in about font twenty, when she started thinking holes started to eating your brain!!!! and Barbara could almost see Marishka’s show in the plan. hurt face. “Zombie husks are the most ridiculous Marishka had her weird ghost senses. She’d thing I’ve ever heard since you planned “You just agreed that you’re lazy and do know he was coming and kill the computer. to tunnel into the boy’s gym change nothing productive in life. You okay?” Then again, when Josef had got the phone room and throw in a match to see what Dan asked. off her earlier, Marishka had kept writing happened. If the built up gas had exploded the message, unaware Barbara had lost the resulting fireball would have followed “Fine”, Barbara lied, wincing as she heard the phone. the path of least resistance, directly after his sigh of relief. us, idiotule.” “Are you here Marishka?” Barbara asked “Good. You’ve been a big help since the the room at large as she grabbed her Dan had finished exchanging pleasantries accident and I need my friends. You’re the phone. with her mum and was climbing the stairs, last one”, Dan admitted sadly. about to open the door without knocking The phone buzzed before starting to play as usual. Barbara placed the phone on Barbara choked out, “I’ll always be here for The Four Horsemen by Metallica, a song the end of the bed so she could see what you. Dan, I need to tell you something”. Marishka loved but Barbara hated. Marishka said but couldn’t be accused of touching it. Letters started to appear on the The computer died and the lonely girl “No need to be a smart aleck, a simple yes screen slowly and Barbara waved Dan over could almost feel her friend’s presence would suffice”, she muttered as she opened quickly, pointing at the phone. leave the room. a blank text. Don’t use Romanian against Marishka Half an hour later Dan still didn’t believe When have I ever made things simple? And Balescu!! I will kick your butt with my her. Barbara had explained over and over, DON’T answer that. awesome Transylvanian skills, girl! thinking he would react better as he and Marishka both had deep-rooted beliefs in “Never have, and even as a ghost you’re “Is it really Marishka?” Dan breathed as he the supernatural but no! It was impossible not helping things. Dan didn’t believe me, snatched up the phone. because she had no unfinished business, you win again.” she would’ve just moved on. “Ask her yourself Danny boy”, Barbara You say that like I planned the whole thing. replied as she grinned widely. “But Dan, no one else could have done that. It’s not like I possessed him or anything. No one!” Barbara protested as she booted BARBARA VIOLET, WHATEVER YOUR up her computer. Barbara checked her watch as she thought LAST NAME IS, I TOLD YOU NOT of a reply for that, only a few more minutes TO TELL HIM!! I WILL POSSESS YOU “Barbara, look, I get it, I really do, you want until Dan got there. THEN I’M JUMPING OFF A FREEWAY Marishka back as well, but she’s gone. She OVERPASS!!!!!! wasn’t in the middle of a huge job, there’s “I have a brilliant idea for you. Possess the no reason for her to have lingered”, Dan person who played Jordan on Scrubs and Barbara gulped and looked pleadingly at argued wearily. then come back to Dan. Ghost possession Dan. he will believe.” Barbara scowled as she opened Firefox and “I’m not getting in the middle of this”, Dan Googled ‘unfinished business ghosts’. As Oh yeah, I really want to possess some replied. “Did once, got a lovely assortment she trawled through the results she listened Barbie with so much liposuction and of bruises for my efforts.” impatiently to Dan’s lecture, waiting for the chemicals pumped into her that God knows chance to intervene and say something. if she still has internal organs and if they are Dan I didn’t want to tell you because, well, Oz Kids in Print 27

I’m dead. I’m a ghost and you’re alive and “Ris, this’ll work OK? Just trust me “I did it! I brought you back!” Barbara I couldn’t build up your hopes only to dash for once”, Barbara muttered to the still laughed as she hugged the confused girl. them again! I couldn’t do that to you! air, hoping Marishka was there and listening. Dan knelt next to the pair and hesitantly Barbara sighed and walked to the computer reached out to run his hands through giving the pair some room. Not that it did A sudden warm breeze blew away the cold Marishka’s dark curly hair. much good, the phone blacked out before for a second and Barbara smiled before Dan could reply. skidding to a stop and sneaking into Dan’s “It’s really you”, he breathed before backyard. wrapping them both in a tight hug. “What happened?” Dan asked panicked. “Time to start”, she mumbled as she started Marishka looked confused for a few more “She left, Dan; she did it the other day pulling different things out of her bag that seconds before laughing. when I mentioned you. Ah, and you owe would return Marishka to a body. me an apology”, Barbara said as she sat on I’m home. the edge of the computer desk. At the moment it was just a dummy from her mum’s shop but if the spell worked it Barbara hummed as she skipped down the Dan smiled weakly as he added “And a would transform itself into Marishka. stairs to go to meet with Dan and Marishka, block of Top Deck chocolate, I said that blonde hair falling in her eyes. Marishka too”. “Crap”, Barbara mumbled as a curtain was waiting outside, trying to avoid being twitched to the side. seen by the people passing by, using Dan Barbara grinned and laughed “You’re a as a shield from the prying eyes. good boy. You could’ve said nothing and I Dan lived here by himself, so he must’ve wouldn’t have known”. seen what she was doing. Knowing him Explaining a dead person coming back is he’d try to stop her. Barbara couldn’t let a hard thing to do, so Barbara put a simple The cheerful moment quickly died as the that happen. glamour spell on Marishka to hide who she realisation finally hit Dan. really was. She had the same name but it “Powers of all kinds, reaching out through didn’t really matter. “She can’t come back, can she?” he asked realms and times, whether she’s far or quietly. whether she’s near, bring the spirit of “Oi, losers! We’re going to be late!” Barbara Marishka here”, Barbara recited as she scolded mockingly before running away as “Not yet. I’ll find a way to bring her back poured water into the bowl with the other Marishka lunged at her, yelling “If YOU Dan, I promise.” ingredients. had hurried up we’d already be there!”.

Almost a month later Barbara found a way A bright hot light shone from the Dan laughed as he watched the girls to fulfil that promise. Well, really, a way mannequin and when it cleared Marishka chase each other around the street before that might fulfil that promise. was huddled there, in the clothes Barbara following them at a walk. Everything was had quickly shoved on the dummy. as it should be now. “Mum, I’m going to the shop!” Barbara yelled as she ran outside, not heading “What happened?” Marishka asked shakily By Nerys Brown for the shop as she said, but Marishka’s as she looked at Barbara in confusion. Year 9, Deloraine High School favourite place. DELORAINE – TAS. Sunflower grow grow!

Sunflower, sunflower I Watch you grow tall And bright. You watch The sun and follow His light. Sunflower how I would Love to be like you. How you do good in everything You do. Sunflower you shine Brightly watching the Sun and following him in By Hannah King All you do. Year 3, Age 8 I would love to be you!! Regent College VICTORIA PARK – WA August 2011 28

control my emotions. Not only was I angry collapsed. I can’t even begin to imagine but it frustrated me that something like how my sister must have felt. The doctor this could happen to Kristy and I couldn’t told us that the cancer would completely OWN IT do anything to stop it. I even felt a sense of take over her body. It had developed in guilt, why did it have to be her? Why not her breast and had already spread to other oday sitting in class, I was off in me? She deserved life more than anybody parts of her body. She was deteriorating my own little world, daydreaming I know. quickly. Tabout the weird and wonderful, when suddenly something the teacher said My sister and I had a special bond. It was Kristy would never get to open her youth captured my attention. unique. She was my all, but now she’s gone. centre. But somehow she had this new I have no one, nothing. I never really got outlook on life. She would make the most ‘Where will you be in 10 years?’ along with my parents very well and I of the time she had left. It was if she had never really had many friends. After all I this new fire burning inside her. Even Everybody was making comments about had my sister, my best friend. I didn’t need though she was really sick, she didn’t give owning a big fancy luxury house and being anyone else. She promised she would never up on anything. It really had an impact on a superstar and all sorts of out there fancy leave me. everyone. Doctors were stunned on how dreams that everyone has but not me. strong she was, fighting for her life and Kristy always encouraged me to set goals, still being the happy spirit that everyone Those few words that the teacher had just have dreams, that sort of thing. I guess knew her to be. said played over in my mind like a song that’s the only thing we didn’t have in on repeat. common. I never really knew where I I will never forget when one night after wanted to go in life or what I wanted to sitting down for tea, Mum had asked Kristy Three years ago my sister was diagnosed be when I’m older. how she was feeling. We were all very with breast cancer. shocked by Kristy’s answer. ‘I feel good. Kristy had her whole life planned out and I’m living my life to the best I can, the way My sister Kristy was a beautiful, kind- it wasn’t just silly ideas that were going I can. It’s my life. I’m not going to let some hearted girl. She had such a strong impact to change the next week. She really knew disease take over.’ on the community. She always did whatever what she wanted out of life. She wanted she could to help out and always achieved to be a youth worker. She had always She was someone who was dying on the to the best of her ability. She believed in been passionate about kids. She even inside but seemed to be just born on the always going for your dreams and when planned to open her own youth centre for outside. you think you’ve done the best you can, homeless youth. A place for young people do even better! to come to hang out, feel wanted and Ever since Kristy had made that comment, more importantly somewhere for them I too have had a new outlook on life. I Tragically she died at 21. to feel safe. decided in her honour that I would open up a youth centre just the way she wanted. She was on life support for 3 weeks before But one day her dreams were shattered. I under-estimated the feeling of having a one day her body shut down and her heart She had been sick for quite a while, we plan in life. It was really fulfilling, it gave stopped beating. both knew this, but Kristy didn’t want to me a sense of satisfaction. say anything. She never liked the attention I will never forget her last day. I had been on her and she didn’t want to make a fuss. ‘Where will you be in ten years?’ the sitting in the hospital with her for 3 days We both just thought she had some sort of teacher asked. and every passing minute was like a ticking virus but we had no idea what was really time bomb. in store. I put my hand up and said, ‘In ten years I will have opened a youth centre in honour She sank further and further into this other Day by day this thing was eating her insides, of my sister. I will have lived every day world, a world I could never be a part of. sucking out the goodness in her. Her hair from here on in as though it’s my last and A place you could almost compare to Hell. was becoming thinner and thinner and make it the best it can be, because this is It was controlling my sister and her health her weight was decreasing rapidly. She my life and I will own it’. and there wasn’t a thing I could do to stop was even becoming really moody. I knew it. The heartache that came with seeing something was seriously wrong when I By Amelia McInnes her deteriorating more and more every found her in the bathroom one day Year 10, day was too much for me, her body was coughing up blood. That’s when Merbein College becoming weaker and her skin was turning I made her go to the doctor. The MERBEIN – VIC. a sickening pale colour. doctor looked really concerned when Kristy was informing him It hurt so much to see her like this. It of all her symptoms. He made her hurt everyone. But unfortunately there have all sorts of tests and we had to was nothing anybody could do. It was wait two weeks for the results. unstoppable. Every day tears were flowing down my face. I didn’t want to cry, I wanted When we got the results back everything to stay strong for my sister but I couldn’t changed. It was like my whole world just Oz Kids in Print 29 Animal’s View – My Mistress’ Death

of England, Ireland and France to I looked up at her and waited till she met take you to the Tower on charges my gaze. Nodding, she picked me up and of incest and treason.” A guard cuddled me up to her. “Master Kingston, said motioning to the two at his if it is all right, can you please deliver some sides to grab her. One cold, rough food or milk for my little kitten here. She hand touched me and I reacted has not had anything for a few hours now by scratching him. He yelped and and she is starving.” jumped backwards. Master Kingston looked at me, then “If I am charged of treason and nodded, “Of course Madam”. Then he left. it is the king’s wish for me to be The door to Anne’s prison opened and out sent to the tower, then so be it. stepped two maids. “Your Majesty”, they Madge help me get changed–” both said before turning to leave. Anne Anne began before she was cut off walked into the room, saw the crucifix and by a grim voice. “No, you have no immediately knelt down in prayer. Madge time to change. You must go to the and Nan followed suit. traitor’s gate. Master Kingston will be awaiting you at the steps.” The days were long, the food was rotten, the clothes were wrongly washed, the he smell of milk from the kitchen Anne looked at Nan and Madge, then maids entered at inappropriate times and wafted through my nose. I opened to me. Her dark eyes burned into mine, the times were hard. The days flew by Tone eye and then the other, hoping “Little girl come here please. We must go without us even knowing it. Soon enough to find out if I was dreaming or not. My as the king wishes. Come now”. I jumped the day arrived… mistress, Queen Anne Boleyn, knelt down up into her arms again and she walked a few metres away and held out her hand. out of her chambers. Madge, Nan and the 8 o’clock May 19th 1536 Her golden gown glittered in the early guards followed, I heard sobs and turned morning sun, I got up and stretched. to see Madge and Nan crying. They were Master Kingston came for my mistress One black paw in front of the other and I whispering words that only my ears could today. Madge and Nan were crying as walked over to her. hear. “No, she mustn’t go. She’s done they got Anne dressed, their hands were nothing, wrongly accused.” shaking and they didn’t know what was Anne laughed as I meowed impatiently going to happen. Anne left once they for the milk. “There now little girl. You Anne moved one of her hands once we were ready, placing me into her arms. We shall have your milk shortly, just let me–” were at the steps and took it to wipe away walked out into the crowds, some were she began before she picked me up and her tears. booing, others were crying and the rest moved towards the tub she keeps close were just standing there, waiting to watch by. I immediately jumped down, there was One of the guards, the one whom I had their Queen die. no way I was going to let Anne bathe me. scratched, held out his hand and Anne I had sensed it as soon as she had picked took it. She put me down once she was Once Anne was on the scaffold, she spoke, me up. seated in between Madge and Nan. telling everyone how much the King Someone stepped on my tail and I meowed was loyal and loving to her, before she Anne put her hands on her hips and in pain, Anne grabbed me and swore an apparently betrayed him. After a prayer laughed at me. I went to the little table in oath to the guards. for her soul, Anne kissed my head and the corner and hid in the shadows. I heard handed me to Nan. She then knelt down footsteps and then loud voices. Madge The ride to the Tower of London was a and the executioner raised his sword. Shelton, one of Anne’s ladies, rushed in long and agonising one. I had not had my Everyone held their breath, till the blade looking very upset. “Majesty, the guards milk so I was starving, my little tummy came down onto her neck. Anne’s head are coming! They wouldn’t stop even grumbling. rolled away, and my mistress, Annamaria when Nan spoke harshly to them.” Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, was finally looked at me; I looked back staring into H H H deceased. those same dark eyes like mine. I took a few steps forward and saw the red and When we had arrived at the Tower, Master By Savarnah Wilkie gold uniformed men come into Anne’s Kingston took Anne’s hand and led her Year 7, Bothwell District High School chambers. I meowed loudly and Anne to the room which would be her prison. BOTHWELL – TAS. came and picked me up. I nestled into She thanked him, and a shiver escaped. Teacher: Miss Oldham her arms, not knowing what was going “Your Grace is cold here, let me give you to happen. this”, Master Kingston said, shrugging off his coat and handing it to her. Anne “Madam, we have come here by order of threw it over her shoulders and thanked his most humble majesty, Henry VIII, king him again. August 2011 30 Sitting by the window, My beautiful wife, picking a rose, Day by day, Breathing in the scent, through her red nose. Month by month, I know she’s not there; she’s long gone, Year by year. In her grave, though her smile’s not worn. Where I’m bound to be, I’m grey and old as I watch through the glass, God, you wait and see. Reminiscing of the years that pass I see my daughter dancing there, As I sit, by the window, The morning sun shining on her bright red hair. Day by day, Oh so gracefully she can dance, Month by month, When she leaps and jumps and does her prance Year by year Although of course it cannot be, She’s far away, where I can’t see. I gaze longingly, out the window all cracked, As I sit by the window, I see the milk van being unpacked. Day by day, Life doesn’t wait, to say goodbye, Month by month, When I’m gone, no one will cry. Year by year. A lifelong sleep seems the very best, To put my racing mind, for once, at rest. As I look through the frame My son is there, playing a game. Oh, how I long to be just there, By Owen Small To play without a single care. Year 6, Crescent Head Public He’s kicking around his beloved ball, CRESCENT HEAD – NSW To his team mates he gives a call, Teacher: Mrs Cosette Black With no response, as he’s gone Far away from where he was born. As I sit by the window, Day by day, Month by month, Year by year. Sitting by the Window

Hazard River books By Julie E Fison

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J6269 BK_Full Page_A4_Press Advert_FA.indd 1 29/10/10 12:37 PM 32 Waiting

y daily life was mundane. I was just waiting Suddenly, numerous loud shouts caught our attention. for something, anything, to happen. But the Two men yelled at one of the workers at the sandwich Monly remotely amusing thing that ever did stall for supposedly writing down the wrong order. was when the postman came every morning to deliver They seemed like the types who would use any excuse the mail, only to trip over the steps of my apartment to start a fight. I figured that if nothing aggravated building. It was like he had some innate ability to them further, they would just get tired and leave. But a always fall on that last step. It was eight o’clock in the certain young girl did not share the same sentiments. morning and time to head off to work, but before that, She walked towards the two men shouting, “Why don’t a rather large mouse problem needed to be taken care you just leave her alone! It’s not like she got your order of. There was actually only one, but the stupid thing wrong on purpose you stupid thugs!” was extremely annoying. It would run hastily around my bedroom floor like it was telling me to get up, and In a bout of anger, one of the men clenched his fist and when I did, it gave me this condescending look as if it directed a blow at the small girl in front of him. Of had better things to do now that I was awake and giving course the punch landed on me because I had somehow it my full attention. It was finally the day where I would gotten between them just in time to be punched in be rid of the little rodent. I stood still and waited until the stomach. Before they could do any more damage it came strolling nonchalantly out of the small hole in I grabbed the girl’s hand and ran. We ran until we my wall, carrying something in its mouth. I ran after ended up on the corner of some unknown street. “I it, hoping to catch it with a cardboard box, but it was think they stopped chasing us a while ago”, she said, too fast. It escaped, leaving behind a small red object. still gasping for air. I walked over and picked it up. A scarlet pinwheel. I threw it in the trash and headed off to work, past the Still angry I shouted, “What were you thinking?! If you other pedestrians and into one of the many monotonous had just left them alone, they would have just left on grey buildings that seemed to pierce the sky. their own!”

When I arrived home, a most peculiar event had “But what if I hadn’t said anything and they hit her occurred. The pinwheel was on my desk. I held it in instead?!” my hands, spinning it round and round, until I noticed the small black letters that had been scrawled on the Calmer now, I said, “You don’t know that”. inner flaps of the pinwheel. They spelt ‘Bell Street’. I threw it back into the trash can and went to sleep. The “But you can’t just wait for things to happen. Waiting’s next morning the scarlet pinwheel had found its way no good, you have to do something.” back to my desk. Again and again I tried to dispose of it, but each time it reappeared on my desk. And so I I was silent, because I knew she was right. sat, staring at the pinwheel. “Bell Street, Bell Street”; I thought aloud, “The Bell Street Festival”. “Oh, and it may be a bit late but my name’s Sophie.”

I dressed myself hastily and walked the two blocks to “Mark.” Bell Street where I could see hanging lights and bunting flags. The entrance was lined with pinwheels. I walked And so I walked Sophie home and then back to my through the crowds and sat myself down in front of a apartment, wrote my letter of resignation and went to small stage. It was empty. But I still I sat, because I didn’t bed. The next morning I woke up early to go for a jog know what else to do. “What are you waiting for?” It and at the door I warned the postman about that last was an unfamiliar voice. Surprised, I turned to the seat step. He still fell over, but it was worth a try. After that next to me, now occupied by a young girl. She stared at I began to run. I wasn’t quite sure where I was going, me for a moment. Her eyes were a light shade of green but I kept running towards that orange tinge in the sky. and her hair was the colour of sunshine. “Sorry, didn’t It felt like I was chasing the sun. mean to surprise you. I was just wondering if you were waiting for a live performance or something.” By Huyen Nguyen Year 11, Eynesbury Senior College “No”, I replied, “I guess I’m just waiting”. ADELAIDE – SA Teacher: Bronwen Dohnt

Oz Kids in Print 33 Waiting New Year’s Eve Mouse

T. WAS a Friday night. The sun too long ago to remember the particulars. on board the ship till early the next day. disappeared behind the horizon and Something strange was afoot and no-one Ipeople started running around finding was quite sure whether to go to bed or to The sun peeped cautiously over the a place to sit. Small boats were launched stay up and watch. horizon, but below deck everything was onto the harbour, carrying crowds of jovial dark. One particularly brave mouse lit people who laughed and joked. The big The human revelling continued for some himself a candle and carefully went to eskies were full of beer and the revellers time but all of a sudden, when the moon investigate the damage done to the upper sat around eating and drinking with an air was at its height, all fell silent. Not a soul deck. As he crept slowly along the rotting of eager anticipation. stirred. And then with no warning at all the timbers he smelt a strange smell. It smelt huge crowds began to chant a weird and like something was burning. He quickly Just outside the harbour, marooned on a raucous beat. It lasted about ten seconds snuffed out his candle and pushed on. The small white sandy beach, sat a medium and then the whole bridge and the harbour odour grew ever stronger as he made his sized boat shadowed by a mighty bridge. exploded. The mice scuttled for their lives way into the bowels of the rotting vessel. The craft was made of wood and had as streaks of fire shot up into the sky where Suddenly, as he rounded a corner, he saw been there for as long as the locals could they exploded into an array of different a light escaping from under a door. By remember. No-one dared go onto the ship colours. All around the water the humans now the smell of burning timber was so for fear they might fall through the rotting screamed with all their might as the mice strong that he had to wrap his pointy nose timbers and break a leg, or worse. However tried to console their petrified young. in a piece of newspaper that he had found. the ship was not deserted completely. It The banging and popping continued for Summoning up all his courage he peeped was actually a haven for small critters that several long minutes. The mice squashed under the door and saw a large orange lived and thrived off a large collection of themselves into every nook and cranny object lying in the corner of the room. It bits and pieces they had collected in the desperately trying to escape the terrible had little black stars all over it and from day. They lived a happy life and all went ordeal. The older ones among the group one end hung a tail. A small fire crackled well for the small population of little grey stood out in the open and flung their tiny near it and the little mouse watched the and white mice. paws to the skies, pleading with the gods little tail swing back and forth over the to spare their innocent lives. A strange flames. He couldn’t understand why the Tonight, however, something was different. whistling filled the air and a large object little tailed creature did not run or move Too many people were out and about crashed through the deck of the ship. away from the fire. He quickly hid behind on the water. Thousands had gathered Within an instant the deck was clear and a piece of timber from which he could see around the big harbour all shouting and the mice had fled. the fire creep closer and closer to the little laughing. Huge crates were being carted orange and black creature. What would it onto the great bridge and, according to The horrific commotion finally stopped. do when its tail caught on fire? There was scouts that had been sent out, more of Silence. Not a sound. Every now and then only one way to find out. these strange packages had been placed a shout was heard from a drunken man but at various locations around the harbour. other than that, complete silence. A strange By Daniel Hillan One of the older mice had said he vaguely cloud hung over the harbour as the mice Year 11, Eynesbury College remembered a similar event back when stayed motionless in their hidey holes. The Adelaide – SA he was a “strapping young fella” but it was moon was obscured and nothing moved Teacher: Bronwen Dohnt August 2011 34 And the Sky Bled Alex, his best friends, who, after a brief curiosity, he slowly unfastens the catch. argument, had come to a decision. They The cover is barely open before THUD! had towered over him, arms crossed, It falls from his shaking hand. Inside is a minds made up. Tom thinks they were just photograph of him. scared – the house is apparently haunted. Eyes beginning to well up, Tom bends After a few minutes of frantically searching down and again grasps the locket. With for the ball, Tom looks up and realises he the photo is a note: has absolutely no idea where he is. Evening is coming and, terrifying as it may be, the My dearest Tom, house is shelter. An enormous cobweb sticks to him like some kind of grim fairy I am sorry it has to be like this. I know it floss, while he pushes through a prickly will be hard for you, but I feel it is the only bush and stands before the empty shell of way. Until you are old enough to know the horny briars scratch Tom’s skin the manor. truth, your father will tell you I died in an and cling to his shirt, holding him accident. I hope you can find it in your heart Tback. Uneven ground rushes by, As he climbs the stairs, Tom catches a to forgive me. Since your sister died, I feel overrun with unmaintained weeds. He glimpse of something red. ‘The cricket that my life has no point. I beg you not to shoves at the plants looming out at him, ball!’ he thinks with relief. But relief turns think badly of me if ever you read this note. with creeping tendrils for fingers and to dismay as more red comes into view. Know that I will love you forever. We shall shadowy green faces. Tom can tell this is a Bloodstains, fading with age and sun, are meet again in heaven, if that is where I will malignant place. Though he doesn’t realise splattered across the landing. Tom tiptoes go after this ordeal. it, his mind detects the smell of death closer, wanting only to grab the ball and hanging in the air. The landscape looks be gone. Something shiny throws flashes Goodbye. Love Mum. different, somehow dark and menacing. of silver-gold light into his eyes. He creeps forward, forcing thoughts of blood out Tom glances out the window, a single tear ‘Why, of all places, did the ball have to land of his mind, and picks it up. It’s a heart- rolling down his cheek. In the red glow of here?’ thinks Tom. ‘And why do I have shaped locket, gold and still lustrous, sunset, the sky bleeds. to fetch it? I’m smaller than them, more despite years of neglect. Tom lets it dangle vulnerable.’ Having always been slight for from his closed fist, watching it glint in the By Hannah Nugent his age, Tom is scrawny next to Josh and light from the dying sunset. Overcome by Age 14, Fairholme College TOOWOOMBA – QLD.

I’ve got a friend, who is there for me Who listens to my troubles Friendship No matter how troubled they may be.

She’ll be my best friend through thick and thin Our friendship is pure and it’s within.

She stands with me through Troubling times With comforting hugs all the time.

She is my true friend Tries to make me smile Even though I take a while.

I’ll always keep her near my heart She and I will never be apart. We will always stay together Through good and bad That’s what makes our friendship true.

By Simone Fritchley Year 7, Kolbe Catholic Secondary College CRAIGIEBURN – VIC.

Oz Kids in Print 35 Yellow, Shining stars Warm sun drops Butter The Colour Poem My Drops, sun warm Stars shining Yellow like the sun. Yellow It feels hot. Imagination Hot feels like burning. Red, Hot it feels hot My room is silent Loud noise, Sun like yellow. Pitch dark yet I’m at peace Red ruby A quiet mind filled with colour Strawberries Red tastes like bricks, Images moving across my brain Ruby red, hard and crunchy. Alone in a world I create. noise-loud Red feels like touching a tree. My emotion overwhelms me Red Bricks like red tastes. I can feel the wind whip me Brown, As I stand on top of the cliff Chocolate mousse, Brown tastes like chocolate. I can smell the leaping waves Rough tree Brown like a tree trunk. Below me they turn white, frothy Bark Leaf brown Wild horses running forward tree-rough, Tree trunk like brown. Rearing, bucking, racing each other mousse-chocolate, Chocolate like brown tastes. They jump over me, flying like angels brown I soar with them above the world Blue feels soft. Where everything is small. Blue Noisy like waves. Wind rushing Sky like Rustling paper Waves like noisy Ocean Soft feels blue. Paper-rustling Rushing wind, White looks like nothing. Blue But White The Rainbow is colourful. Soft snow, Bubbling water By James Kearney By Jennafer Milne Clouds Year 3, The Essington School Year 10, Eynesbury Senior College Water bubbling, NIGHTCLIFF – NT ADELAIDE – SA snow-soft Teacher: Shelda Rathmann White

Green, Fresh grapes Mint ice-cream. Grass Cream-ice mint, Grapes-fresh School Green A place where you try, Try to aim high Black Dogs’ fur, Learn the subjects that you need to know for a lifetime Before you run out of valuable time Smoke, Hair, English and maths are the main themes Smoke, In sport, you may be the best team! Fur-dogs You will learn heaps at school Black That is why school is your only tool To make you success Rainbow, And be one of the best! Finger tapping sounds, School is the key to follow your dreams of what you want to be Coloured air when you grow up Pencils One day, you may even win the world cup Air-coloured You can’t jig school Sounds-tapping finger, Rainbow Because then you aren’t following the rules Always go to school no matter what By Jemma Curran Because you will always learn a lot! Year 3, Essington School By Olivia Chum NIGHTCLIFF – NT Year 6, Mt. Pritchard Public School Colour palindrome Colour Teacher: Kia Flecher MT. PRITCHARD – NSW August 2011 36

Oz Kids in Print 37 Verfrumdungseffekt: Estranging the Audience Distaste curls your lips As you view the strangers

The little old ladies With umbrella frames And chicken-bone hands;

The too fat and too thin, Who warp the landscape Smiles sickly as treacle;

The gossips and gawkers, A cascade of whispers – Rumour by rote;

Your own self, for being, Deep down, Past the layers That mar the progress of sympathy,

Repulsed.

Disgusted by:

The homeless who huddle – Compassion is required, My Amazing But they reek;

Recoil from;

The apologies, which really, When stripped of all glamour, Grandpa Really say – “I know you were wrong”; You were the only grandpa I ever had The disciplinarians who shape your expectations You never got angry or mad But wind up your conscience I wish you didn’t have to die And ruin relationships – When I heard the news I just had to cry You taught me how to build things mothers and judges, doctors and teachers, policemen and You were like one of the best kings sports coaches, lawyers – You loved to do crosswords And climb up trees and look at the birds Lawyers that quibble over “thou shalt not”; You loved to play a game of dodge ball Women who compulsively root out people’s failings; And you would always be there whenever we call Your own self for not being open-minded enough to keep from I am going to miss you so much categorising people To not quietly sneer I wish we could still talk and keep in touch In disgust, in fear, But this is how life goes At – This is the way God chose I will never forget you lesbians, gays, the disabled, the homeless, the elderly, women, This comes from my heart it’s true, children, teenagers, yourself – Your life is an example for me to live Not to receive but to give Your own self. I enjoyed living with you and grandma Thank you for being my amazing grandpa By Elizabeth Waldron Year 9, Newtown High School of the Performing Arts By Francois Kruger NEWTOWN – NSW Year 4, Nambour Christian College Teacher: Ms Garnsey WOOMBYE – QLD. August 2011 38 Life Returning year and a half ago, flames licked Robins, Lorikeets, and Cockatoos happily through Cardinia Park, mercilessly sing from the trees. Their calls block out Ascorching trees. Birds, kangaroos, almost all sound of civilisation. all creatures were forced to leave their homes and weaker fellows behind to But from under the greenery, blackness escape the fire on Black Saturday. Months peers out from the trees. The trees have not ago, I visited the bushland, to see that trees forgotten. No matter how many layers of had been blackened and killed as far as the bark, fur or feathers the forest sheds, it will eye could see. It was clear that the bush had never forget. Neither should we. We cannot suffered much on that fateful weekend. forget Black Saturday or the effect it had Almost nothing had survived. on our community and the bush.

Now as I walk along a wombat trail, the Life is returning to the bush. bush is almost unrecognisable. The ground is covered with a green carpet of native By Gemma Randall grasses and leaves flutter in the trees. Year 8, Caulfield Grammar School Kangaroos stare at me from the hillside, WHEELERS HILL – VIC. joeys standing with them, and Yellow Teacher: Mr Hartley

Greet’s Big Plan “I guess we should start The boys walked towards them, one of the meeting” said Holy. them looked up and saw hundreds of “Wait” yelled Rosie who birds staring at him, he yelled and ran swooped down onto one back down the streets, the others looked of the branches, followed at the birds and laughed nervously. The by Turtle, “we’re here!” birds moved forward a bit and the other boys screamed and followed the first boy. Holy nodded and started the Those boys wouldn’t dare throw stones at meeting. “It has come to my attention them again. that there have been human boys throwing stones at a few of us.” At that there was Later that day the birds held a party an eruption of chatter. “Quiet”, Holy and they were all talking about what screeched. There was silence. “Thank you, had happened. No one thought to say does anyone have a solution?” Everyone something to Greet about how good his he eight birds from Fruit Valley looked at each other. No one knew what to plan was, but a few minutes later, Cheeky, were all going to a bird meeting. do until Greet piped up, “We could scare Muskie, Holy, Merry, Brag, Rosie and TRosie the Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove them”. Everyone looked at him. Turtle flew over and start patting him and was flying through the valley. She was thanking him. Greet smiled and blushed going to a bird meeting. Turtle the Spotted Holy smiled, “How?” as Cheeky, Muskie and Merry started Turtle Dove was going too. He saw Rosie shouting out for everyone else to stop and glided to her and they flew together Greet looked embarrassed, but explained talking and listen. “Everyone”, Holy said, to the bird meeting. his plan. As no one else had a better idea “Greet was the one to come up with the the birds agreed to use Greet’s plan. brilliant plan and I would like to thank Greet the Welcome Swallow, Cheeky him on behalf of all of us as I am sure the Willie-wagtail, Muskie the Black- The next day Brag was flying through those naughty boys won’t bother us again”. faced Cuckoo-strike, Holy the Sulphur- the city and he saw the boys walking He turned to Greet, “Thank you”. Greet crested Cockatoo, Merry the Laughing through the streets. He quickly turned blushed as all the birds cheered. From that Kookaburra and Brag the Torresian Crow and raced back to the others. He let out a day on the boys never annoyed them again, were waiting for Rosie and Turtle in the old high-pitched honk and hundreds of birds thanks to Greet. gum tree in the centre of the valley. rose from the trees and followed him to the city. Brag led them further down the By Jasmine Menzies Holy screeched loudly and everyone street where the boys were so they could Year 7, Middle Park State School stopped speaking and looked at him. get ready to put Greet’s plan into action. MIDDLE PARK – QLD. Oz Kids in Print 39 The Wetland The song of the magpie The leap of the frog The slither of the snake as it hides in the log Polaroid The flutter of a dragonfly as it moves through the air The scatter of a spider without any care Sometimes I am like a Polaroid This is the wetland. Occasionally negative Often unfocused The chatter of birds, the humming of a bee, Trying to find my purpose The swishing of leaves on a gumnut tree, In the snapshot of my life The stillness of a lizard as it basks in the sun, By Sarah Jenkin-Hall The scuttle of an ant, when its work is done, This is the wetland. Year 10, Eynesbury ADELAIDESenior College – SA Teacher: Shelda Rathmann By Cassandra Thaller Year 6, Oxley College CHIRNSIDE PARK – VIC. Teacher: Sharon Sandison

The maid wonders if she should, Yet as she opens her door, Warn him of the danger. She realises that he is gone. The plains are infested with beasts The traveller is lost from sight And many creatures much stranger. The maid can hardly mourn. She knows not if he will listen – She wonders regretfully, The determined rarely do. “Can the lad be followed?” She remembers the last traveller, But the truth gnaws at her heart – Who brought the gale that blew He has been swallowed Over the plains of Enfer. By the plains of Enfer.

The crow does croon tenderly He pauses, then looks up The maid rushes back inside The piercing cry of death. And his raven eyes catch hers. The small little home. The maid starts as she hears it She shivers at that moment She crosses furtively to the shelf And draws a shuddering breath. Her eyes drop to the rug of furs And grasps the leather-bound tome. She glances out her window That lies along the floorboards The scrawled pages tell of those At the bare land on which they live. Of the humble home in which she lives. Travellers out yonder. It is arid and unfruitful – She is the mistress of this place, This traveller joined the lost ones, Rain, the sky cannot give Yet through service her time she gives The souls that perpetually wander To the plains of Enfer. To the plains of Enfer. The plains of Enfer.

A cloaked traveller treads carefully The traveller lowers his head By Talia Walker Across the desolate heath. And continues his measured walk. Year 11, Cerdon College His staff quietly thumps the grass, “How lonely”, thinks the maid, Merrylands – NSW Which bends, crushed, beneath. “Without others to share and talk. The maid looks on curiously Perhaps I should give him something – As the traveller passes the gate. Some drink or maybe food. His stride is purposeful, Anything at all, really, He intends to continue straight To help him not to brood Across the plains of Enfer. On the plains of Enfer”. The Plains of Enfer August 2011 40 et’s be honest. Everyone’s scared Yasi out. When it thuds shut, the storm sometimes and today it seems to is instantly silent. What was previously Lbe my turn. I’ve been dared to a raucous banging and crashing is now a make my way up to the old abandoned muffled sense of claustrophobia. lighthouse at 7:00pm tonight. All day warnings have been blaring out of radios As I place my foot on the first cracked step about Cyclone Yasi heading directly to our of the dizzying spiral, I hear the sound of town at 7:00pm. Any intelligent person crows above me squawking softly. I keep might ask why I am doing something pushing upwards, growing tired. The walls so stupid. Performing outrageous dares seem to be moving inwards, trying to seems the only way to prevent yourself swallow me up. At last I reach the top, and from becoming a complete social reject. as I look down, on those steps I’ve spent the So at 6:30pm, I leave our home and last half hour climbing, I see only seven. its comforting snugness and set out to become cool. At the top of the lighthouse, I look out at the wild, raging water, suddenly rising so There really is no calm before the storm high, the waves exceed the cliff, and wash tonight. Although it’s too dark to make out back again, over the cliff. I turn around, shapes, I can sense the heavy clouds around and notice six crows, with jet black eyes, me, muffling our small village. My hair is staring at me expectantly. It feels like the being whipped onto my face, like I have a lighthouse is swaying now, side to side, to tiny, impatient jockey perched on my head. and fro, like a mother with a crying baby. The rain is coming at me horizontally, like When I look out of the glass again, and a million shards of glass. I plough through, down, at the base of the lighthouse, I notice trying to stay upright against the howling something odd. racket. I see palm trees bending over backwards, their branches snapping. The A little boy is standing at the door of the true force of nature. As I reach the lonely lighthouse, his hand on the brass knocker cliff I see the old lighthouse looming up with 7 engraved, wearing exactly the in the distance, still standing tall, if a bit same clothes as me. He doesn’t seem to be battered. I sense its age and wisdom, feel moving, not even looking around to see the the many stories it has to tell, for it has seen monster of a wave rearing up over the cliff everything, from its precarious position behind him, sweeping over the grass, rising on the cliff top. My foot touches the front and rising, then receding with him too, step, my hand reaches for the brass handle over the cliff, down the saltwater waterfall, with the number 7 engraved, at the exact back into the raging ocean. With my heart moment the storm hits. in my mouth I look around at the six crows, then down at my shoes. But my shoes The sea erupts with a howl of fury, it aren’t there, only two black scaly feet with explodes its gizzards all over the cliff, sharp black claws jutting out. I look at my it spews all over the ground above the face in the reflection of the glass window, steep embankment, showering me with and see only a small black head, with tiny seawater. I lunge into the stairwell of the black beady eyes, staring sorrowfully back lighthouse, trying to summon every spare at me. I look at us all, perched around ounce of strength in order to heave the the room, a group of jet-black crows. All door shut. With all this going on all around seven of us.... me, it seems a strange moment to realise that I haven’t brought my camera, to prove By Owen Small I’ve been here, that I’ve done the dare, that Year 6, Crescent Head Public School I am worth talking to, I am cool! I manage CRESCENT HEAD – NSW to heave the door shut, slamming Cyclone Teacher: Mrs Cosette Black

Daredevil

Oz Kids in Print 41

The rain falls slowly. Icy cold, it drips from her hair, runs into her jacket, soaks her jeans. It cascades like a million diamonds, Catching the light of the street lamps, And throwing it back out again as a shimmer. Moonlight She doesn’t feel it.

The radio plays softly. A stifled mumble of incomprehensible sound, just audible. The rumble of a sports commentator Drifts to where a man sits at his desk, Connection Still, silent, staring. He doesn’t notice it.

She lifts her head. Rivulets of rain wash into her eyes, causing her mascara to run Down her face as thin, black tendrils. She blinks as her eyes sting, But her gaze remains fixated On the light bulb of the night.

He tilts his head. Craning his neck to see better, he leans forward across his desk. His elbow knocks his open water bottle and Water erupts across the desk, Drenching paper covered in his tight, black scrawl. He only sees the lamp of the night.

She smiles to herself. As the smile reaches her eyes, they are set alight with twinkling, More mesmerising than the stars. The rising moon bathes the empty street In a pale ivory light that penetrates all darkness. The light that they both share.

He grins broadly, Eyes glued to the sphere of creamy luminescence. It will be the same for her, he knows. The same full disk against a raven backdrop. Momentarily bathed in the disk’s glow, He is forever connected with her.

By Talia Walker Year 11, Cerdon College MERRYLANDS – NSW

August 2011 42

“Ha, ha, go away.” tripped and then felt warm blood as red as the fire, blossoming from the cuts on her Joseph opened the curtains revealing the arms and legs. The Fire bright red flames outside. “Sarah get up, we’ve nearly made it!”, “Look it’s true, we have to go now!” Joseph shouted as he tried to help Sarah up but he knew it was too late. Sarah couldn’t Now that Sarah saw that it was true she get up... she could hardly breathe. Joseph jumped out of her bed, her hazel eyes sat beside her trying to help and tears staring with terror. Her brown hair flew welled in his eyes as he heard her say, “It’s behind her as she dragged her brother OK, leave without me... you tried...”. With down the stairs. Joseph pulled away and every word her voice was fading. “I love ran to the front door quickly. He turned the you brother.” Then Sarah collapsed, her handle but the door was locked. They had body slumped to the ground. to get out for the fire had already started to rip through the kitchen. “No!” Joseph screamed then lay down next to Sarah crying, his face blotchy red with Joseph’s calm green eyes had now filled tears streaming down his cheeks. Now he with fright as he grabbed Sarah’s arm and wanted to die with her. All he wanted was pulled her through the house to the back to be with Sarah forever. As he lay there he door. The door was open and they rushed thought of Sarah’s last words... arah, wake up!” Joseph out. They ran out onto the street with no prodded Sarah, his voice idea where to go. The smoke filled the air “I love you brother.” “Surgent. Sarah woke up and began to close in on them until all they annoyed, still half asleep. saw was grey. By Abbie Sayce Year 6 “What's wrong now? Why did you have to Sarah felt lost; she tried to call out but her Woodleigh Junior School – Minimbah wake me up?” she mumbled. mouth filled with smoke and she began to FRANKSTON SOUTH – VIC. cough and splutter. Joseph found his way Teacher: Mr Boundy “This isn’t a joke OK, there’s a fire!” His to Sarah and they tried to run on. They had voice was becoming more frantic. to make it as far away as they could. Sarah

Smell the fragrant short stemmed flowers, See the mature trees resembling gigantic towers, Watch the brilliantly graceful butterflies fly, Morning Up, up and away into the wide open sky.

Admire the formal hedges all planted in rows, Hear the trickling of water and the cawing of the crows, See the rays of sunlight paint uneven stepping stones, Maze Through the leaves of the mature trees with various tones.

Explore the intriguing winding gravel path, Beyond the garden gnomes to the provincial bird bath, Adore the colourful roses in full glorious bloom, As yellow as the sun to as white as the moon.

Strolling endlessly amongst the lush green grass, The sun that’s shining brilliantly is soon to pass, See your way through the disappearing haze, All within the glory of a tranquil morning maze.

By Matthew Harper-Gomm Year 7, Kambrya College BERWICK – VIC. Teacher: Miss Rebecca Manuel

Oz Kids in Print 43 WIN AN AUTHOR VISIT TO YOUR SCHOOL

To improve your students’ reading and writing skills, each term a school with a current School Subscription to Oz Kids in Print will win a children’s Author/Illustrator visit to their school to conduct workshops.

These workshops are designed to encourage even the most reluctant students; they are designed to be both fun and educational. Students who have participated Paul Collins have shown a dramatic improvement in their educational standards.

Your students will be able to have access and mentorship with Australia’s leading Children’s Authors/Illustrators – one of the many benefits of subscribing to Oz Kids in Print.

Websites: www.ozkids.com.au or www.booksforkids.org.au Elise Hurst

REVIEW OUR LIST OF SOME OF AUSTRALIA’S BEST CHILDREN’S AUTHORS/ILLUSTRATORS • Paul Collins • Meredith Costain • Anna Ciddor • Jeni Mawter • Krista Bell • Elise Hurst • Craig Smith • Marjory Gardner • Marc McBride • Anne Spudvilas PLUS MANY MORE AUTHORS Jeni Mawter ✁ YES! Our school would like to subscribe to Oz Kids in Print Please tick the box that most suits your school: ❑ Individual Subscription $33 (1 copy per quarter) ❑ School Subscription $99 (5 copies per quarter)

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Return Details Please mail your remittance with this form to: Children’s Charity Network, PO Box 267, Lara Vic. 3212 ABN 58 109 336 245 Tel: 03 5282 8950 • Fax: 03 5282 8950 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.ozkids.com.au August 2011 44 Journey Through Space

oof, woof ”, barked a Suddenly Joe reached into his pocket and “Arrrgghhh!” screamed Sally and Joe dog as Sally passed the pulled out his pocket knife. together. All the G-forces were rushing “Wjunkyard. When Sally into their heads and they soon fell to reached the gate on the fence around the “Hurry up”, screamed Sally. Sally had sleep. junkyard it was broken. “How unusual”, almost reached the spaceship when Joe thought Sally. stabbed the vine with his knife. Ear- When Sally and Joe woke up they had piercing screams filled the air as the vine found that the ship had stopped moving. Suddenly a twinkle of light appeared reluctantly unwrapped itself from Sally’s Joe quickly got out his phone and tried to through the gate. Sally turned around leg and scrambled back into the spaceship. turn it on. “Oh, no signal”, sighed Joe. quickly and peered through the gate. As soon as the vine got back into the ship Slowly she entered the junkyard through there was absolute silence. After what felt “Help me try and open this hatch so we the gate with a sparkle of light. Sally walked like an eternity Joe spoke. can get out of here”, said Sally. So Joe tried towards the light. She was almost at the to open the hatch with Sally. “It’s no use”, beam of light when the metal and junk “What just happened? groaned Sally. around started to rattle and shake. Sally stepped backwards when she realized “Um, I don’t know”, replied Sally. She got “We’re trapped” added Joe. Then out what it was. up and walked over to Joe. “Ehhh, thanks”, of nowhere there came a faint buzzing said Sally. sound. It was a round, silver spaceship. Then all of a sudden a thick, slimy vine struck out “Don’t mention it”, added Joe. Joe looked “Hey what’s that?” asked Sally. Slowly the from the space ship. It gradually wrapped at the spaceship and slowly walked over hatch from the spaceship creaked open around Sally’s ankle and bit by bit worked with his knife ready. and there in front of them were two green its way up Sally’s leg. “Arrgghh” screamed human looking creatures. Sally. Sally started to get pulled towards “Joe, be careful”, said Sally cautiously. the space ship. Unexpectedly, a boy called “Alo” cried one of the creatures. Joe from Sally’s class was passing by the “I will”, said Joe. Joe reached the spaceship junkyard on the way to school and heard and lifted the hatch. Smoke started Sally and Joe just stared with their mouths Sally screaming. Joe quickly climbed over steaming out and lights and buttons started wide open. Finally, Sally closed her mouth the gate. shimmering and flashing. “Wow”, Joe and spoke. “Uhmm, I am Sally and this whispered to himself. He hadn’t noticed is my friend Joe, we come in peace”, said “Sally, I’m coming”, cried Joe. that Sally had run up to him. Sally. Joe stood up and walked over to the creature. “Are you Aliens?” said Joe. “Joe is that you? Help!” yelled Sally. “Do you want to go in?” she asked. Sally jabbed Joe in his stomach with her elbow. Joe rushed over to Sally. He quickly “Sure”, replied Joe nervously. Joe and thought what to do. Meanwhile Sally was Sally climbed in. Once they had sat down “Let me do all the talking, OK” whispered screaming and slowly being pulled in. in their seats and got comfortable Sally Sally to Joe. “Where are we?” asked Sally spoke. “Don’t touch anything, OK” Sally to the creatures. “Joe, hurry up”, shouted Sally. snapped. “You are in space on the Neptune 2000, “I’m thinking, I’m thinking”, replied Joe. “Just one”, Joe groaned. and by the way I am Yip and this is Yap”, replied Yip. Suddenly a voice appeared “No!” yelled Sally. Then they started and told Yip and Yap to come back into fighting about not pressing buttons. the Neptune 2000. Suddenly Sally fell against a big red button. She froze for a second, “Oh, oh” sighed “Sorry we have to go now, come on Yap” Sally. said Yip.

“Hey, how come you got to press a button?” “Wait”, shouted Joe. “How are we meant to grumbled Joe. Just then the hatch closed, get out of space and back to our planet?” the light dimmed and the spaceship started to rumble. Sally started pushing different Yip and Yap whispered together and then buttons frantically as the spaceship started Yip put out his slimy fingers. “I guess you’ll to count down. have to come with us to the lift off room”, said Yip. “10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,0 we have lift off”, shouted the machine. Sally and Joe looked at each other and nodded their heads then they walked forwards. Oz Kids in Print 45

back up the stairs and started looking for “So this is where we say goodbye”, sighed Joe again. Joe.

Just then Yap heard a weak cry coming “Unfortunately it is”, replied Yip. “All you from somewhere. Yap walked over to a have to do to work the shuttle, is to press room and peaked in. “Guys over here” the big blue button. The computer and the cried Yap. Sally and Yip scrambled in to shuttle will then turn on and the computer the room. “I think there’s someone in that will ask you for your destination. Then you box”, said Yap mysteriously. Sally walked state your destination and push the small over to the trunk. green button,“ Yap told them.

“Helloooo?” she tapped on the lid. So Yap unlocked the door and Sally and Joe hugged and thanked Yip and Yap and Suddenly the box started shaking then slowly they walked into the shuttle. then the lid popped open. Just after Joe tucked his last foot in the shuttle the hatch closed with a bang. Sally “Joe”, screamed Sally. and Joe sat down on the seats, put their A door opened and they all walked seat belts on, then Sally looked at Joe and through. They had a look inside and “Mmmm-mmm”, groaned Joe with a scarf gave him a little nod. Then Sally pressed gasped in amazement. The place was filled around his mouth. Sally quickly untied the the big blue button and then everything with other creatures like Yip and Yap. They scarf around his mouth, arms and feet. Joe lit up and a voice asked for Sally and Joe’s walked inside further and stood in the immediately jumped up, stepped out and destination. middle of the floor and looked around. hugged Sally. Suddenly a curious looking creature snuck “Umm... Earth please”, said Joe. Sally up behind Joe and grabbed him and then “Oh, I can’t believe you found me”, he pressed the small green button and the ran away into the crowd. cried. shuttle started to shake. It flew out of the open roof and then they were flying though “Hey Joe, don’t you think this is cool?” “Well, actually, Yap found you”, said space again. Then, in an instant, they were chirped Sally. Sally turned around quickly Sally. back where they had started. and Joe had disappeared. “Joe!” Shouted Sally repeatedly. “Oh, thank you Yap.” “Did that really happen?” Sally said.

“What’s wrong?” Yap said. After Joe had explained what had happened Joe nodded his head in silence and looked to him they walked back over to the door at his watch. “Don’t you see it? Joe’s gone”, cried Sally where the staircase was. to Yip. “9.00am”, he said in shock. “So this is where we can escape”, sighed “Don’t worry, it’s OK, we’ll find him.” Joe. Sally pushed Joe’s arm up to her face to see the watch. “The time must have stopped Sally started running around calling out “Well, it’s down the stairs”, moaned Yap. while we were up in space”, cried Sally in Joe’s name again and again. She saw a shock. “Come on, we can still make it to brown door in a corner. “Yip, Yap, over So Yip opened the door and they all walked school!” here”, screamed Sally. Yip and Yap quickly down. When they reached the end of the waddled over to her. “It’s a secret staircase staircase Yap walked over to the light So Joe and Sally ran quickly off to school leading down to somewhere”, exclaimed switch and pushed the button. Suddenly and just made it in time for the roll. Sally. She took a step down then another. the lights flickered on and everything Yip and Yap waddled down a few steps to was clear. “Phew”, puffed Sally, “that was a tough follow Sally. adventure”. “Wow”, gasped Joe. “OK, how about we go to the end to see “Yeah, it totally was”, replied Joe. what’s down there”, said Sally. Yip and “So which one are we going to take?” Sally Yap agreed. They walked down for a while wondered. After school finished Joe and Sally walked then the stairs came to an end. Suddenly over to the junkyard and went in. They some lights flickered on and everything Yap walked over to a small, grey shuttle went over to the place where the rocket was visible. which would be perfect for Joe and Sally. was. Suddenly a big monster shot up from the ground. “Argghhhhhhhhh!” “Wow, this must be the old escape spaceship “This one is the only one we are allowed room”, mumbled Yap. to use when there is not an By Grace Blanch emergency”, said Yap. Year 5, The Essington “Good, and this is how we can escape School Darwin from space”, said Sally before adding “but Sally and Joe walked over NIGHTCLIFF – NT first we have to find Joe”. They walked to Yap. Teacher: Mrs Fletcher August 2011 46 The Never Ending By Victoria Toh Year 5, Oxley College, Journey CHIRNSIDE PARK – VIC. I can do it, Teacher: I will make it, Sharon Sandison I will reach the finish line. The destination is not what matters, It’s the journey. But when you think you are at the finish line, You’re at the starting line too. This is the never ending journey, A never ending journey of life.

Waiting Winter is nigh frost covers the sky. Everything is cold and wet, fish shiver inside the net. Leaves drift to the floor and gather slowly inside the door.

The baby birds have left the nest, and travelled quickly towards the west, for the leaves have fallen into the snow that was why they had to go.

Deaf and Blind We all wait shivering through the hush until we hear the call of the happy lark, then we know that spring has begun to make her welcome mark. You can hear the birds sing, You can hear the waves crash against the shore. By Amy Blackshaw You can hear all the wonderful things, Year 5DB, But to me, it’s all like the hum of a refrigerator. St. Louis de Montfort Primary School ASPENDALE – VIC. You can see the people dancing, You can see the page of a book, You can see all the wonderful things, But for me, it’s the same as when I’m asleep.

This is what it might be like to be deaf and blind, You could not hear, You could not see, But you would still deserve respect.

By Nina Lee Year 5, Mt. Martha Primary School, MT. MARTHA – VIC. Teacher: Mr. Antoniou Oz Kids in Print

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To find out more about ASG, contact us today on1800 648 945 or visit www.asg.com.au

Win a $12,000* Education Scholarship If you have a child under the age of 10, ASG is giving you the chance to win a $12,000* Education Scholarship for your child. To enter, simply visit www.asg.com.au/winascholarship

*The projected total value of the Education Scholarship is up to $15,171 based on the child’s age at enrolment, ASG projected earnings and level of study undertaken. Full terms and conditions of ASG’s $12,000 Education Scholarship Draw can be found at www.asg.com.au/winascholarship. Promoter is Australian Scholarships Group Friendly Society Limited (ABN 21 087 648 879), 23 – 25 Hanover St, Oakleigh, VIC 3166. NSW Permit Number LTPS/10/12638; VIC Permit Number 10/4569; ACT Permit Number TP10/5358; SA Permit Number T10/3090.