Foreword by Her Excellency the
Honourable Ms Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO
Governor-General
of the Commonwealth of Australia
"Wallaby
Stew "Sid Harta Publishers Melbourne
Australia
Between
these covers you will read stories of courage and hope from young people,
collected
by Diane Perkins whose friendship has been important and influential in our
family
for many decades. We went to the same school, though not at the same time;
we
didn't have to be there at the same time to absorb the school motto "Fortitudine et
spe", or remember, forever and a day, the melody and words of the
school song ....
"To
you, om
school we owe so much that we cannot repay, whe'ere we go we'll ne'er
forget
om days at Moreton Bay, the problems shared, the pleasures too, the games we
lost
and won, the work and all the happy homs we spent when work was done ...
".
School
days linger through our much longer lives, they feature in many of these
sloping
in from the wide blue Pacific across the bay cooling the air flowing through
the
Queenslander louvred latticed wooden buildings where we lived, the spacious
gardens
shaded by old fig trees, poincianas and jacarandas where we relaxed, played
and
read on the paspalum and couch grass. Lifelong friendships were formed as were
ideas
of loyalty, duty and service. By traditional teaching methods of rote, discussion
and
lively debate from a series of rather eccentric teachers we learned what was
essential
on the voyage of life; our school badge included the star of hope, the rock of
courage
and the sea of despair. The sea of despair had to be avoided at any cost,
though
we should prepare for storms and wild weather; we were reminded of this
when
we sang, at least once a term the hymn "For those in peril on the
sea". The
school
has since relocated, is a much larger establishment and boys attend; one
ponders
the content of emails they send to their families; we wrote letters with pens,
usually
fountain pens, and perfumed stationery was discouraged.
Two
of my sisters also attended Moreton Bay College; Helene and Diane have
remained
close friends though living oceans apart. The Perkins family raised their
family
in Mt. Isa. Di's work ethic meant she was compelled to do something else as
well
as teach in the high school and she wrote local history books to fulfill this
need.
Each time I visited Mt. Isa I witnessed her vivacious and generous
involvement in
community
activities. Years later the family moved to Brisbane and Di, with her
husband
Bill, frequently visited my mother at Mt. Tamborine; two mothers with much
to
share, both
having brought up four daughters. Together they poured over the family
collection
of Box Brownie black and white photos, identifying places and
personalities.
Mother delighted in being a primary resource for Di's research into the
Queensland
outback. Country people have long memories of people and events and
our
valued friend has gathered many in her books.
The
voices in Wallaby Stew are of young people from differing backgrounds and
through
the experiences related we glean their hopes for life in 21st century Australia.
The
collection will gladden hearts; young people revealing hopes and dreams, being
frank
about weaknesses and in a few cases surprised to discover their strengths.
Exploring
the heights, depths and breadths
of their emotions through relationships
with
friends and families, they describe the importance of finding one's own direction
and
of surviving false starts. In 'Disability is only in your mind' Candice advises
"don't
let other people set your limits". The interviewer might have asked the
easy
questions
but these young people have struggled to find hard won answers; wishful
thinking,
wistful reflection. Listen to them, they shape the society and community in
which
we grow; family is central to all of the stories, these young people are
wise
enough
to recognise its value and influence.
Signed,
Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO
Governor-General
of the Commonwealth of Australia
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