The year has begun with some exciting news and
some sad news.
The sad news?
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| Jill at the launch of The Red Suitcase |
Jill Harris, writer of The Red Suitcase published by Makaro Press and launched on the eve
of ANZAC Day last year, died on Christmas Day aged 76. Google her name or use
the search box on this BLOG for more information and photos of Jill, a
courageous woman who worked almost up to the day of her death on her latest
book. She had previously written three other titles for children - At The Lake, Missing Toby and Sil plus The Red Suitcase
now into its second print run.
On Friday I went to St Peter’s Church in Willis Street,
Wellington where writer Jean Watson was farewelled. Jean was recently best
known for her support and total involvement with the orphanage in Southern India, Karunai Illam about which the
documentary Aunty and the Star People
screened round New Zealand late last year. Many secondary schools will have
copies of her books in their collections. Perhaps the best known was Stand in the Rain
which was published
back in 1965. At the time of her death (and she had only returned from India a
few days before) she was working on her autobiography. It was a tribute to Jean
that the church was overflowing – many women dressed in saris - and that so
many well-known people from the writing community were there. As we were
honouring her here in Wellington, a simultaneous service was being held in
Tamil Nadu in India.
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| Jean, then aged 80, bikes through the village of Tamil Nadu. Image: Indian News Work |
Now the happy news!
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| Fleur - photographer not traced. |
That’s such positive news with which to begin a new year.
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