Farmer Schulz's Ducks by Colin Thiele

Farmer Schulz's ducks were the loveliest ducks in the world. There were brown ducks and grey ducks and speckled ducks. There were ducks with necks of opal and wings of amethyst; their colours gleamed in the sunlight, their feathers shone like jewels. There were ducks with the sheen of emerald, of sapphire and turquoise and jasper, like the glint of Aladdin's treasure. There were ducks like burnished gold.

Farmer Schultz's Ducks by Colin Thiele, first published in 1986 by Walter McVitty Books, is now out of print, yet but this beautiful story set in the Adelaide Hills is still relevant to the young readers of today. Farmer Schulz's beloved ducks keep on dying undignified deaths. His farm farm is close to a highway and the ducks become potential  road victims every time they cross the highway to the Onkaparinga River. Rapid urban development has seen an increase in the traffic and also an indifference to the fate of the ducks by motorist tearing along to meet their busy work schedules. Farmer Schulz's daughter Anna has a few ideas to solve the problem. Farmer Schulz soon incurs the disapproval of government and the family has to rethink their whole approach to the problem. The illustrations by Mary Milton, a South Australian artist, are subtle yet detailed reflections of a myriad of breeds and personalities of the ducks described in the text. They also richly portray family life on this farm. Colin Thiele was born in South Australia in 1920 and his German ancestry was certainly a big influence on the book.

Farmer Schulz

Swan Song by Colin Thiele

Twenty six years on from Storm Boy comes Colin Thiele's Swan Song. It is also set on the Coorong and it is interesting to read about the changes to the area over the last few decades. Bird life is still plentiful but the environmental battles have escalated. This story revolves around Mitchell (Mitch), who lives with his parents in a remote region of the Coorong. His father is the sole Parks and Wildlife officer in the area and seems to have his hands pretty full dealing with petty criminals and dolts. Mitch dutifully does his studies through long distance education and when he is not studying he is enjoying all that this beautiful region has to offer.  One day, Mitch discovers two pelicans abandonded by their parents, and much to his father's disapproval, takes them in and raises them from chicks to adults. Finding fish for them beomes a full time occupation when he is not doing his school projects. Plenty Full and Plenty Empty soon become part of the family's life. Then, Mitch bring home a swan's egg which has also been abandoned and with his mother's assistance rasies it to a graceful adult swan.  Not all runs smoothly though, and just as in the novel Storm Boy, there are issue with environmental vandals and thievery from local boats and shops. Accusatory fingers are pointed in all directions and some of the accused become vengeful. I really enjoyed this gentle novel and if you enjoyed Storm Boy you will love this book too. I read it in one sitting. It now graces the shelves of out Little Library of Rescued Books.

Timmy by Colin Thiele

As with many of Colin Thiele's books this one deals with the relationship between a young boy and an animal. Denny is devastated when he watches a beautiful hare ripped apart by the Lukins' greyhounds. He is a timid and insecure twelve year old who has recently lost both of his parents and struggling in his new country evironment. He has a favourite pepper tree which he climbs, and his aunt has just given him Uncle Andy's old binoculars, so from the safety of his tree Denny  observes the rituals of his neighbours and the happenings in his district. There is definitely something strange going on oat Mario's farm next door. He comes across a baby hare and captures it believing this to be necessary to its well-being. The novel then follows the individual growth of  Denny as he cares for his hare, whom he names Timmy. The soft pencil drawings by Lyn Wood are scattered throughout the novel and reinforce the relationship between Denny and Timmy.

More Oz: Australian Stories, Humour and Poetry edited by D. Betler Moore

Filled with excerpts from well-known Australian classics as well as poetry from some of Aussie's best poets, this anthology is a zippy little read. Perhaps my favourite is the story from Henry Lawson's Famous Stories entitled Bill, the Ventriloquial Rooster. Included are stories from S.A Wakefield of Gumbles fame, Colin Thiele, Norman Lindsay, Judith Wright, Patricia Wrightson, C.J.Dennis, Alan Marshall and Pat Spencer. There is also a glossary at the back to help students with the more archaic language. This is a great book to get a handle on Australian colloquilaisms.

Speedy by Colin Thiele

Set in South Australia, this little novel is a snapshot of a few years in the lives of a fishing family. Ben and his father Mike spend a lot of time in their boat Swordfish out fishing in the Gulf and enjoying the freedom of the sea. They have formed a very special relationship with a dolphin whom they named Speedy after he saved Mike's life when Mike was just five years old. Enter taciturn Boris Butler, who believes dolphins are stealing all his fish, and who wants to win the annual fishing boat race at the Pebble Bay Fish Festival at all costs. Life in the bay becomes even more complicated when big game fishermen, Darcy Drake and Wolf Haast, enter the scene and rumours abound that sea lions and dolphins are being used as bait. This book is only 80 pages long and makes for enjoyable reading. The accompanying ink illustrations are done by Tasmanian illustrator Coral Tulloch. News of the passing of this great Australian writer in 2006 was minimal as he died on the same day as media personality, Steve Irwin.

Jodie's Journey by Colin Thiele

Colin Thiele, a true blue Australian author, is very worth reading. In this novel, Jodie rides her horse, Monarch, in shows with increasing success until the sudden onset of rheumatoid arthritis which prevents her from completing a ride in the last show of the season. After she is referred to a specialist in Adelaide she learns about the disease and how best to deal with it. The summer is overbearingly hot, perfect weather for a bushfire! On what became known as Ash Wednesday, Jodie is home alone, when fires, fuelled by a strong wind, break out in the hills around Adelaide. Jodie decides to set Monarch free and in her wheelchair, leads the way to safety. The story is easy to read and the facts about juvenile arthritis are clearly portrayed. Jodie’s is a very emotional struggle.