The Story of Sydney
Sydney is my toy, bought 46 years ago, to replace a much-loved doll that had been lost. He led a fine life for many years with me and many other toys, until I became a teenager. Sydney and the others then spent many years resting, wrapped up securely in my doll’s house, comforted by camphor balls.
Years later, my daughter opened the doll’s house and found all these friends. She adored Sydney and from then on was never without him, even as she became a teenager herself.
Together we made a decision for me to take Sydney to Antarctica, as he loved travelling and I could take some photographs of his journey for us all. On February 17th, 2005 our yellow Russian Icebreaker crunched to a halt in a floe of ice and ferried off its cargo of passengers to Cape Evans. One of those passengers was Sydney Walton Mouse. After visiting Scott’s Hut, all the passengers returned to their ship — all but one…
I only realised late at night as our ship sailed away from Cape Evans that I had left Sydney behind.
Returning to Australia I had to tell my daughter and all who knew Sydney of what I had done. I immediately applied to return the following summer to try to rescue Sydney and to take my daughter with me.
Despite several rescue attempts in these past few years, and with the help of the New Zealanders from Scott Base and some from the American station McMurdo, and notifying all the tourist companies… Sydney is yet to be found.
But Antarctica can freeze time and hide memories and traces of the past in its icy grip, then suddenly release them.
The book Sydney Of The Antarctic is a picture book which tells the tale of his life and his adventures as we believe are happening in Antarctica. It also holds the other story, the true story of his journey and asks what you think. Many children and adults have written and drawn their ideas of where Sydney is and what he is up to.
I have received the most wonderful thoughts from all, so this site has been set up to allow anyone to put their feelings down for Sydney and for all to see. And you never know, one day, through all our efforts, we may just find him.
You can order Sydney of the Antarctic (ISBN 978073321597) from your bookshop or direct from ABC Books.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi! I am Sydney’s grandmother.
Sydney came into our family’s life when Coral was a little girl. He became so much a part of our family and wherever Coral went so did Sydney, and they had many happy times until his best friend Coral grew up and went away, but he stayed at Coral’s family home.
The time came when Coral had a little girl called Tully, who came to visit and found Sydney in Coral’s dolls house having fun with the other toys, and wanted Sydney for a friend too.
And so he lived with Coral again and had all the love he could want with all the family.
More later
Hi there
My family are great fans of Coral and Sydney, and have followed his story to date ,always watching the horizon hopefully. We have a family member who, like Sydney, has been much travelled, hugged and loved, although some might consider him “a toy horse”. Like the Velveteen Rabbit, these little guys become real to those who are lucky.
Our Mister Ed “Horsie” has had his share of adventures both locally and abroad. He has had accidental sleepovers in some unusual spots , but has always been helped home by kind strangers.
Sydney is bound to find his way home once his desire for adventure wanes!
Hey — I was Sydney’s second friend after Coral.
I’m Coral’s daughter, Tully.
I loved Sydney and when mum told me he was lost, I was sad and thought I would never see him again.
Mum told me he would come back and we would rescue him together. I got to go down to Antarctica and join the search party but we couldn’t find him.
When Mum began the book Sydney of the Antarctic, I knew that his story would be told and one day he would come back to our family again.
He was my best mate for a long time but I knew he always wanted his own adventure and now he’s doing it.
I think we are all comforted with the thought that he’s just out there somewhere doing his own thing and, I’m sure, thinking of us too!
Hi
At school we went to the Hobart State Library to listen to Coral Tulloch read Sydney of the Antarctic and from then i have been inspired by Sydney’s story and thinking where he is and what he is doing. I just believe that he’s out with the penguins!
The other day the weirdest thing happened. I lost my favourite toy puppy, so I put signs up everywhere and the next day i found him sitting on my bed with my teddy Lookie and I think that Coral might just have luck with Sydney too!
Dear Coral Tulloch, I met you on Tuesday 23 June. I loved your toys (especially the Captain) and the kidnapper. And thank you very much; if you wanted to know, I am the girl who said why fish smell. I
answered because they eat fish.
I loved the story of Sydney and all of those great drawings. My favourite one is Sydney reading a book with an Antarctic background.
Send me back some information if you can.
Love from Zola
i
Hello to all the Sydney vigils out there. I never got the opportunity to meet Sydney but I have known many toys in my short life and it’s a sad but true fact that some of them do indeed disappear. Often for reasons which we shall never understand. I have been investigating this phenomenon for over twelve years now, and though my findings are few and far between, I am slowly uncovering the secrets of toys and their movements in the world. My team and I have been charting the progress of two particular toys, a floppy rabbit and a gorilla wearing a beret, across Mexico since January. Their movements suggest predesignated meetings with other toys from around the planet! If our findings are confirmed, we will have uncovered a secret toy operation on a scale never before seen.
It’s early days, but spirits are high, cheeks are red and maps are being frantically cross-referenced. Let us all stay vigilant, and slowly the puzzle of Sydney’s wherabouts will surely fall into place. As an investigator at the forefront of this field, I can only send Sydney my greatest respect and hope that he may someday make an appearance on our radar, if only for a moment.
Thomas
(Beureau of Missing Toy Movements Researcher and boyfriend of Tully)
Dear Coral,
I liked the book of Sydney. I liked coming for the excursion. I think Sydney went to Scott’s Hut.
From Alice
Hi Coral and Tully
It’s Sydney, I found a laptop with wireless internet, guess what I’m staying with a family of emperor penguins.The oldest is called Ingrid sheloves hearing story’s of the out side world I told her that I liked documentary’s and she said that her family have been filmed
for a movie she said that it was called MARCH OF THE PENGUINS cool!! My best friend is called Pipper, she is a baby emperor penguin.We go surfing (I’ve taught her) and fishing. The emperor penguin at Scott’s has invited me down for Christmas!Last year I got a talisman wrapped up in pink paper.Tomorrow I’m going to a seal’s home because I need to look after the baby seal because the Mum is sick. When you come down to Antarctica, climb the volcano and meet me there.
See you then mum and sis
P.S LOVE YOU
Sydney WaltonMouse
On Monday 18th August at Smithton Primary School i saw and meet you Coral, how exciting it was. i was the one who drew the picture of you in it trying to find Sydney. Sydney was at the volcano and a helicopter with a man in it, I said he was from New Zealand and I would love to go to Antarctic and help you find Sydney.
From your number #1 fan Annalise Paige Monson
Thank you for coming to Rosebery on 21 August 2008. I hope you come back again and hope you find Sydney.
from Adrian
Hi it is Brooke
I hope you find Sydney soon. I hope you have a good year and thank you for coming to Rosebery on 21 August 2008
from Brooke
Hi Ms Mousey here!
You visited Warilla Library a few years back and told us the wonderful story about Sydney. Being a mouse myself, I was listening to your story from behind the book shelves and I thoroughly enjoyed it! At the time, you were hoping to get the story published and here I am now reading it.
Hopefully we will get to hear about Sydney’s other adventures in the future.
Lots of love
Ms Mousey x
hi
thank you for coming to kingston high school i wish i could help find sydney hope you find him when you go next time good luck let me us know when you find sydney
I hope you find Sydney. That’s not sydney in the fridge
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