Thanks for visiting!
Welcome to this new site, although it’s just in its infancy. I’m happy to say, (with the help of two good friends), at last it’s here. It will contain some of the normal things you’d expect, information on my most recent publications, a biography etc, and now has my first eBook, The Journey.
The last few years have been a little tragic for myself and for my family, with the loss of dear old Sydney, left behind in the Antarctic.
Although the story of Sydney can now be read in the picture book Sydney Of The Antarctic, for some time I only had the story up to when I left him behind. As I travelled around to schools, many children and teachers wrote and drew stories of their ideas of what has happened to Sydney. This one is from Rachel at Crystal Lake School in Illinois.
On one of my return visits to Antarctica, I finally found the ending for Sydney, but it was through the constant stories from everyone else that l was asked to put up a site so that all of these tales could be told.
Already you can see a letter that was sent to me from Sydney by a kind New Zealander, who apparently found it in his luggage. We recently became aware of one of Sydney’s relatives and will have photos up soon.
And within the last month I received packages from children in Chicago and Melbourne and we will place some of these on the site.
But I’d love to see your thoughts on what you think happened to Sydney or where you think he is….or perhaps you’ve seen him, or know of one of his relatives?
I believe he is still in Antarctica, somewhere close to Cape Evans and I am fortunate to be returning again later this year to Antarctica to search for him again. (More on that later).
During the past seven months I’ve been lucky to have visited some fabulous schools and communities, meeting wonderful students and teachers at Christmas and Cocos Islands, Chicago and Crystal Lake Illinois, Broome and Fitzroy Crossing…and a huge hug to you all!
And a big hello to the wonderful staff at The Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre in WA, where I was in residence at the end of last year during the Sydney exhibition…. and for all those talented literature students in the Albany region — keep up all your creative ideas. It was an inspiration to work with you all.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Where is Sydney? Well I imagine he’s made himself a very cosy home somewhere at Cape Evans and has become a wizened intrepid Antarctic explorer in no rush to end his sojourn down south. He’ll come back when he’s satisfied there is no more to learn and contribute to Antarctica. From my experience that might take a while…..
Our class of 25 students had 25 different ideas of where Sydney could be at this moment. Whether it was Chicago, Kentucky, on a mystery island, in an Australian forest, on a beach in Florida, traveling somewhere in Europe, walking on the Great Wall in China, taking the ferry boat to the Statue of Liberty in New York City, swimming in the sea in Holland, surfing some waves in Hawaii, playing with a little girl in Russia, exploring Mt. Everest, having fun at Niagra Falls, or on the rim of the Grand Canyon…one thing was sure…Sydney is having grand adventures and loving every single minute!
Where will he go next? Back to Antarctica? Home to Tasmania? We’re sure that students around the world will have as much fun thinking about Sydney’s adventures as we have. Thanks to Coral for inspiring us to be creative with both words and illustrations!!
Mrs. Trummel’s 4th grade class, Crystal Lake, Illinois USA
Dearest Sydney,
We never stop thinking of you, you know that, but it’s at this time of year, Midwinter that we are thinking of you every second. I know you’ll be somewhere safe and wrapped up warmly, but tradition states that a party must be made to celebrate the solstice, so we want to send all our best wishes for the celebrations. Then, once you’ve eaten and sung and danced, wrap yourself up well. It’s not long now for the light to return and remember, we’ll be down there to try and bring you home soon.
xxxxxCoral, Tully and family.
Hello
I am 10 and i think that Sydney has found an abandoned ship and is on a journey sailing with the penguins back to Tasmania. I know he is because I have a story about my toy puppy.
I lost him and I put signs everywhere and then the next day i found him on my pillow with my teddy. I bet Sydney is writing a letter to you right now!
That pink pressie you found under the bed was a very thoughtfullletter and a present — maybe even a present from a journey far away!
lots of thoughts
Millie
hi i am Rhea i am 11 you came to see my class at St Stephens college in Queensland i think sydney has been taken away by a baby polar bear and sydney has becom friends wiht the polar bear but he is trying to send leters to you but there is not a post box any where i love all you books so much and sydney will turn up i know it
from Rhea
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