New children's picture book: "Christina's Matilda"
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:05 am
Yesterday I attended the launch of a new picture book for children, "Christina's Matilda". It is written by Edel Wignell, illustrated by Elizabeth Botte, and published by IP Kidz.
The book tells the story of Christina Macpherson, and her role in the writing of the song, "Waltzing Matilda". The story is becoming quite well known now, and has featured in several books, but there has never been a book for children devoted to the subject. This may also be the first time any book has been entirely devoted to the story of Christina Macpherson.
Christina was a member of a large pastoralist family. She lived in Melbourne, but one sister lived in Camperdown in western Victoria, and several of her brothers lived on Dagworth Station in Queensland, near Winton. While staying at Camperdown, she visited nearby coastal Warrnambool one day and heard a song, 'Craigielee', being played by a brass band at the races. She liked the tune and, being a proficient piano player, played it often.
Some time later she visited Dagworth Station, to be with her brothers following the death of their mother. She invited an old school friend, Sarah Riley, to join her, and Sarah brought her fiance, Banjo Paterson. Christina played Paterson 'Craigielee', he decided to write some words to it, and the rest, as they say, is history!
The book is beautifully produced, and would be a wonderful way to introduce children to the story of 'Waltzing Matilda'. I imagine it would be particularly valuable for young girls, showing them how important one particular woman has been in the forging of the Australian identity. History has largely overlooked Christina Macpherson, but it appears that she is finally receiving the credit that is due to her!
The book tells the story of Christina Macpherson, and her role in the writing of the song, "Waltzing Matilda". The story is becoming quite well known now, and has featured in several books, but there has never been a book for children devoted to the subject. This may also be the first time any book has been entirely devoted to the story of Christina Macpherson.
Christina was a member of a large pastoralist family. She lived in Melbourne, but one sister lived in Camperdown in western Victoria, and several of her brothers lived on Dagworth Station in Queensland, near Winton. While staying at Camperdown, she visited nearby coastal Warrnambool one day and heard a song, 'Craigielee', being played by a brass band at the races. She liked the tune and, being a proficient piano player, played it often.
Some time later she visited Dagworth Station, to be with her brothers following the death of their mother. She invited an old school friend, Sarah Riley, to join her, and Sarah brought her fiance, Banjo Paterson. Christina played Paterson 'Craigielee', he decided to write some words to it, and the rest, as they say, is history!
The book is beautifully produced, and would be a wonderful way to introduce children to the story of 'Waltzing Matilda'. I imagine it would be particularly valuable for young girls, showing them how important one particular woman has been in the forging of the Australian identity. History has largely overlooked Christina Macpherson, but it appears that she is finally receiving the credit that is due to her!