Lorraine Marwood – November 1 2020

Lorraine is an award-winning poet who draws inspiration from her upbringing in rural Victoria and life on a dairy farm. Her poems have been widely published in literary magazines across Australia and internationally. Lorraine has published several children’s novels and five collections of poetry including Ratwhiskers and Me, Chantelle’s Cloak, The Girl Who Turned into Treacle and Guinea Pig Town and Other Poems About Animals. In July 2018 Lorraine’s opinion piece ‘Lord Will I Die?’ appeared in The Guardian Australia. It describes how her own journey through cancer inspired her to write her latest book, Leave Taking, which tells the story of a boy whose family are packing up and leaving their family farm after the death of his younger sister, Leah. Lorraine also writes strategies to teach poetry writing to children and adults.

Star Jumps [Verse novel]
Walker Books, 2009; ISBN 9781921150722
9-11 years
A poignant verse novel depicting the joys and heartbreaks of a farming family as they struggle to cope with the devastating effects of long-term drought. Told through the eyes of Ruby, day to day farm life involves playing in grassy paddocks with siblings, doing jobs and helping out, and witnessing birth, death and sacrifice. The family are devastated when they have to sell off some of their herd, but in the spirit of hope it is Ruby who tries in her own small way to help the family by making miniature bales of hay.

A Ute Picnic and Other Australian Poems
Walker Books 2010; ISBN 9781921529771
9-11 years
Containing strong themes of farming and rural living and covering topics such as drought, cattle, rodeos, the working day and beloved pets, this collection of poetry shows the essence of Australian life on the land. It features a special heartfelt poem, ‘Black Saturday’, which touches on the tragic bushfires that devastated rural Victoria in 2009. This beautifully designed collection, with interspersed images and drawings immerses the reader in the harsh realities and inspiring moments of living on a farm in Australia.