Hobsons Bay resident David Colquhoun has always had a gift and passion for writing. After returning home to Australia, he finally put pen to paper and published his own children’s books. He speaks to Molly Magennis about his books, and the special messages and morals behind them.
What is your connection to the western suburbs?
I’ve lived [in East Altona] all my life. I have moved out but I keep coming back, I’m like a homing pigeon.
What do you love most about the area?
It’s friendly, great facilities. You know, the transport, buses, trains, got a little shopping center, the circle shopping center. Parks, gyms, swimming pools. It’s got all the conveniences.
Is there anything about the area you would change, or you think needs improvement?
The young hoons in their cars, if they could tame that a bit. It is an issue.
Tell me about your children’s books and why you first started writing them?
Well, I’ve always wanted to write and I’ve been told I should write. And I always thought it would be with adult fiction. I always like poetry, soul, literature, good literature. But I’ve never done anything substantial with it. But I did get a poem published once, and I used to help a friend with his songwriting, help him finish the song for him.
But the last five years, I moved to Thailand to do a TESOL certificate, teaching English to speakers of another language. But I had to come back because of health reasons…… and COVID had arrived. Upon arrival, not long after entering the house, coming back home, these children stories just came to me so I wrote them down. I read them to my sister and my nephew…. and a couple of other people and they said ‘they’re good stories, do you want to consider publishing?’.
What are the books about?
After rereading it I realised that it was an autobiography. It’s about an ostrich who wants to fly. Obviously ostriches can’t fly, so he goes through the frustration of trying to fly and the other animals are laughing at him and telling him he’s not suited for flying. He says ‘I’ll show them, I’m going to keep trying’. And circumstances arise where his natural talent comes out, his running ability. He becomes a bit of a bit of a hero overnight. He doesn’t want to fly anymore, he accepts himself just for who he is.
And you’ve written a second book too?
Yeah, the second book, it’s called ‘Blue ant, red ant and green ant’. I don’t know how this story came to me, but it’s actually taught me a lot… it gives a simple explanation of where racism comes from.
How has the response been to your books so far?
[After] my first book came out, [Hobsons Bay] libraries bought it. Willianstown craft markets has accepted me, so I’ve been there a couple of times, it’s good, I feel well received by the people there. The last market I sold 19 of [my books].
