War’s terrible toll must never be forgotten, Altona North author Sherryl Clark believes.
A century on from the horrors of Gallipoli, her latest novel is a reminder of the rippling effects of war both at home and abroad.
Clark says her new children’s novel,
Jimmy’s War, set in Yarraville in 1915, tells of the hardships of life at home while soldiers were away fighting.
The story is part of Penguin’s Do You Dare series for 8-12-year-olds.
“It’s my 66th book. They’re mostly for children and young adults,” she says.
The author built up a picture of 1915 Yarraville by walking around the streets, talking to residents of long standing, and poring over historic photos.
“I got a lot of sense of what Yarraville was like in those days,” she said.
In her story, Jimmy has to leave school and work in the rail yards to keep food on the table. When his brother Arthur returns badly injured from Gallipoli, life changes for the worse.
“One of the really interesting things I found from the oral histories was that … people didn’t really know the level of death and injury happening at Gallipoli.”
Until the wounded came home …
Jimmy’s War will be launched at the Co-op bookshop at MetroWest, 138 Nicholson Street, Footscray, by Maribyrnong mayor Nam Quach at 11am on Saturday.
Benjamin Millar
