Was We of the Never Never, my Favourite Book?
I don’t know if it is really my favourite book, but it is one of my favourites. I love the amazing story of Jeannie Gunn going to such an isolated place, with no other women, and how she managed the behaviour of the sexist men.
At a Forum meeting, members were asked to speak for about 5 minutes about a book that they had read and accepted as their “favourite book.”
My weeks are often busy – taken up by meetings, appointments and life, and I forgot about the talk, and turned up at the Forum meeting totally unprepared.
I had minutes to prepare as others graced the members with their stories. My brain didn’t help me, but then I remembered one special book, and I quickly Googled it on my phone. Yes, I knew the title and the author, but I just wanted to check some more details. Then I heard my name. It was my turn. I had no time to write notes, so I headed to the front of the group to do my best.
Author Mrs Aeneas Gunn
“We of the Never Never,” written by Mrs Aeneas Gunn, who we now know as Jeannie Gunn, was written as a novel, but we now know it is a memoir of her life at Mataranka in the Northern Territory, published in 1907. I do recall reading it – I think twice, actually, and I was enthralled by her story and what she achieved way back then.
I do have another connection with Mataranka, which is around 114 kms from Katherine in the Northern Territory. When I drove around Australia in 2012/13, it was on my plan as I headed from Darwin, to visit Mataranka. I explored the area, visiting the old homestead, which was the set for film based on Jeannie’s book, which was launched in 1982.
Here is the trailer of the movie We of the Never Never – click here.
I also visited the Elsey Cemetery where Aeneas Gunn was buried and had a dramatic meeting with 4 cattle that were in the cemetery, and ran around madly when they saw me walking around exploring the gravesites. They ran and quite amazingly, jumped over the fence and disappeared.
Elsey Homestead Replica
Elsey
The above photo was taken by me in 2013, when I visited the homestead replica, which was used in the making of the film.
As I was travelling alone, I chose not to swim in the Hot Springs at Mataranka, which is a popular spot for tourists to visit, but I did stay one night in a motel there, before heading off on my journey back to Queensland.
How did my speech go? I managed it – not too bad either, but I did not win the top points for the night.
(I am already organised for the next meeting!!)
What is your favourite book?
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