Sunday, February 01, 2009

Daisy Sunshine - in the sunshine

Susanne Gervay book launch

On yet another of Sydney's string of very warm days, I was off on the train into the city this afternoon, alighting at Central for a brisk, if very sweaty, walk along ever-colourful, if now slighty worn-down, Oxford Street, through Darlinghurst, Paddington and then Woollahra, to the beautiful and stately Hughenden Boutique Hotel!

I had been invited by author Susanne Gervay to attend the launch of two "Making Tracks" books for children: Felicity Pulman's "Turning the Page" and Susanne's own "Daisy Sunshine". These are the final two titles in a series published by the National Museum of Australia, with each fiction book highlighting an artifact from the Museum's amazing collection of significant, historic Australiana.

Because Susanne's book is set squarely in 1975, and focused around some feminist memorabilia of that decade, there was a pervasive presence of cork platform shoes, long dresses, hippy headscarves, and a rousing chorus of "I Am Woman".

It was fun hobnobbing with the members and friends of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators of Australia, and renewing many old acquaintances. A great way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.

The Hughenden is owned by Susanne and her sister, and is just around the corner from another very famous building, which also has a strong link to Australia in the 1970s. I had some time to kill before the book launch was due to commence, so I took a nostalgic stroll down...

Moncur Street

... to see...

Moncur Flats
Moncur Flats, 83 Moncur St, Woollahra...

...otherwise known as...

Number 96
Number 96, Lindsay Street, Paddington!

On the way back to the station, I was on the look out for the ATC of the TH...

Paddington Town Hall

Sunday's magic number: 96.4. Walking in the heat of the day. Did it help?

1 comment:

Television.AU said...

what are those shops at the ground level of Number 96? They look a bit more classy than the old deli and wine bar! :-) And check out the modest sized tree in the '70s pic is now casting a shadow over the whole street