Book Reviews

Brought to you by Nicole and the team at Great Escape Books

The Burning Girls

by C J Tudor

C.J Tudor is the queen of thrillers and her latest book, T he Burning Girls did not disappoint. Jack Brooks is not your usual vicar, she is rough around the edges and doesn’t quite fit the bill. Dedicated nonetheless, Jack and her teenage daughter Flo have taken up a new parish in the English countryside of Chapel Croft. Chapel Croft has a dark and disturbing past, when 500 years ago eight protestant martyrs were burnt at the stake. This was followed by the heartbreakingly mysterious disappearance of two teenage girls, just 30 years ago. Jack has no idea what awaits her as the community’s holy spokesperson. In this town everyone has their secrets and the ghosts of the past threaten to ruin it all. As Jack and Flo begin to settle in, they wonder who is hiding the darkest secret of all, and do they really want to poke the devil and risk their lives. Mesmerising, thrilling and utterly terrifying, this book is fast paced and a real treasure. You’ll love every page. Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books

The Four Winds

by Kristin Hannah

Kirstin Hannah is an outstanding author, and such a versatile writer. Delving back in time to the Great Depression era, in T he Four Winds Elsa Martinell is the least glamorous daughter, doomed at 25 to be her parents’ keeper … never to marry or have children. A pivotal moment leads to a great turning point in her life, as she breaks free of the cloying confines of her judgemental family. She carves out a wonderful new life for herself and her daughters, but her farm and the land turns on them and everything dies. T he Four Winds is a fascinating insight into how tough life was for women, as Elsa moves overland from Texas to California. She is a survivor, picking cotton, fruit, anything to feed her family. Heartbreaking and inspiring, this is a great novel of a woman rising and changing the world in her own small way. I loved it. Review by Sue @ Great Escape Books A Crooked Tree

by Una Mannion

One hot summer's evening. Rage. Blinding anger so complete, your brain has a complete mind-snap. Libby's mother, in a hot car crammed with squabbling children, pulls up on the verge of an interstate motorway and tosses her middle child out of the car. Aghast, the older and younger siblings settle into tearful silence as she pulls away, leaving little Ellen alone to walk the last five miles home in darkness. This one rash act leads to an unforgettable summer. Narrated by 15-year-old Libby - a contemplative character you will come to love, A Crooked Tree is the beautifully written story of the intense complexities of family - the unconditional love between the children, the failings of the mother, the wonder of small kindnesses and the power of community. A totally superb read, A Crooked Tree by debut Irish writer Una Mannion, is one of my favourite reads for the year so far. Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books

The Second Son

by Lorraine Peck

Heading into the snap lockdown, I needed a book in which I could immerse myself as a welcome distraction, and T he Second Son was exactly that. Set in Sydney's west, Ivan Novak is shot dead, putting his bins out, in a brutal and callous drive-by shooting. Except Ivan wasn't some innocent citizen, he was a member of an illustrious crime family and now they want revenge. Milan, the family patriarch is furious at the injustice and looks to his youngest son Johnny to make everything right. But Johnny is torn between his sweet little family and his criminal gang family. Thrilling, complex and a terrifying depiction of family loyalty, gang violence and blood-soaked rifts, this is truly an action-packed crime debut. I couldn't put it down, and now all I can think is ... please tell me there will be a sequel! Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books

HISTORY SPOT Histor y of Anglesea’s Histor y House

By Jan Morris, Anglesea & District Historical Society

Over 40 years ago a group of local Anglesea people had been talking about the “old days”. It became obvious to them that if someone didn’t preserve the stories of the past, they would be lost forever. Thus, Anglesea and District Historical Society was formed (A&DHS) and held its first meeting in November 1980.

Due to COVID restrictions, we were unable to celebrate our 40th anniversary last November.

The names of the people at the early meetings included many old Anglesea identities. Arthur Bubb, Keith Cecil, Brian Butterworth, Joan CameronMurch, Pat Denham, Tom Rogers, Alan Poigndester, and Gil & Nancy Johnson. Keith Cecil already had been collecting early Anglesea and district photographs. He was fortunate that Charles Herschell, as Managing Director and later Chairman of the Great Ocean Road Trust, was an early film pioneer and the founder of Rose postcards which carried many scenic views of the area.

These were made available to the newly formed A&DHS. Many families who had their box brownie and other popular cameras also contributed to the photographic collection. Consequently, a comprehensive collection of early Anglesea photos was developed. Keith Cecil had a wellequipped dark room where he was able to copy photos loaned to the society. The society was successful in obtaining a grant to digitise their basic collection. As technology improved, the collection has been expanded and we now have more than 7,000 photos. Following the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires, the house Rangi Maree, owned by the local council, was used for emergency accommodation. By 1986 this was no longer required, and the Council offered the premises to A&DHS, which they gladly accepted. After removing some internal walls, they made the house into a meeting room and museum.

When the museum started, member Alan Poignester gave many interesting items he had collected from his work around the town. The most significant of Alan’s donations was the Inverlochy log, which he had discovered when cleaning out a local shed. Again A&DHS obtained a grant to have the pages of the Inverlochy log conserved. The pages have now been copied and the copy is available for visitors to see. We also have artefacts salvaged from the Inverlochy ship wreck, including pieces of crockery donated by Eric and Marianne Messer who dived on the wreck before it became a protected site. We have a mantlepiece made from the Inverlochy salvage, that was once in Filkins House, which stood in the

Rangi Maree, aka History House current Community House car park. Our museum is ever-extending. It includes the history of the farm that was on Coalmine Road and the history of the Alcoa Coal Mine.

In 2000, the Surf Coast Family History Group began. They became a sub-group of A&DHS and have the use of Rangi Maree, now known as History House. Continual improvements have been made to History House, including a garden shed and the last remaining bathing box in Anglesea. Once one of a series of bathing boxes in the sand dunes along the beach, it was moved to the Scout Hall (now the Art Centre) before being moved to History House in 2017, restored and used as an adjunct of the museum.

At History House we have maps, photos, artefacts, videos, tools, an extensive library, family files and models. The events of today are tomorrow’s history. We need to keep up with the history of Anglesea and district organisations and families. We would appreciate annual reports from all organisations and family notes on any family that has connections with the area. If you have done family research, please consider giving us a copy. We also need people to help us preserve local history. Consider joining A&DHS. Our website can be found at http://home.vicnet.net.au/-angen/. We are also on Facebook. You will be warmly welcomed as we move into the next 40 years.

Tech AngleTWITCHERS’ CORNER By Chris Dos Written and illustrated by Kaye Traynor

Rufous Whistler

Pachycephala rufiventris

The distinctive notes of the Rufous Whistler are often the first indication that Spring has arrived. This bird, migratory in the southern areas, appears in late August and departs about April. Rufous Whistlers can be found throughout all mainland states of Australia except for the very arid desert areas. It does not reside in Tasmania, but occasionally there are reports of a vagrant bird. Outside Australia, they are found in New Guinea, the Moluccas and New Caledonia.

Male Rufous Whistlers are very handsome birds - entirely steel grey above with a jet black broad band from the base of the bill running back through the eye and ear down the side of a pure white throat and neck to join across the breast. Below the white throat and black band the bird is a rich rufous colour. The eye is deep red-brown. Females are much more delicate in appearance – brownish -grey, lightly washed olive above and pale buff below with a white throat fading into the buff chest. Fine, but obvious dark brown streaks mark the throat and chest and upper breast. Immature birds resemble the females but with more olive above and with obvious rufous in the wing and flight feathers.

Diet consists mainly of insects found predominantly in tree branches and foliage. They will also fly onto the ground to take prey, particularly grasshoppers. This bird is primarily found in open forests and woodlands, but some will inhabit, and breed in, moister forests. Breeding occurs between September to February. The nest is a sparse cup of dry twiglets, rootlets and grasses well concealed in the upright fork of a well foliaged bush, tree or vine creeper usually up to 5 m above the ground. Two or three eggs are usually laid. They are olive or olive-brown with red and brown markings. Both the male and female incubate the eggs and brood and feed the young. Ref: Reader’s Digest Complete book of Australian Birds

By Chris Dos

In February, Facebook made the decision to ban Australian news along with local users ability to post links to articles.

This was in response to the Government proposing legislation to make Facebook pay for the content posted to its platform. The move gave insight into Facebook’s perception of itself and its power, but has only led to greater concern about its monopolisation of social media platforms.

The action it took was seen as an experiment by some, just finding out how much it could flex its muscles against our quite small section of its market.

A compromise was very quickly reached with the Government, possibly a sign that Facebook regretted this extreme action, but the ripples have already joined with other concerns held throughout the world and most specifically in the US.

We have laws in this country regarding concentration of media ownership, but like many things they just haven't kept up with the times.

As previously mentioned here, fewer folk are getting their news from television or print media these days. Even the number who directly access news sites fall well short of those who view news purely through the window of their Facebook page.

The speed at which it backed down suggests that Facebook wants to make its own arrangements with news outlets rather than having to obey possibly complicated laws which would vary from country to country.

It already pays for content in some places, but is very protective of the revenue streams it has developed since its inception. After all, you don’t become a billionaire by giving money away.

Speaking of which, it seems ironic that in the agreements it will make with news outlets – publishers making $150,000 per year are considered worthy enough to bargain – the main beneficiaries of any payments made will be the biggest players, some who’ve themselves been scrutinised owing to the belief that they exert too much influence in this sphere.

This was just the opening round, but it could present a real opportunity to direct back some of the funds that a diverse media landscape desperately needs to fulfill its role in any healthy democracy.