NEWS DESK
Quartet steered by a fair wind HASTINGS author Frances Henke wrote a trilogy over six years from 2013, but when readers finished the third book they asked her: what happens next? The prolific author, who has penned more than two dozen titles in a long career, also wanted to know, so she wrote another book. The Coriolis Effect was published last month, and the trilogy became a quartet and Henke has ideas for a fifth. All four have been bought by the Victorian History Library, a nod to her meticulous historical research. She calls it the Fair Wind series, named after the first novel, The Other Side of the Wind, which was set in and around Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula. The series follows the lives of the Anderson family with newlyweds Edward and Catherine, both talented artists, arriving from England during Victoria’s 1850s gold rush. The second book has the Eureka Rebellion as its theme, and number three introduces the only child of the couple, a daughter, and the father’s years in the wilderness. In the latest book, the girl is now an adult and has become one of Australia’s leading authors, albeit under a nom de plume. She embarks on a transformational sea voyage. Henke wrote the book during the pandemic and under duress after two surgeries for a new hip. She dubs it her second pandemic as she was diagnosed with polio as a girl, her family forced to quarantine in Gippsland. The lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 gave her the chance to research and write, with no visitors allowed, but after falling ill following the first surgery, she was concerned the book would never be finished, that she would forget everything. “Polios don’t wake up well from one anaesthetic let alone two,” she said. Added pressure was being “haunted by
Future foreshore WORK is starting on the Hastings foreshore master plan and residents are invited to have their say on the area’s future. Hastings’s foreshore is used daily by people exercising, fishing, playing and socialising. It is also home to occasional large scale events such as concerts and festivals. The foreshore reserve stretches from the northern end of Fred Smith Reserve to the southern end of Hastings foreshore, and includes a playground, fitness stations and Western Port’s busiest boat ramp. There are a few challenges the shire needs to deal with, including the Fred Smith Reserve being used as a tip in the 1970s and 1980s and the foreshore being a low lying coastal area with the potential to flood during storms and king tides. Ideas can be made online at mornpen.vic.gov. au/hastingsforeshore until 23 May.
Art for op shop
Going fourth: Fran Henke in her studio and the cover of The Coriolis Effect. Picture: Supplied medical staff in PPE”, as had occurred during childhood. Her short-term memory was affected but she just kept writing and illustrating the book - a skill honed after completing a visual arts diploma at age 65 at Chisholm Frankston, majoring in sculpture and printmaking. “Joy and new confidence returned,” she said. And the title? It’s a reference to the book’s characters being buffeted by circumstances beyond their control. Because the Earth rotates on its axis, circulating air (including hurricanes/
cyclones) is deflected towards the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. This is the Coriolis Effect. The book will be launched at 2.30pm on Saturday 23 April at Western Port Craft Expo, Hastings Hub, 1973 Frankston–Flinders Road. After the launch, Henke will lead a discussion on the craft of self-publishing. • The Coriolis Effect, $25. Copies are available at Petersen’s Bookshop, Hastings, or through Flying Pony Press website. Mike Hast (who edited the book)
Goldmine
THIS week’s inaugural Hastings Art Show will host a collection of paintings and photographs from local and Victorian artists. More than 300 works have been submitted for both the physical and virtual shows, which will raise money for the Holy Trinity Church op shop in Hastings. The former op shop was destroyed when the old church burned down in 2017. Church volunteer Sandra Gould said people could view the works at the gala opening night on Thursday 21 April, which will include refreshments and food, and there will be earlybird purchase opportunity. Visitors can also watch artists in residence during the show. All visitors are invited to place their vote for the people’s choice award, announced on Saturday 23 April and posted online. The show will also run virtually, with even more artworks available for viewing and sale. The online art show will be held over two days, 22 and 30 April at the Holy Trinity church, corner of King and Church Streets, Hastings.
the HASTINGS
est. 1972
TOYS & GIFTS TOBACCO & VAPES
YEARS
TATTSLOTTO SPONS0RING LOCAL TEAMS
Serving the Local Community Regular Raffles
Huge Selection of Greeting Cards
Monthly 2nd Chance Draw
Locally Owned & Operated
42 High Street HASTINGS
28
First Division Winners over the 50 years
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20 April 2022
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