Since I got the bright idea of writing a murder mystery (working title ‘Gold Dust to Dust’)set in Kalgoorlie during the 1890s gold rush, I’ve been trying to reconcile images of the modern city with what it would’ve been like in 1894, one year after Paddy Hannan and his mates registered the find that startedContinue reading “Gold Dust to Dust”
Author Archives: Lynne Cairns
Old Aussie Terms
Writing historical fiction is one long adventure. Every scene or piece of conversation raises questions. I’ve been agonising about which year my story takes place. Was it in 1894 when the new gold rush town of Hannans was still being cobbled together from canvas, bush timber and hessian and its population in flux, or theContinue reading “Old Aussie Terms”
CLOTHES MAKETH THE MAN
With recent revelations of shenanigans within our national parliament, our noble leaders, mostly men, have been in the limelight. Bad behaviour and political bumbles aside, it is interesting to note that the image of leadership that male (that is most of them) parliamentarians still adhere to depends on a rigid, archaic dress code. The formalContinue reading “CLOTHES MAKETH THE MAN”
Moving Camp
Over the last week or so, I’ve been moving my writing/art workspace from the back room to the ‘front room’ which we never really used much. We got rid of the big, heavv lounge suite, and it’s amazing how much room that has freed up. I’m looking forward to combining my writing with watching theContinue reading “Moving Camp”
Genesis of a Gold Rush Story
It is strange what sometimes sparks an idea for a story. During Western Australia’s 1890’s gold rush, one of my mother’s great uncles, James McHugh, died of thirst on the Eastern Goldfields, near the place prospectors had ironically named Siberia. His body was identified by his Miner’s Right and another document found on him.[i] When hisContinue reading “Genesis of a Gold Rush Story”
The Bombing of Darwin
Today marks the 79th anniversary of the first air strike on Australian soil, the bombing of Darwin by Japanese forces. Thanks to Hollywood, everyone knows about Pearl Harbor – the story has been told many times, but what most people don’t realize is that it was not the first, or only, Japanese attack on thatContinue reading “The Bombing of Darwin”
IS CLIMATE CHANGE MAKING OUR BUSHFIRES WORSE?
The debate over how we are being affected by climate change is no longer just academic. It is becoming personal! Terrible bushfires devastated great swathes of Australia’s southeast last summer. Now it is Western Australia’s turn. Despite the best efforts of our brave firefighters the fire that started in Woorooloo last week is still burning.Continue reading “IS CLIMATE CHANGE MAKING OUR BUSHFIRES WORSE?”
Lynne Cairns 