Cover

Brontide

Title Page

Brontide

Sue McPherson

Dedication

To Steve, Jardi boy and Jye Springall, Pancho and Tony Ryan

Author’s Note

Author’s Note

G’day! My name is Sue and I’m the author of Grace Beside Me. Not that long ago I was asked to help with a storytelling workshop at Taralune High School.

Taralune is a quaint, old hippy beach town, halfway between Rainbow Beach and Noosa in mostly sunny Queensland. My plan was to recharge the battery, read, eat, enjoy the sunshine and help a few kids write a story. I honestly thought the trip was all about me and having time out … I was wrong.

Taralune was fantastic – the school, the people and the sleepy beach culture were perfect for anyone needing a break. Workshops were held at two schools, Taralune High and St Nicholas Lutheran College.

We had a ball. Most of the kids enjoyed telling and writing a good yarn, especially a young lad named Pen. A few saw it as a bludge but put in anyway. And then there were Rob, Benny Boy and Jack who hated anything connected to reading or writing. They thought they had better things to do.

Those three lads didn’t see themselves as storytellers but their doggedness to tell a yarn was both inspiring and profound.

The words, thoughts and images in these pages are theirs. I just asked questions, recorded and collated the information given to me.

I’m not trained in interviewing. Looking back now, my techniques were, at times, clunky, unconventional and embarrassing.

Like many, I felt the storm brewing but I didn’t think it would hit. Many of us played hard growing up, but somehow we avoided tragedy. I assumed the same would happen in Taralune. My lack of intervention has caused me many sleepless nights. Should have, could have … but didn’t. Writing this now, I can barely see the words as my tears well.

This is not my story, it’s theirs. Stay strong, stay safe.

Everyone has a story.

Sue McPherson

Rob

Rob

Rob

Monday, 9am

Taralune High School, Library Room L4