Author Jackie Kerin greets children at the Phar Lap book launch.
Image: Museum Victoria
Source: Museum Victoria
A children’s story based on the dramatic and extraordinary events of Phar Lap’s racing career was launched at Museum Victoria on 7 November.
Author and renowned storyteller Jackie Kerin treated children from Carlton Gardens Primary school to a reading of Phar Lap: The Wonder Horse. Book illustrator Patricia Mullins also spoke at the launch.
Brett Dunlop, Manager of Melbourne Museum, introduced the new publication and welcomed the young audience, who were greeted by a ‘jockey’ in silks, and the author in full costume, and were provided with celebratory cupcakes.
The event took place in the Melbourne Gallery, where Phar Lap is permanently on display; the area was decked out with horse-shaped balloons and red silk cushions for the occasion.
Publishing Manager of Museum Victoria, Melanie Raymond explains, “We wanted to introduce a new generation of children to the wonderful story of Phar Lap and thought rhyming verse and contemporary illustrations were a great way to do it.” The opening lines of the story are:
My story starts in springtime when the grass is sweet and new,
On the south isle of New Zealand at a place called Timaru.
To a sire and dam who’d broken down and couldn’t win a race,
A foal was born with pedigree but very little grace.
Phar Lap: The Wonder Horse is written as a ballad with rhyming verse and has full-colour illustrations.