From Over the Ditch

I recently travelled to Sydney to farewell an old friend and returning back to work got thinking about the unique relationship between New Zealand and Australia. Even here at the Masterton Library the link that has developed between our two nations tucked away here at the bottom of the world is quite evident. Many members of staff have family members who live over the ditch, several have lived in Australia for an extended time, and we even have an Australian working on our permanent staff. Like it or not, there is no getting away from the fact that Australia and Australians play a significant part in many of our lives.


Probably more than any country other than our own, Australia is also the origin of much of the material we hold in the library. As a public library’s collection reflects the needs and interests of the general public, it is only logical that the closeness of the relationship between NZ and Oz is reflected in the library’s book collection. Here at Masterton Library books by Australians and about Australia form a significant part of our catalogue including books for children, teens and adults, and both Fiction and Non-Fiction titles.

Amongst the Australian fiction titles we hold are works by prize winning authors such as Peter Carey, Tim Winton, and Kate Grenville. We also have books by authors such as Colleen McCullough and Bryce Courtenay who have achieved huge international success. An increasingly popular aspect of Australian fiction are works set in the outback. Authors such as Fleur McDonald, Fiona Palmer and Bronwyn Parry have placed their stories in this uniquely Australian setting and the strong-willed, rugged characters often match this harsh, dramatic environment.

Outback life is also a very popular topic in Non-Fiction. Stars Over Shiralee by Sheryl McCorry documents the real life dramas of a woman managing a huge cattle ranch in Western Australia. Outback Heart by Joanne van Os tells of the author’s life in the Northern Territory with Rod Ansell, the man known by many as the original ‘Crocodile Dundee’. Possibly best known is the series of auto-biographies by Sara Henderson beginning with From Strength to Strength which documents her family’s struggle to manage a massive ranch in the Northern Territory after the death of her husband.

We have non-fiction books covering many aspects of Australian life including history titles such as the landmark The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes, and perhaps a bit lighter in tone, Bill Bryson’s Down Under. With Australia being such a popular destination for New Zealand tourists we also have travel guides to the Australian states and all the major cities. One book that may be of particular interest to Masterton residents is Images of Armidale, a pictorial history of the N.S.W. town that is Masterton’s sister city.

Australia authors and illustrators are also responsible for some of our most popular books for children and young adults. Picture books such as Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox, Let’s Get a Pup by Bob Graham and Little White Dogs Can’t Jump by Bruce Whatley are enjoyed by many young readers. Jeannie Baker is highly regarded for the elaborate collages in her books, while the sophisticated picture books of Shaun Tan have received worldwide recognition. Many children have been amused by the fun-packed stories of Morris Gleitzman, Paul Jennings and Andy Griffiths. For older readers, John Marsden’s Tomorrow, When the War Began series, recently released on the big screen, remains perennially popular.

For many New Zealanders, Australians are the people they love to hate, no sporting victory is sweeter than one over the Aussies, and no outrage greater than when they claim a NZ achievement as their own (such as Phar Lap, Pavlova, or Split Enz). We are the butt of each other’s jokes and enjoy a very healthy rivalry. There is no denying however that very strong links do exist between the two countries that cover family, social, cultural, and historical aspects, including the strong ANZAC tradition. They say that in every Australians life there’s a Kiwi somewhere and the reverse is probably equally true. Masterton Library reflects this relationship, both in its staffing and its collection, and while I don’t necessarily think we should all be whistling Waltzing Matilda as we go about our daily lives, there is no denying that Australians have made a major contribution to the material we get to enjoy and benefit from through the library.