Dog Gone (20 page)

Once

my dad was a hero

for the Stoneybrook Tigers

he kicked with

his back to the goal

dropped the ball

onto his foot

and it sailed

over his head

like a banana

Dad's Weekend

Mum's driving to

Dad's new house

with Lucky and me

in the back seat

Mum asks a question

but I don't answer

then we drive

the whole way

not talking

she gives me a kiss

at his front gate

and Lucky a pat

see you on Sunday

she says

yep I say

Something to chew on

Mum opens the front door

Molly goes ballistic

Lucky hides under my bed

then I see them

lots of page numbers

on the floor

he's been busy

Molly's book

is an Aussie Bite!

Dog Gone
began its journey to publication over five years ago. There are so many people who have contributed their insights and time along the way, that I'm sure to have forgotten to thank someone. If it's you, and you've trawled through this list to no avail, my heartfelt apology.

Firstly, as recipient of the 2009 BPA Print Group – Box Hill Institute Publication Assistance Award, a big thank you for the generous contributions of $1000 and $2000, respectively, which helped make the publication of this book possible.

The following are all my wonderful readers who cast their collective critical eye over all or parts of my manuscript in its various stages of development. Thanks to: Ronald Margetts, Hannah Poustie, Valda Galens, Merrilyn Velcek, Bryce Hosken, Marlene Marburg, Stephen Morgan, Caroline St Ruth, Robyn Blythe, Cheryl Poustie, Helen Taylor, Glenis Rice, David Godkin (who showed me a real well!), Nicki Reed, Year Six class of 2006 at North Ringwood Primary School, and children from Years Four to Six between 2007 to 2009 at Rangeview Primary School.

Thank you to Elly Varrenti and the staff and students of Box Hill TAFE for all your support, encouragement, teaching and fantastic workshopping.

To these people, who contributed their talents to the cover – from its beginning as a mock-up for a TAFE assessment to the final design – Andrew McLean, Les Thomas, Jenny Kerr, Jean Lyons, Brendan Green, Audrey Ryan, Digger the dog, Gordon Thompson, Lucienne Noontil, Ann Haddon, Ann James, Helen Boettcher, and Emily and Stephanie Cherry.

Special thanks go to Fiona Trembath for the time she has put into Dog Gone, for her encouragement and wise suggestions to sharpen the text. To Liz Corbett (Elizabeth Jane) thank you for your keen insights during the editing process and for some artful wordings. To Earl Livings, poet extraordinaire, thank you for pointing out it's the little things that count. To Catherine Bateson, who mentored me through 2009, a huge thank you for teaching me the art of revision.

To Euan Mitchell, publisher, editor, encourager and driving force behind Dog Gone from its inception, enormous thanks for your passionate belief in this project and the time you have invested in every aspect of it. And for teaching me that a plot should not rely on a coincidence!

And to Samuel and Hannah, thanks for being patient and creative sounding boards and not complaining when your mother forgot to cook the dinner.

Finally, to Rhonda Hosken, my first reader and all-time supporter, the biggest thank you of all.

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