There was a bonus for Robin and her students when she attended a workshop recently at The Literature Centre in Fremantle. Robin won the door prize – a session for a group of invited students presented by Natalya Hawrylak.
Natalya and the students deconstructed the book Ned Kelly and the Green Sash by Mark Greenwood and Frane Lessac published by Walker Books Australia using Frane’s original artworks to look behind the scenes at the life of Ned Kelly and the making of the book.
One of the highlights for students was to examine a dummy of the book showing some early book ideas don’t make it through to the final published version.
There was question posed by Natalya that was at the heart of all the discussion about the book – Ned Kelly hero or villain?
As the session raced on comments came from the floor:
“He’s a good criminal,” someone said with smile.
“He’s a hero!”
“Ned was an anti-villain. He had his own morals and his own ideology.”
And as for green sash – well you’ll just have to read the book.
The Literature Centre is located in the old Fremantle Prison – if you like books you should drop in for a look – The Literature Centre
• Thanks to Suhaila for additional photos.
