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FICTIONAL DIVE INTO HISTORY
Macarthur Chronicle (Australia)
February 19, 2013 Tuesday
1 - Campbelltown Edition
by Dennis Clough
STORIES of downtrodden young women and girls from another era have
inspired children's author Yvette Poshoglian.
Miss Poshoglian's latest book Escape from Cockatoo Island was released
this month and has already been included on the school curriculum at
Leumeah High School, where she works as an English teacher.
The book, aimed at children aged nine and over, tells the story of
children working at the former girls' home on the island in Sydney
Harbour.
Miss Poshoglian, a former journalist, said her inspiration to tell
the historic island's story in its days before it became a nightspot
and tourist attraction came while kayaking nearby.
The book, set in 1879, was a pivotal period in Sydney's growth from
a colonial outpost to a global city.
"They were installing the steam trams in Sydney at the time and there
would have been ferries carrying people up the Parramatta and Lane
Cove rivers and taking day trippers to Manly, and the irony was that
these girls were stuck on that island," Miss Poshoglian, 34, said.
The latest book follows the author's six installments of the Ella
and Olivia series, published with Scholastic.
Miss Poshoglian said she was heartened by the state of children's
literacy.
"Young people are reading more now than ever," she said.
The writer said she looked back on her own English teachers as well
as her family for inspiration.
"My father came from Armenia to Palestine before coming to Australia
as a refugee in the 1960s and he read books in several languages."
"You always look back on those English teachers who had an impact on
you, even if you don't realise it at the time," she said.
STORYTELLER
WHO: Yvette Poshoglian
WHAT: Just released her latest children and teens novel titled Escape
from Cockatoo Island
STORY: Focuses on stories of girls at the former girls' home on
Cockatoo Island in 1879
DETAILS: Visit ellaandolivia.com.au
IN THEIR SHOES
"The government in the 19th century did not like what was happening
with the girls on Cockatoo Island and it led to the formation of foster
care in NSW. The girls were taken from the island to a facility at
Watsons Bay before being placed with families.
YVETTE POSHOGLIAN
Macarthur Chronicle (Australia)
February 19, 2013 Tuesday
1 - Campbelltown Edition
by Dennis Clough
STORIES of downtrodden young women and girls from another era have
inspired children's author Yvette Poshoglian.
Miss Poshoglian's latest book Escape from Cockatoo Island was released
this month and has already been included on the school curriculum at
Leumeah High School, where she works as an English teacher.
The book, aimed at children aged nine and over, tells the story of
children working at the former girls' home on the island in Sydney
Harbour.
Miss Poshoglian, a former journalist, said her inspiration to tell
the historic island's story in its days before it became a nightspot
and tourist attraction came while kayaking nearby.
The book, set in 1879, was a pivotal period in Sydney's growth from
a colonial outpost to a global city.
"They were installing the steam trams in Sydney at the time and there
would have been ferries carrying people up the Parramatta and Lane
Cove rivers and taking day trippers to Manly, and the irony was that
these girls were stuck on that island," Miss Poshoglian, 34, said.
The latest book follows the author's six installments of the Ella
and Olivia series, published with Scholastic.
Miss Poshoglian said she was heartened by the state of children's
literacy.
"Young people are reading more now than ever," she said.
The writer said she looked back on her own English teachers as well
as her family for inspiration.
"My father came from Armenia to Palestine before coming to Australia
as a refugee in the 1960s and he read books in several languages."
"You always look back on those English teachers who had an impact on
you, even if you don't realise it at the time," she said.
STORYTELLER
WHO: Yvette Poshoglian
WHAT: Just released her latest children and teens novel titled Escape
from Cockatoo Island
STORY: Focuses on stories of girls at the former girls' home on
Cockatoo Island in 1879
DETAILS: Visit ellaandolivia.com.au
IN THEIR SHOES
"The government in the 19th century did not like what was happening
with the girls on Cockatoo Island and it led to the formation of foster
care in NSW. The girls were taken from the island to a facility at
Watsons Bay before being placed with families.
YVETTE POSHOGLIAN