Dogged writer is collaring Noosa
ENVIROMENTALLY, business wise and socially, Noosa claims plenty of firsts.
Now local children's book author Neville Mills adds to the list with the world-first Dogathlon.
There's plenty to recognise in the people, places and events in Mills' latest book "Ralph, Buster and the World's First Dogathlon".
And Mills gives good publicity to our own Noosa Triathlon through a conversation with an old mate who had run the first one in 1983.
Though the permanent population figures there's the reminder that Noosa holds the second biggest triathlon in the world, behind London.
"He couldn't believe that Noosa could be number two with only 35,000 permanent residents, when London had seven and a half million residents," he said.
Riding on the same wave of ingenuity that founded Noosa Triathlon, Mills extends the event with a new category: the Dogathlon
The story tells of a young boy and his dog's quest to gain the financial rewards from this special event.
Mills' characters are shaped by the universal themes of coastal towns:
Families moving from the city to the seaside, construction careers and the sometime necessity of downgrading job status in exchange for a more relaxed lifestyle .
Ralph's mum works in a Tewantin store. When lack of dogathlon entry fees is mentioned to neighbour Muriel Mumbles. She joins with the Oleander Oldies to raise the money.
Ralph's grandfather, known as Pop, is a great character who never misses a chance for a humorous play on words.
The simplicity and humour implicit in the short book seems an innate quality in the author. After information on his former successful business, academic studies and other children's books, further is revealed in the profile published in the back of the book.
"In 2009 he was considered for neither the Children's Laureate Award nor the Booker Prize. He did, however, win the under-11 sack race at his primary school sports day."
The book is illustrated by Roy Bisson. Jan Bentley, leader of the Wallace House writing group, is thanked for her encouragement.
Where do you get it?
Books are available from Dennis Jones or the author
EMAIL the office@dennisjones.com.au
ONLINE: nevmills.com and available from local bookshops.
