Thursday 11 March 1999

The Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-Loved Book

Christchurch children's author Elsie Locke has won the Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-Loved Book for her novel The Runaway Settlers.

The award will be presented at the Central Children's Library on Monday 22 March.

The Runaway Settlers was first published in 1965 and is Elsie Locke's best-known work for children. It is currently published by Hazard Press in Christchurch.

It tells the true story of a mother who takes her six children away from their drunken and violent father. They escape from New South Wales to New Zealand where they turn a derelict cottage in Governors Bay into their home.

A play based on the book was adapted for the Christchurch Drama Centre in 1993, and students will perform extracts at the award ceremony. One of the young performers is the great great grand-daughter of Cracroft Wilson, one of the characters from the book.

"We are honoured to host the presentation," said Bill Nagelkerke, the library's Children's and Young Adults' Services Co-ordinator. "Elsie is one of New Zealand's most important writers of children's books; a pioneer in the same mould as her characters; and is as much-loved as her award-winning book."

 

The Runaway Settlers is the inaugural recipient of the award, which was established in memory of popular children's writer Gaelyn Gordon who died last year.

Books considered for the award must be works of fiction for children and young adults, which have been in print for the last five years and have never won a major New Zealand award.

The award is administered by the New Zealand Children's Book Foundation, and will be presented by Libby Limbrick of the foundation.

 

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Media representatives are invited to attend the award ceremony on Monday 22 March 10.30-11.30am.

Elsie Locke and Libby Limbrick will be available for interview after the presentation.

For more information, please contact:

Bill Nagelkerke, Children's and Young Adults' Services Co-ordinator, 941 7923

Sasha Bowers, Marketing and Promotions Specialist, 941 7923

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