Callum ‘Yarra’ Jones is an orphan, but he has never accepted he is alone in the world. Where, and the mysterious way he was discovered as a new-born baby makes him believe his mother did love him and must be somewhere. At the age of 12 he decides it is time to find her. His search becomes a most extraordinary adventure through time.
Alice was a dear friend and colleague at Coretext, the science communications company founded by myself and my wife Adrienne Dolphin back in 2002. In 2013 Alice embarked on a children's writing course which produced her first draft of Yarra Jones and the King George Penny. At Alice's request I began helping her develop the storyline further and pull together its many fascinating threads. Sadly we were not able to finish. Alice was diagnosed with melanoma and for the next two years beating this had to be her focus. It was a brave, inspiring, battle that Alice was not able to win. We lost a very dear colleague and friend whose memory will be with us forever.
Years passed but I never stopping thinking about Alice's book and two years ago decided, with her family's support, to revisit the manuscript and try and bring Alice's dream to fruition. It became a team effort - my writing and editing, proof-reading by Adrienne and Coretext proof-reader Tiffany Paczek, design and layout by my brother Damien, and illustrations in the style of the story's era by another talented Coretext colleague, Aidan Gifkins. We are very proud to now be able to hold in our hands, Alice's book - Yarra Jones and the King George Penny.
