The More Things Change …

Posted on December 31, 2017 by Anne Rouen

Old Postcard – WWI Era

Another year has just sped by, with its fair share of joy, sadness and inspiration, leaving me little time to catch my breath. It hardly seems possible that, a whole twelve months later, I am wondering exactly the same thing about the year that has just gone. Where? And how quickly!

One hundred years ago, my grandfather was preparing to face the worst year of his life on the Western Front, not believing that he would survive; little knowing that it was to end in an Allied victory.

Now, a century later, with my father approaching his 90^th birthday, the world has developed amazingly. Although, some would say, not for the better.

Looking, with misgiving, at the attitudes of our leaders; tensions simmering in odd little corners of the globe, with threats and posturing uncannily similar to those of pre-WWI, I realize there is one constant in our ever-changing world – human nature.

The old adage: The more things change, the more they stay the same, is just as apt now as it ever was.

I might have said that my New Year’s resolution was to have no resolutions, but I do have two. One is to publish Book IV, Guardian Angel, which will complete my Master of Illusion series. And the second is to finish the two novels I have been working on all year. The first will be accomplished very soon. For the second, I am taking inspiration as it comes. (Refer to adage, as above.)

Today, as we stand on the brink of the unknown; a bright, untrammeled new year waiting to be ushered in; I take this opportunity to wish all my readers a safe, happy, exciting and inspirational 2018.

Where Has It Gone?

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Anne Rouen

I am looking at the date on the calendar in disbelief. Perhaps even denial. 2016 just tore by, vanishing into yesterday before I could even catch up.

Amidst the politics and uncertainty, a few things stood out. For me, it was a year of achievement of personal goals, change and sadness.

Some amazing and wonderful people stepped into the pages of history. Many, sadly, before their time. We mourn them each in our own way. To those we love: we will never forget you.

On the positive side: I managed to finish two novels and begin two more; was thrilled that my Master of Illusion series achieved a second literary award; and embraced an unexpected change in lifestyle.

The last few months have been completely, totally mad. (My main New Year Resolution is not to neglect my blog.)

A BIG thank you to everyone who liked my FB pages Anne Rouen and Master of Illusion – it was very encouraging.

And now we are a few days into a brand new year – fresh, untrodden:

What will it bring?

To all my readers and followers: I wish you all that you would wish for yourselves.

May 2017 be your year!

Image courtesy Stuart Miles at freedigitalphotos.net

Benefits for Manilla – Fact or Fiction?

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Anne Rouen

The Namoi River Community Group Inc. have grave concerns over the history of the Strathfield developers. Photo courtesy Flopp (Matthew) Fletcher.

The Namoi River Community Group Inc. have grave concerns over the future of this beautiful river, given the history of the Strathfield developers. Photo courtesy Flopp (Matthew) Fletcher.

A historical fiction writer must study historical facts; and research is a big part of my life. Many months, even years, are spent delving into the period setting of a book, including the news of the day; what people wore, ate, talked about, believed; how they lived, spoke, dressed, went about in society and conducted their business.

HF authors are, by necessity, investigative: you can find out a lot about people by the way they behave in their dealings with others.

It is easy to see clearly, in hindsight, the mistakes of the past; to pinpoint the exact set of circumstances that caused something to go wrong. So much ends in tragedy that could, so easily, have been avoided.

As a member of the Namoi River Community Group Inc. and faced with the ‘pros and cons’ dilemma of the huge proposed development on Strathfield, I decided to research it as I would a novel. But plotting the future is much more difficult than the past.

In trying to sift the facts from the miasma of rumour, contradictory statements, misinformation and apparent games of ‘smoke and mirrors’, my research has thrown up some disquieting questions. The group has already compiled a disturbing list of facts about the track record of the developers. You will find it here.

Believe me, I don’t want to have to write an unhappy ending!

So, if you think it may be worth sacrificing the health, safety and comfort of all the citizens of Manilla for perceived benefits to the business end of town, I would beg you to think again:

About questions such as the viability of having to wait a full 180 days for payments for goods and services (having outlayed in advance for them); and the wisdom of signing contracts that bind one party hand and foot, but allow the other to escape on a legal technicality. (Including ones you’d never dream of!)

Then there’s the question of employment: a succulent carrot for any small town. “600 jobs,” proclaimed our mayor.

Great for Tamworth! But what about Manilla, Mr Mayor?

Before you make up your mind about the truth of this statement, take a look at this and ask yourself: Who will get the jobs?

Do the words of Deputy Mayor Webb add credence to the, as yet, unconfirmed reports of Tamworth houses fitted out with bunk-style accommodation for imported workers?

And, while I’m about it: Here’s a question I would like to ask our mayor on behalf of all the citizens of my town:

Councillor Murray, would you approve a development of this type and magnitude in a sensitive catchment area above the Tamworth water supply?

The people of Manilla await your answer.

A Warning From History

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Anne Rouen

Migrating Geese. Wild birds must be kept away from chicken farms. Strathfield is a haven for wild birds. Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.com

In plants, it is called monoculture; in animals: intensive production. In humans it has many names including overpopulation, overcrowding, high density and/or tenement living.

History has proven that where there is a large population of genetically similar individuals, the potential for destruction of that population by pathogens is a terrifying reality. A time bomb, ticking away.

Many times through history, food crops have been wiped out by disease. In 1845-6, a fungal blight destroyed the entire potato crop in Ireland, resulting in starvation of the population. Many died, others were forced into mass migration to survive.

In the overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions of 14^th Century Europe, the Black Death cut a swathe through the population greater than any other known epidemic or disaster. The depraved murderer was a germ Pasteurella pestis spread by the fleas on rats.

Bird Flu is probably the greatest threat to our chickens farmed in Australia. It has a number of strains, some of which are capable of passing from birds to humans. Fortunately, the latest outbreak was not one of them. The closer the bird populations are to each other, and to wild bird populations, the more the risk of infection.

This calls to mind the proposal of putting a huge, intensive chicken operation (70 sheds, almost 3 million birds) on Strathfield, one of Manilla’s most iconic and productive irrigation properties. Being on the river, it is a haven for bird life.

There is an old saying about the foolishness of putting all your eggs in one basket; and another about your chickens coming home to roost. Sadly, in this case, I fear the consequences will be felt by many more than the proponents of this lunacy.

When the developers find that our beautiful Strathfield is unsuitable for their proposed intensive development(as we have been trying to tell them), they could do no better than to learn from these historic examples and seek advice from the intensive farming families of our district.

I commend these families for their excellence and best practice in their attention to:

– animal welfare

– biosecurity

– environmental responsibility

– and consideration for their community.

One family has gone to the expense of building their own road so as not to inconvenience the townspeople. This speaks for itself: Compare it to the disregard shown to our community by the ‘big business’ proponents of this hideous Strathfield development. These families are an asset to our district and valued members of our community. They should not be made to suffer for the wrong judgements of others, when they themselves are more than doing the right thing.

History has shown the unwisdom of having large populations in one location. Would it not be smarter to spread the farms around the district (on the abattoir side of town; and NOT in a sensitive catchment area): perhaps in the care of separate farming families who have a vested interest in the safety of our community; and thus minimise the health risks to the populations involved, both bird and human? It might have an added benefit of security of income for those on smaller properties in these difficult times.

My plea to the would-be Strathfield developers is this:

Heed this warning from history and don’t put all your chickens in one area. Because they won’t just come home to roost on your doorstep: It will be on mine and that of every other citizen in our community! And yours, too, Councillor Murray.

Before Anzac Day

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Anne Rouen

It sounds a bit silly, doesn’t it, to have a title like this? Since Anzac Day 2013 is after the fact – by several days. But I was suddenly taken back to a time when the world was comparatively innocent; before events made Anzac Day a tragic icon. And all because a newsreader mentioned sabre-rattling in relation to a modern-day emperor!

One hundred years ago, it was one year and a few months away from a war that was so terrible and soul-destroying that we still look back through history in wonder and despair at the dreadful carnage and cruelty, overshadowed by courage and sacrifice that takes the breath away.

Weather conditions, combined with new and diabolical methods of warfare, against old-fashioned defences, all conspired to make the trenches of the Western Front a nightmare to transcend all.

As a child, I was aware of an indescribable feeling compounded of grief, horror and hopeless dread whenever someone mentioned WWI. There were still many people alive who’d gone through it and though they never said anything I picked up this vibe. It was so bad that I couldn’t bear to go there and so never studied it. I cannot, to this day, watch war movies.

When I grew older, I asked the question: “What caused WWI?” No-one could tell me. “It’s complicated,” they said. “There was no one cause.” Still, I couldn’t bear to study it.

Finally, when I got to Book III of the Master of Illusion series (Yes, it’s written.), I knew I would have to face my childhood dread and research the Great War as its backdrop. And guess what? Nothing had changed. That feeling of overwhelming grief and horror that haunted me all my life was exactly what I felt after my actual research. The dreadful loss of life. The terrible damage to those left alive. The futility of it all. The awe-inspiring courage and sacrifice of the young men who went into battle knowing they would die.

Would we line up like that knowing what they knew?

But back to 1913. Life went on as usual in the last year of the Belle Époque: fashions, hedonism; empire building; the usual protests, including women’s suffrage; small wars here and there, nothing serious; a general feeling of progress and well-being.

Yet discerning men were aware that Europe was fraught with tension: a sense that the fire was laid, tinder dry, waiting for a spark to set it off. (The murder on June 28 1914 of the Archduke and Duchess of Austria-Hungary provided it.) Small Emperors posturing, sabre-rattling (those words again); certain countries in terrible poverty, others comparatively rich; powers forming strategic alliances …

If any of this rings uncomfortable bells, it is because history is prone to repeat.

A small fry in the train of a major architect and prosecutor of WWI was an Austrian corporal. As a front runner from HQ he had been wounded, gassed and decorated for bravery. (You know who!)

If he had read his history he would not have attacked Russia and WWII might have had a different outcome. I guess we can be thankful that he didn’t read about Napoleon I. But, despite his experiences, he didn’t learn any lessons from WWI either. Had he done so, he could have saved us the years of misery, loss and destruction of WWII.

Of course, it wasn’t that simple: the seeds were already planted in 1919. A number of factors, including the unfair demands of the Treaty of Versailles, the misery of the people and Hitler’s mental condition led to WWII. (I don’t pretend to have my head around it all.)

It is a good thing to study history to avoid the mistakes of the past. I hope our present leaders have all done so. But just in case they haven’t, I think it would be good for all of us who believe in the power of prayer to pray with diligence for peace and understanding between nations.

I make this plea to our world leaders: Please don’t make us revisit this theatre of horror. Leave war where it belongs – in the pages of history.

Prayers For Boston

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Anne Rouen

Today’s terrible news of the bomb attack on the Boston Marathon has left many of us grieving: for our friends, our fellow human beings, the city of Boston and our world.

My heart goes out to all caught up in this horror:

To the parents and families of the little 8 yr old boy and the two other people whose lives were stolen from them.

To the injured who face a nightmare journey of pain and rehabilitation.

To the athletes who dedicate so much of their lives to their pursuit; whose families came to watch them run the most famous modern marathon in the world.

To all the spectators and fun-lovers who had their day – and their lives – shattered.

To a beautiful, iconic city whose carefree innocence and happy village atmosphere will be forever changed.

To all those who now walk in fear and uncertainty – victims of terrorism.

Perhaps we can appreciate the circumstances that sow the seeds of discontent, but none of us understands the evil that visits destruction and untold suffering on the innocent.

About 400 years ago, John Donne wrote immortal words, quoted many times (a truth but never a cliché) and more than ever applicable today:

‘No man is an island’.

From all of us who wish for a good and fair world, to everyone who has been touched by this senseless, shocking tragedy:

We send you our love, our thoughts and our prayers.