| Children's Picture Book: New Release |
| Story Background: On the December 1, 1947 Qantas (Queensland and Northern Territory Air Services) flew a Lockheed Constellation L749 on its inaugural passenger flight to London. This historical journey marked the start of regular long-distance passenger services between Australia and England on the famous Kangaroo route. Although the Constellation ((affectionately known in aviation circles as Connie) was eventually replaced by more modern aircraft, one found her way to an aeroplane graveyard in Tucson, Arizona where she was saved from being stripped down for spare parts by a flock of pigeons. In 1991 this Connie was rediscovered by two Australian air buffs who restored her; and, in 1997 brought her back to Australia. Today she flies in Air shows around the country. Other Information: For an historical and technical account of the search for Connie and her subsequent rescue and restoration read: Gary Squire (2002) Bringing Connie Home, Historical Aircraft RestorationSociety (HARS), NSW.ISBN 0-9750061-0-X |
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| As she watched the pigeons
swooping and chasing each other through the sky, Connie remembered she wanted to fly. |
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| About the Story: This is the story the way it was for Connie, from her heyday as Australia's Queen of the Air to her abandonment in an aeroplane graveyard in Tucson, Arizona. Where, in becoming a home to hundreds of pigeons, she was saved from demolition - and finally restored and returned to Australia in 1997. |
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| PUBLICATION & PURCHASE DETAILS
National Library of Australia cataloguing-in-publication data: Author: Kaplan, Mabel Jean. Title: Connie and the pigeons / author, Mabel Jean Kaplan; illustrator, Kelli Hainke. Publisher: Girrawheen, W.A. : Stories for the Telling, 2007. ISBN: 9780646482538 (pbk.) Target Audience: For primary school age. Subjects: Airplanes--Juvenile fiction. Other Authors: Hainke, Kelli. Dewey Number: A823.4 Available from: Stories for the Telling 54 Hudson Avenue, Girrawheen, WA 6064, Australia Email: mabelka@elink.net.au ABN 69589 421 033 Cost: $A16.99 plus package & postage |
| Long time Girrawheen resident, Mabel Kaplan, well-known for her oral storytelling performances in schools and libraries around the suburbs, has published a Childrens Picture Book. Connie and the Pigeons celebrates the 60th anniversary of the first long distance passenger flight from Sydney to London on December 1, 1947 by a Lockheed Constellation L749 (affectionately known in aviation circles as Connie). Iin the early 90s, Connie is rediscovered by two Australian air buffs who restore her; and, in 1997 bring her back to Australia. Today she regularly flies in air shows around the country. The book is delightfully illustrated by friend and fellow writer, Kelli Hainke of South Lake - a primary school teacher and student of interior design. Connie and the Pigeons was officially launched on Wednesday, 12 December, 2007 at Our Lady of Mercy Primary School, Hudson Avenue Girrawheen, Western Australia where Mabel has been their volunteer Storyteller-in-Residence one day a week for the past five years. The book is suitable for 5-9 year olds and is available for sale at a cost of $16.99 + p&h. Enquires: 9342 7150 OR email: mabelka@hotmail.com Comments: This title will be a welcome addition to our collection. Laurie Allen, Librarian Collection Development, State Library of Western Australia Congratulations to you and Kelli for creating such an interesting picture book - it looks great, it reads well out loud and it's a wonderful story made even better by the fact that it's based on Australian history. Heather Cooper, Westbooks, Victoria Park, Western Australia Connie and the Pigeons is a particularly engaging story with obvious historical relevance for the aircraft and its journey Philip Capps, Manager Inflight Product Development, Qantas Airways Ltd |
| PRESS RELEASE |