Black Sheep

During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the Australian economy was dependent on the sheep industry and large pastoralists held a position of economic and social power in the country. Black Sheep by Judy Nunn is primarily set from the 1880s to 1920. 

James Wakefield is the son of a shearer and spent his early life travelling with his father around properties in Queensland. Then came the Shearers' Strike at Barcaldine in May 1891 where shearers marched through the streets of the town demanding better pay and conditions. After his father was killed, James changed his name and set off for a new life in a new state. After meeting Ben McKinnon whose family own a property near Goulburn, James has the opportunity to start his life again.

James' father had taught his son to read by reading him a book of nursery rhymes and explaining their true meaning. James' favourite rhyme was 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' and he and his father often discussed the different interpretations of a black sheep. Throughout the book the reader meets a number of characters to whom this term may apply.

Overtime James becomes an entrenched member of the McKinnon family and starts his own family. Then comes the First World War and its impact on the family, not just young men going off to serve their country but the business opportunities for pastoralists to supply the army with wool and leather for uniforms and military equipment.

Black Sheep is a family saga with episodes of Australian history as part of the back story. The novel often contains descriptions of of violence and there are also sections discussing sexual activity and attitudes. It is a story of the establishment of power within an industry as well as within a family.

Spirits of the Ghan

Spirits of the Ghan by Judy Nunn is set in outback Australia, especially the Northern Territory from 1876 to 2001. At the heart of the story is the completion of the building of the Ghan railway from Darwin to Alice Springs linking with the section of the railway already in existence between Alice Springs and Adelaide. As much of the desert crossed by the railway is Aboriginal land, negotiations need to be made with Indigenous peoples to ensure that the railway will not encroach on sacred sites.

Many stories are revealed throughout the novel. Jessica Manning, an anthropologist, acts as a negotiator between the railway management and Aboriginal people. Jess' mother, Rosie, was removed from her family when she was a young child to be be brought up by white settlers. When she was 16 Rosie ran away and eventually married an Irish musician, Toby Manning. Jess gradually learns of her mother's early life though Rosie has no contact with her true family. Jess and Toby decide to investigate Rosie's story and Jess finds herself welcomed into Rosie's world.

While working in the Northern Teritory Jess meets surveyor, Matthew Witherton, and together they strive to preserve a sacred site that Jess has discovered. Throughout the book the reader is provided with exerpts of the story of this site, dating back to the 1870s, and its significance though much of the story is hidden from the main characters.

Many historical events are included in this novel including the building of the overland telegraph, the first attempts to build a railway in the desert, the importance of the Afghan camel trains in the desert, the completion of the Ghan railway, the Stolen Generation, lives of Aboriginal people in different parts of Australia as well as the importance of the land to Indigenous Australians. Throughout the novel Jess and Matt also come to a greater understanding about their own lives.

The Long Weekend: a collection of stories

The Long Weekend is a collection of six short stories by Australian author, Judy Nunn.

The Long Weekend: Five women who work together decide to spend the long weekend in a shack in the bush. This is to be a complete getaway from everyday life with all electonic devices left at home. However all does not go as planned.

The Wardrobe: When Nancy purchases a dilapidated terrace house she makes a discovery that changes her life.

The Otto Bin Empire: Clive's Story: This is the first of a proposed collection of short stories about a group of homeless people who meet regularly near a collection of rubbish bins and become friends.

Changes: Jackie looks back at the changes she has encountered in her life over sixty-five years.

The House on Hill Street: Set in a quiet suburban street in Tasmania the local residents are not prepared for the horrors that are about to occur.

Just South of Rome: This is the longest story in the book. When Jane Precott decides to explore Italy she ends up at a strange villa / hotel. Her experiences are not all positive however events occur that change her attitudes to life.

At the end of each short story Judy Nunn writes about what prompted her to write  the story.

Showtime!

Showtime! by Judy Nunn is a show stopper. 

Set between 1882 and 1919 it is the story of the Worthing family who left England to try their luck in the world of show business in Australia. From taking part in stage shows to running their own production company, the family grows to one of the best known names in the Australian entertainment industry. However all does not always run smoothly and antagonism between Will Worthing and Michael Carlovsky becomes a threat to their growing success.

In this novel Judy Nunn introduces the reader to a range of entertainment options at this time from involvement in boxing troops, trapese and acrobatic acts, magic and illusion, dance, singing and theatrical plays as well as the arrival of film. The effect of the opening of Luna Park in Melbourne also features.

Events occurring in Australian history are often mentioned including the coming of Federation, votes for women and visits by members of the Royal Family. The greatest outside impact is, however the First World War.

Judy Nunn has written another memorable novel, this time about the entertainment industry and its role in major Australian cities at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century. The book is also the story of multiple generations of two families determined to make an impact in the Australian entertainment industry, despite hostilities that might exist between some of the protagonists.

Khaki Town

Set in Townsville (Far North Queensland) in 1942 Judy Nunn has written a novel about the effect of the town tripling its population when American and Australian soldiers arrived to fight the Japanese who were considered a threat to the region.

Racism is a major theme of the book, not just the affects of having black American soldiers in a country where the White Australia policy still existed but the tension that existed in the American ranks between white and black soldiers, especially white soldiers used to segregation back home.

The story focuses on the 96th Battalion of US Corps Engineers - coloured soldiers who are considered unsuitable as fighting men but useful to build airstrips and other construction projects. Company C is the focus of this novel with two contrasting white leaders - one sympathetic to discrimination received by the men while the other can only be described as a bigoted bully. When the men from C Company are forbidden to go to the town to socialise it soon becomes obvious that trouble is brewing. A young journalist who is also aware that all is not well among the American forces is determined to uncover as much of the story as he can, even though he is aware that the truth may never  be revealed.

Many of the Australians, particularly the military, are not happy having the American soldiers swanning into town monopolising the local girls. The novel also describes the relationships of some of the Townsville residents with the newcomers in their community.

This book provides a different aspect of war by focusing on the tensions caused when various military forces have to coexist during the Second World War.