Online Session: Migration and Teresa A New Australian
by Deborah Abela
Description
Deb’s novel, Teresa A New Australian, was inspired by her dad’s survival during WW2 and journey to Australia as a refugee. The novel is often used in schools to delve into issues of migration, war and understanding what it is to be a refugee.
Deb will delve into the story of her father’s survival during the war and subsequent journey to Australia, arriving at a time when the White Australia Policy was in full force.
She will explain how she used primary and secondary sources to construct the plot and how her interviews with Maltese refugees who made the post-war journey helped create not only the plot and characters, but gave the novel an authenticity that was vital for the final book.
Zoom is my preferred delivery method, but I can use Skype. I’m also happy to explore Google hangouts or Microsoft Teams if the school prefers.
Deb will delve into the story of her father’s survival during the war and subsequent journey to Australia, arriving at a time when the White Australia Policy was in full force.
She will explain how she used primary and secondary sources to construct the plot and how her interviews with Maltese refugees who made the post-war journey helped create not only the plot and characters, but gave the novel an authenticity that was vital for the final book.
Topics covered
- The importance of research to create compelling and truthful historical fiction
- How to use research to construct a story
- How to use primary and secondary sources when writing a novel
Delivery platform
Zoom is my preferred delivery method, but I can use Skype. I’m also happy to explore Google hangouts or Microsoft Teams if the school prefers.
Details
Audience
Upper Primary
Duration
45 minutes
Requirements
Please look at www.deborahabela.com before the session.