A TRIP down the Glenelg River was the motivation for Trace Balla’s book Rivertime.
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The Castlemaine author won this year’s Readings Children’s Book Prize for the story she wrote and illustrated herself.
Rivertime is an illustrated tale about a boy and his bird-watching uncle on a paddling trip along the Glenelg River.
The graphic novel is aimed at primary school children.
As well as the Readings prize, Rivertime has also been nominated for a Wilderness Society Children’s Book Award.
“My partner, Greg, and I went on the trip but I thought kids would be interested in a story between a boy and his uncle doing the same thing,” she said.
“I was really affected by spending 10 days in a very natural environment like that, in a boat on water rather than near cars and streets.”
Balla kept a visual journal during her trip, which made it easy to turn the story to a book.
She also received some funding for developing children’s book.
“It was (fortunately) pretty straight forward. Because I had funding, publishers were more likely to look at (My work),” she said.
“Also because I had the journal, I kind of had the story already there.
“I have been making books for years but I’ve never had one published.”
Balla’s background in visual arts has seen her work as an illustrator, animator and community artist.
“I studied animation but my drawings are self taught and I have been doing visual journals for years,” she said.
“I think (anyone’s) best teacher is their own work. I’ve always wanted to have a book in the library so this is a childhood ambition come true.”
Balla said moved to Castlemaine from the city to be closer to nature.
“I’m a city girl but I used to spend a lot of time in trees and visiting friends in the (Castlemaine) region,” she said.
“Being in nature is my favourite place. I feel more at ease.”
A sequel to Rivertime (called Rock Hopping) is also in the works with the Grampians set to feature.
“I wanted to know where the water (of the Glenelg River) came from so we followed the river until it was a creek and then a waterfall in the Grampians,” she said. “I have spent a fair bit of time there in the past and had a lot of adventures on the trip.”
