Anderson, Ms L.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta) (15:22): I am pleased the Minister for Arts is with us for this contribution. I think she will enjoy it and benefit from it in particular.

The SPEAKER: She is always here. We are all here.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: We are all here, sir, of course, as the standing orders reflect. I want to take this opportunity to pay credit to a South Australian writer who most people in the chamber probably know, and that is Lainie Anderson, whose third book is about to be launched on 1 October. I, for one, cannot wait.

Lainie and I got to know each other relatively well during the centenary of the Great Air Race a couple of years ago, when I was Minister for Education and she was the ambassador for the History Trust's series of events to celebrate 100 years since that race. It was an extraordinary body of work that was done and culminated finally, maybe a couple of years late, in the movement of the Vickers Vimy to its wonderful purpose-built facility at Adelaide Airport, with the support of the state and federal governments and significant contribution from Adelaide Airport.

One of the key inclusions in that program was the launch of the book Long Flight Home, which was to my knowledge Lainie's first published novel, a novelisation of that extraordinary story. Lainie, of course, has a long and successful career as a journalist and a commentator in South Australia. Early on, I think the first time I really became aware of her interest in education was when the member for Unley brought to my attention an article she had written in the Sunday Mail highlighting her support for the Liberal policy to move year 7 to high school at the time. But I want to focus the remainder of my time on what she is doing now.

A couple of years ago she wrote her first mystery novel. It was one that I think actually is worthy for all members of parliament to read. It is called The Death of Dora Black. It focuses on the character of Kate Cocks who was a historical figure. She was not only South Australia's first female police officer appointed to the same conditions as male officers, but she was the first one in the British Empire, possibly one of the first ones in any modern police force on earth, if not the first.

Kate Cocks is a well-known name in South Australia. Her role as the first woman police officer and indeed her role as a social worker is remembered through the stories of the children whose lives were saved and prolonged through her work, and who were given a future. It is a historical and significant thing for our state, the life of Kate Cocks.

What Lainie Anderson has done through The Death of Dora Black and indeed the new book Murder on North Terrace—which is to be launched in a couple of weeks' time—is to bring this character to life, along with the fictionalised psychic Ethel Bromley. It is a wonderful character piece that is highlighted by the strong writing, the strength of the mystery which stands right up there not just with Ms Cocks but with Miss Fisher and Miss Marple. They can all stand aside for the new crime-fighting duo that is sure to take on the world.

For South Australian readers in particular, hearing the descriptions of places—I think it was the 1915 or 1917 era that it was set—Adelaide landmarks, and the way in which that society and that community lived is really worth reflecting upon for a South Australian reader. It is not just the opportunity to read about the landmarks described—including this building, half-built as it was at the time—but the Elder Rotunda is mentioned, the Glenelg jetty, and landmarks in Reynella and Victor Harbor are mentioned as well. Thinking about the way the social dynamic played out at the time is worthy.

Lainie must have gone to an extraordinary deal of trouble to do that historical research but then to take that historical research, to take those real-life historical characters and the made-up ones, and to bring them together in a story that is compelling is a tremendous feat of achievement. As somebody who enjoys consuming fiction from time to time, I express my appreciation for that.

For members of parliament who are too cheap to buy a copy, the good news is that the parliamentary library has a copy of it, so you have about a week and half to get it and read it before the new one comes out. But, do better than that, be better than that, go out and buy a copy and support South Australian artists and support South Australian writers. To Lainie Anderson, I offer my congratulations, and I am sure that my colleagues all join with me and, who knows, maybe by Christmas they will all have read the book and be ready to get the next one in their stocking.