Just So Stories

Allen & Unwin

June 2024

ISBN:9781761180309

Publisher:A&U Children’s

Imprint:A & U Children

RRP: $24.99

I’m a Sydney girl even though I’ve now lived in Queensland, on and off, for almost forty years, so Taronga Park Zoo and Moore Park are familiar names full of memories of a happy childhood.

I was taken to Taronga by my parents as (if I recall correctly) a birthday treat. I was the youngest of three children by 7 years (why yes, I was a ‘surprise’) so it was just the three of us. I absolutely loved every minute of that day and can still remember much of it, though I would think I was only about 5 or 6. The beautiful floral clock that actually told the time, the steep walk up the hill, lots of concrete (now thankfully retired), the cute miniature train I got to ride in, and animals I’d only read about it in my many books.

Most of all there are two things that stand out. We stopped to see tiny monkeys (probably Capuchins I think, with hindsight) in a kind of free-standing enclosure and as I reached in with my finger, one of the monkeys grasped it and stayed looking at me. I was in love instantly. I asked my father if I could please have a pet monkey and he said that they are not allowed in Australia as pets. My response was ‘Well how come Ginger Meggs has one?”, which I knew he’d be able to answer as he knew Jimmy Bancks. He had to explain that the comic strip was originally started in the 20s and at that time it was possible to have a monkey as there were no laws. I was well peeved, I can tell you, but not as much as the next incident.

We suddenly saw the beautiful elephant swaying towards us and there were children riding in a howdah on its back!! I was beside myself! I very excitedly asked if I could have an elephant ride, only to be told no, as I’d already had the train ride. Cue chagrin – had they TOLD me that an elephant ride was an option, I would have foregone the train!! I had to wait another 50ish years to get an elephant ride.

Moore Park (also known as the Sydney Showground) , on the other hand, the site of the original Sydney Zoo was well-known to me because every year my dad took me there to the Royal Easter Show (he also often played golf at Moore Park Golf Club).

All these delicious memories come flooding back as I read about Jessie’s big adventure through the streets of Sydney when the zoo moved from its original site to the newly established Taronga Zoo, overlooking our beautiful harbour.

I am fascinated as an adult to think of Jessie and Mr Miller, the keeper, quietly treading their way across the city in the early hours of the morning, and I am very sure that children will be also. The children familiar with the unceasing hustle and bustle of Sydney’s traffic these days will be even more astonished.

This is essentially a simple recount of an event not likely to ever be repeated and the absolutely beautiful illustrations, with their palette of soft colours are the perfect accompaniment. I particularly love the double spread street map so evocative of the old Gregory’s street directories we all used to have in our cars (in my case, still in 2003/4 when I went back to Sydney for a while working in Marrickville libary).

This is a gorgeous narrative non-fiction, and I am looking forward to sharing it with some Smalls when I next decide to do a day’s relief, and I would hope to accompany it with some elephantine activities. I’m giving it a jumbo 🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘 in honour of Jessie and all the Taronga elephants who have been and are such favourites with everyone. Fun fact, Jessie was so well-known and loved that she went into the vernacular – “more hide than Jessie the elephant” Read about it here. You can also read the newspaper report about Jessie’s amble across the city here at Trove and enjoy this article about Jessie’s life from Museums of History NSW.

Please enjoy this little slideshow of Taronga and the elephants from early days to circa 1960 when I had my birthday outing.