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'This is the inspiring true story of nine-year-old Lennie Gwyther who, at the height of the Great Depression in 1932, rode his pony from his home town of Leongatha in rural Victoria to Sydney to witness the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Lennie’s 1,000-kilometre solo journey captured the imagination of the nation, and his determination and courage provided hope to many at a difficult time in Australia’s history.
'Lennie the Legend begins with a terrible accident on the family farm, when Lennie, remarkably at such a young age, takes on the responsibility for the ploughing. Lennie is obsessed with the marvel of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and, as a reward for saving the farm from missing the planting season, his parents grant him his wish to ride on his own to Sydney for the opening of the bridge. Lennie has all sorts of adventures along the way—a thief lurking in the bush in the dead of night, a raging bushfire, surprise appearances, celebrations in his honour, being the star of a newsreel, and meeting the Prime Minister.' (Publication summary)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Canberra Author Wins Children's Book Council Award for Story about Nine-year-old Bridge Enthusiast
2016
single work
column
— Appears in: Brisbane Times , 19 August 2016; 'The story of a nine-year-old boy who rode hundreds of kilometres on horseback to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge has won a major prize at the Children's Book Council of Australia awards. ...' -
The Children's Book Council of Australia's Book of the Year Awards: the Winners Your Kids Must Read
2016
single work
column
— Appears in: Brisbane Times , 19 August 2016;'There is a paradox in Australian children's literature and it is this: in an age where the young are attached to the very digital devices predicted to crucify the printed book, children's book publishing is in robust health. Not surviving but thriving.'
'Children's book sales have been on the rise on the back of vibrant stories from Mem Fox, Jackie French and Bob Graham and many others. ...'
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CBCA Eve Pownall Award For Information Books : Acceptance Speech by Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder, Author of Lennie the Legend
2016
single work
essay
— Appears in: Reading Time , September 2016; -
Review : Solo to Sydney
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , March vol. 30 no. 1 2015; (p. 38)
— Review of Lennie the Legend : Solo to Sydney by Pony 2015 single work children's fiction -
Review : Solo to Sydney by Pony
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: Buzz Words , March 2015;
— Review of Lennie the Legend : Solo to Sydney by Pony 2015 single work children's fiction
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Review : Solo to Sydney by Pony
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: Buzz Words , March 2015;
— Review of Lennie the Legend : Solo to Sydney by Pony 2015 single work children's fiction -
Review : Solo to Sydney
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , March vol. 30 no. 1 2015; (p. 38)
— Review of Lennie the Legend : Solo to Sydney by Pony 2015 single work children's fiction -
The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Writing Historical Fiction
2013
single work
column
— Appears in: Lu Rees Archives Notes, Books and Authors , no. 35 2013; (p. 5-6) -
The Children's Book Council of Australia's Book of the Year Awards: the Winners Your Kids Must Read
2016
single work
column
— Appears in: Brisbane Times , 19 August 2016;'There is a paradox in Australian children's literature and it is this: in an age where the young are attached to the very digital devices predicted to crucify the printed book, children's book publishing is in robust health. Not surviving but thriving.'
'Children's book sales have been on the rise on the back of vibrant stories from Mem Fox, Jackie French and Bob Graham and many others. ...'
-
Canberra Author Wins Children's Book Council Award for Story about Nine-year-old Bridge Enthusiast
2016
single work
column
— Appears in: Brisbane Times , 19 August 2016; 'The story of a nine-year-old boy who rode hundreds of kilometres on horseback to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge has won a major prize at the Children's Book Council of Australia awards. ...' -
CBCA Eve Pownall Award For Information Books : Acceptance Speech by Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder, Author of Lennie the Legend
2016
single work
essay
— Appears in: Reading Time , September 2016;
Awards
- Leongatha, Leongatha area, South Gippsland, Gippsland, Victoria,
- Sydney, New South Wales,
- Sydney Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales,