AustLit

'Mr and Mrs Mudal have found life quite puzzling since their move to the Sunshine Coast. Having been farmers in Goondiwindi for most of their lives, their new more sophisticated life has been a challenge. Mervyn is not one to sit back and wonder, so he becomes a prolific letter writer. His letters explain the problems he and Mrs Mudal are experiencing and he demands explanations. He doesn't waste time by writing to employees; all his complaints and queries are addressed to government heads, chiefs of industry, prominent celebrities and sporting personalities. He asks the Minister of Health whether the Noosa roundabouts may be causing the Mudals' Insomnia. He suggests that his mother-in-law be employed to swim up and down Loch Ness for the tourists. He gives Michael Clarke advice on sledging and questions how many books he can download before his Kindle becomes too heavy to carry. He inquires whether Colonic Irrigation might be the best garden watering system and presents the Minister of Arts with some of his poetry, offering to become Australia's first Poet Laureate.' (Publication summary)

'Ralph's grandfather needs a heart operation, but there's a long waiting list. If Ralph can raise $5,000, then Pop can have the operation privately. His only hope is to win the world's first Dogathlon, being held in Ralph's hometown, Noosa, Queensland. The race involves a boy (or girl) and their dog, running for three kilometres and swimming two hundred metres. First prize is $5,000. But Ralph and Buster have serious competition, particularly from his school rival, Jimmy and his dog, Fang. Pop, who used to take part in the Noosa Triathlons, has agreed to train Ralph and Buster. Can they win the race and secure the prize money for Pop's operation? ' (Publisher's blurb)