Wangoolba

Like a lot of stories, novels or fairy tales Princess Kawalo is a magical spirit-like character totally created by the author? Some elements of the story came about after he was told of an old Japanese story related by a Japanese exchange student who stayed at his home for six months.

Williams loves Fraser Island and its purebred dingoes and visualized how he could develop and create a unique story blending the island and highlight the desperate plight of our Australian dingo. The factual account of a Moha Moha sighting on 8th June 1890 by a European school teacher at Sandy Cape presented another opportunity and its integral involvement with Aboriginal culture using Wangoolba and as the central character. They were all existing elements on Fraser Island used in the author's previous published works.

Thanks also to Archibald Meston the Protector of Aborigines who said a hundred years earlier (1905) in a letter to the Under Secretary for Public Lands (first European manager on the island), "…the place names given for the first time to save them before they would be lost forever". This story seeks to preserve those indigenous names further and some proudly have been applied here for heritage and in the context of furthering learning and cross-cultural understanding. Perhaps they were elements just begging through a touch of magic to be reunited and bought together in an enjoyable mythological and understandable way. Despite dealing in parts with cultures different from our own 'Wangoolba Prince Amongst Dingoes' remains impressive. It is a flexible appealing story suitable for children and adults who are young at heart. If you never decide to read anything else on Australia's native dog you must read this magical account.

The necklace

Fred Williams was born in 1941 and educated at Mentone Grammar in Victoria. Since 1969 he has resided in Queensland Australia. At the time his parents used to live in Burrum Heads a the top of Hervey Bay where Fred based his 300 odd expeditions to Fraser Island. Many of these expeditions were free range camping trips with his family, extended friends and associates. He is a keen photographer and amateur naturalist. He also holds great respect for the native folks of Fraser Island. He now resides at Emu Park Queensland, wrote this story after having visited Fraser Island numerous times over many years. Writing is a hobby of Fred's and to his credit has produced a definate book on the history of the island. So, it is not surprising that Fred has a lifelong fascination with Fraser Island and its native animals. He is a member of the Queensland Writers Association and Friends of Fraser. He also supports many other associations like the Wildlife Protection Association of Australia Inc. Apart from this book Fred is also an author of two well-respected history books on Fraser Island and is currently developing a manuscript on the current management of the Fraser Island dingo.