The Flower Garden
In September 2013, I flew to Brisbane for the Queensland Art Gallery’s Exhibition, Quilts: 1700-1945. I wanted to see the Rajah quilt, a quilt I’d written about in My Name is Lizzie Flynn. I’d seen the Rajah quilt in Canberra in the Special Collections Room of the Australian National Gallery and had a fantastic discussion with a curator about the quilt, but the quilt was folded in a box and I couldn’t see it in its full glory. The Quilt Exhibition was fabulous, with so many beautiful quilts, and I took my time working my way through the exhibits, until finally, in the last room, there was the Rajah quilt, in low light, hung at 45 degrees. It was just fabulous.
After I’d spent as long as seemed polite drinking it in and marvelling at its size and the wonder of its construction, another quilt caught my eye. It was much smaller and simpler in design, quietly hanging to the left of the Rajah quilt.
It was the Girl Guide quilt, constructed by children in Changi prison in Singapore in 1942. This Girl Guide quilt inspired the three quilts known collectively as the Red Cross quilts, made by women in Changi and gifted to the prison hospital (and shh! used to communicate with the men).
the GG quilt image credit Imperial War Museum London
I rang the publisher of my Rajah quilt story and said I think I’ve found my next project!
But years went by and although I wrote the story of the Girl Guide quilt, it languished.
There were near misses at various acquisition meetings, then was finally accepted for publication in 2022, by Clare Hallifax, then publisher of Walker Books.
Are you still with me? This publishing game is not simple, nor for the impatient.
Lucia Masciullo agreed to illustrate
Clare left, Eve Tonelli joined Walker as publisher.
And now, 13 years after I first discovered this amazing quilt and the even more amazing story of its creation, here we are. The Flower Garden, with Lucia’s beautiful illustrations, is ready to be shared with readers of all ages: students, families, quilters, anyone interested in WWII history as it pertains to children and women.
Elizabeth Ennis (photo credit Jackie Sutherland)
This story was guided by Sheila Allen’s diaries, by the Australian War Museum, by quilters and more.
Recently, I discovered that the daughter of Elizabeth Ennis, the Girl Guide leader of the story, had written a book about her parents, who were both in Changi Prison although not together (there’s a whole other story). My story was long-written, but I was fascinated to learn more about Elizabeth and how she came to be in Singapore, and then in Changi Prison.
One of the first copies of The Flower Garden was sent to Elizabeth’s daughter, who is rightly very proud of her amazing mum. She’s also happy that this story of her mum is being shared.
Photo 3 pic of Elizabeth Ennis (photo credit Jackie Sutherland)
I’m so pleased to be able to share this story, and the story of this story.
I hope you enjoy reading it.
Click here to find Reviews of The Flower Garden
