A must for “Picnic” fans
A fascinating insight into the author of Australia’s greatest literary mysteries, “Picnic at Hanging Rock”, will be had at Warragul Library on Monday afternoon.
Former Warragul resident Janelle McCulloch will share snippets of her Joan Lindsay biography “Beyond the Rock” and thoughts on what inspired the iconic novel.
After five years of research, Ms McCulloch believes the Joan Lindsay’s novel was based on the actual disappearance of two girls; not in 1900 but in the 1920s. She also believes the truth of what happened “will come out one day”.
“She distanced herself from Clyde (School) and the truth of the story because I think she was worried about litigation. That’s why it was so firmly marketed as a novel because it’s a work of fiction. It has always been a novel.”
Like many others, Ms McCulloch was introduced to Picnic at Hanging Rock in high school. Attending an all-girl school, she recalls “it resonated with me”.
Adding another layer, a school friend’s great-grandmother had gone to school at Woodend and the family had always heard stories about missing girls.
Ms McCulloch said writing a book about a little-known author was a “big risk, but it was a huge success”.
“I never had an intention to write a book about it, I just had an interest in it. Nobody had ever really done anything on her and her life, which is so fascinating.”
“She was a very enigmatic character, very private, which was surprising as she mixed with some larger than life people. It was like an onion, peel back all these layers and find out more about her.”
The biography’s release coinciding with a new drama series inspired by the novel and film certainly helped gather publicity.
“Picnic at Hanging Rock was a story of great loss and love, and that was Joan’s life essentially.
“She wrote a beautiful book and I can’t fault it at all. It’s really a book about Australia, the landscapes and our struggles with the landscapes. It’s a book about class and repression.”
Ms McCulloch was raised in Warragul, attending Warragul Primary School, Warragul High School and St Margaret’s School, before moving to London to work in journalism.
Her parents, Ross and Jenny Wiedermann, were leading teachers at several schools in the district.
After many years in the media, she has written about 20 design, travel and gardening books.
Janelle McCulloch will appear at the Warragul Library on Monday, June 4 from 2pm to 3.30pm.
It is a free event with registrations essential by visiting www.eventbrite.com.au.