SANTA has crashed his sleigh and has to make his way down the Murray to pick up its replacement, so he decides to take up his long lost passion for waterskiing to get there.
This is the plot of one of this year’s children’s Christmas books, Santa Skis the Murray, written by Ballarat-based author Dave O’Neill.
Along the way he calls into the many towns that line the great river.
O’Neill said the idea was born in the passion he and his family share for waterskiing.
“After putting out my first kids book earlier in the year, I was looking to do a second and the Murray seemed to be the perfect backdrop,” he said.
“I am also passionate about Victoria and teaching kids about the state and thought putting out a book that really resonates with people, because of the destinations in it, would be a great way to do this.
“The Murray River has played such a big part in my life that it made sense to use it as the backdrop to a Christmas story.
“I know I’m not alone in loving the Murray and hopefully the story resonates with people regardless of where they holiday or live along the river.
“I have two kids under three now so writing stories has taken on an added importance.
“I hope my books will help them and other Victorian children to learn more about their state.
“Throughout my life, I have always been a poet and when we had our daughter in 2020, I was reading a lot of children’s books and
realised that a lot of them rhymed, so I thought I would have a go and try my hand at giving it a go.
“That is when I wrote and released my first book The Seagull Who Soared.”
The former journalist, and now communications and marketing professional, has aimed both books for children aged between three and eight years old.
O’Neill has another book in the works about wombats and surfing.
