Jack

Gretchen Miller happened on an old and musty book in the ABC library several years ago, and so began a long fascination to discover Ion L. Idriess. When Ion L. Idriess rose to the challenge of his mining mates at Lightning Ridge and submitted an article to the Bulletin magazine in 1910, no-one knew his playful paragraphs about life on the opal fields would spark off a career as one of Australia's best-selling penmen of Australiana and 'derring do'. Indeed, today's writers would salivate at the three million copies of over 50-odd titles that he sold. But you're either a great fan - or you've never heard of Idriess. Tim recalls the interview: 'He was a little man, wearing a knitted woollen beanie. It was winter. Young men were jumping off the cliff nearby (was it Collaroy? Northern Beaches anyway) with those para-glider wings, and soaring with the updraft. He said with some passion: "Did you see them flying? Gee I'd love to be able to do that!"' Producer Gretchen Miller Technical production Russell Stapleton, John Jacobs. Guests Ion L. Idriess, writer Beverley Eley, biographer Readings Rhys Muldoon, Sharona Coutts Original music composed by Gretchen Miller Performers Dave Ellis - double bass Jay Miller - double bass  Mitch Grainger - harmonica