Mary Moore’s Life As Coast Farmers’ Wife (Press, 6 November 1985)

Mary Moore, who served as the postmistress at Cronadun, a small community near Reefton, for 11 years, has authored a book titled "The Farmer Takes a Wife." This book compiles two series of radio broadcasts from the National Programme which aired in 1983 and 1984, portraying the realities of her family's life on the West Coast of New Zealand, including their experiences during the Inangahua earthquake. The introduction to her book is written by Roy Hope, who is the senior script editor for drama at Radio New Zealand. Mrs Moore, now residing in Christchurch, reflects on her time at Cronadun, describing the property as a beautiful farm but noting that the house was quite unsuitable for her family of five children and a husband described as always being right. The book consists of 16 narrative tales that address various challenges and amusing incidents from this period. In addition, Mrs Moore has written twelve Mills and Boon novels, with a background in farming informing her writing. Although she admits to some difficulty with the romantic elements of her stories, she continues to create works set primarily on the West Coast, including locations tied to her husband's background. In another literary contribution, Sue Kedgley, who was involved in writing “Sexist Society” in 1972, has released her latest book, “The Sexual Wilderness.” This work follows a series of interviews she conducted with men and women to explore the impact of feminism on their lives. Kedgley, who serves as the executive director of the Independent Producers and Directors’ Guild, claims that the responses have been surprising, with a broad spectrum of opinions and experiences represented, including voices from various backgrounds. A notable observation made by Kedgley is that women seem to have outpaced men emotionally and spiritually within the last 14 years, evolving to engage more creatively with the challenges posed by the feminist movement. The book includes cartoons by Shona McLean, adding a unique visual element to the discussions. Lastly, David Yerex, a former journalist from Wellington, has documented the life of his late uncle, Lowell Yerex, in a book titled "Yerex of TACA: A Kiwi Conquistador." Over six months of research culminated in this publication, which narrates the story of Lowell Yerex, a New Zealand aviation pioneer who sought to establish himself in Central America. He attempted to build up Transportes Aereos Centro Americanos and faced various challenges, including political obstacles and accusations of espionage. David Yerex notes that his uncle, had he been American, might have become another Howard Hughes, as he struggled to establish an airline in an industry heavily controlled by the United States. David, who has previously authored a book on deer farming, currently resides in Carterton and is embarking on writing a book about goat farming. In the realm of historical exploration, French author Jacques Bresse has released a new book detailing early South Pacific exploration, titled "Great Voyages of Exploration: The Golden Age of Discovery in the Pacific." Published by David Bateman, Ltd., the book draws on the experiences of explorers between 1764 and 1863 and showcases the contributions of artists, naturalists, and other scientists who documented their findings in the largely unknown region. It features illustrated reports and is complemented by geographical and biographical appendices.

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