General News
19 July, 2023
Dog’s dairy adventures inspires book
THE playful adventures of a mischievous family pooch on a Dixie dairy farm has inspired a new children’s book.
THE playful adventures of a mischievous family pooch on a Dixie dairy farm has inspired a new children’s book.
Dixie farmer Leanne Bennett has released her first children’s book, ‘Mutley’s Dairy Farming Adventures’.
Ms Bennett grew up on a farm in the Mallee region, where she developed her love of animals which now has inspired her writing.
The book explores the adventures of happy-go-lucky dog ‘Mutley’ as she cavorts around the paddocks of her family’s dairy farm.
The hairy character holds a special meaning to the author, who loved Looney Tunes as a child and now has a Mutley lookalike who is equally cheeky.
The titular character was based on Ms Bennett’s four-year-old German Wire-haired Pointer, Tameeka, who is affectionately nicknamed Mutley.
“One day I said to my family that I could probably write a book about my dog having adventures on the dairy farm,” she said.
“They loved the idea and encouraged me to do it, so I just sat down and wrote a few pages.
“I have anxiety and Tameeka’s easy going personality helps to lower my anxiety.”
Ms Bennett wanted the book to also have educational value, capturing the day-to-day practices and routines of farm living.
“I wanted to share the story because I would like children to read about the dairy farming lifestyle,” she said.
“It’s based on a true story, planning out a day on the farm in the morning.
“Mutley goes out to bring in the cows but gets distracted and gets up to a bit of mischief.
“It is a good follow on book for kids who enjoyed Bluey but are getting a little older.”
The 32-page book features the artwork of illustrator Aaron Pocock.
In 2011, Mr Pocock was chosen to illustrate Australia Post’s commemorative stamp set ‘Mythical Creatures’ for Children’s Book Week, which were the first to be printed in a 3D capacity.
“I had a choice of illustrators and I liked his style the most,” Bennett said.
“He’s based in Brisbane so I e-mailed photos to him, and he drew the illustration based on those references.
“I wanted the colours to look vibrant, and I needed the illustrations to look lifelike with slight cartoon characteristics.
“I wanted a style that still very much looked like Tameeka.”
The book also features the family cat, Nikita.
“My son Riley rescued Nikita when she was an abandoned kitten; she was hiding and meowing in a terracotta clay pipe on our farm in Tongala,” Ms Bennett said.
“She is eight years old and has been a member of the family ever since.”
Ms Bennett has already begun work on the second and third instalments, and hopes to include more of Nikita as the series progresses.
She also revealed the second book will focus on the floods of October 2022, which caused widespread damage to the family farm.
She was also planning to develop a ‘Mutley’s Farm’ merchandise range to accompany her series of books.
Copies of ‘Mutley’s Dairy Farming Adventures’ are available at online bookstores, local newsagencies and Ms Bennett’s website www.mutleysdairyfarmingadventures.com.
Ms Bennett can be contacted via e-mail at leatanya78@gmail.com or through the ‘Mutley’s Dairy Farming Adventures’ Facebook page.
