It’s 60 years since veteran rural writer Jim Bowden walked into the Queen Street office of Country Life looking for a job.
Legendary editor Wallace Skelsey took him on as a message boy and gave him his first assignment – to collect rolls of film and copy from reporters at Brisbane Royal Show. That was August 1956 and two years later as a cadet reporter he was writing Kiddies Korner, a weekly column for children before being sent out on the road to cover stock sales and country shows.
A foundation member of the Rural Press Club of Queensland, he went on to become chief of staff, associate editor and promotions manager and in the 1980s set up is own PR and publishing business.
Now he has published a book of the animal odes he wrote every week for Kiddies Korner – Katie Kangaroo, Percy Platypus, Elmer Emu and Bertie the Bandicoot among them. The book also includes an educational illustrated glossary of facts about the Australian bush creatures featured – their origins, habits and habitats.
“They all carry a message in rhyme about good behaviour and respect for our elders, told in a humorous way,” Jim said.
Books by Jim Bowden
