Gumdigger: Northland, 1899-1900

Description

Reuben Radcliffe's father owns the store in the small township of Waipapa. When the bank forecloses on a loan, Reuben and his family are forced to leave their home and move into a tent. With no money and little food, Reuben has to leave school and find work. Heading north with his father, Reuben joins a gang of Dalmatian gumdiggers. He soon learns how to dig the ancient kauri gum that lies preserved in the Northland swamps. But tragedy lurks just around the corner ...with the drowning of his mentally disabled brother, who has come to spend some time at the camp with Reuben.

Growing up in the country, Kath says her family was too poor for many books, and it wasn't until she became a boarder at Epsom Girls Grammar that she discovered her first library! A former teacher, Dunedin-based Kath is now retired but is a keen outdoors person who has travelled and lived in many countries.