One bright morning by Wendy Scarfe

One bright morning in February 1942, Japanese fighter planes machine-gunned the streets of Darwin, destroying ships, buildings and infrastructure. Scarfe's heroine, Zeny Havillland, had already experienced the exodus from Kuala Lumpur as the Japanese advanced towards Singapore. It was only by lucky chance that she managed to escape, disguised in mud cream aboard a camouflaged fishing vessel crewed by similarly disguised Australians, Bill and Joe. Kuala Lumpur was invaded by the Japanese defeating the jungle barrier on bicycles, Darwin's sea barrier looked set to be similarly overcome by Japanese in aircraft bombers.

With a minimum of words, Scarfe brings to life the varied experiences of the time, the alarm and anxiety at the unpreparedness for attack, the smouldering antagonism between Australian wharfies and blustering American troops, the pacifist anti-war view as embodied by the kindly Olive, and the trauma of a battle-scarred survivor of previous conflicts.

I particularly appreciated the depiction of Zeny, young and adventurous, whose every interaction with the individuals she meets is fresh and open; there are touches of romance, but no jealousy between the men whose company she enjoys. Her relationship with the traumatised Robert is trusting and authentic, as they gradually draw closer together.

It’s a story that is easy to read, but at the same time brings to life the little known record of the Japanese World War II attack on the north of Australia. This publication is a timely reminder just before the 80th anniversary of the Darwin bombing, on the 19th February, and would be an excellent entree to the study of another aspect of Australia’s involvement in World War II.

Themes: Darwin, WWII, War in the Pacific, Post traumatic stress disorder, Multiculturalism.

Helen Eddy