Alma Stevenson, Queenstown Author
Zac Mac the All Black.
Zachariah McRodden is a cheeky 7 year old bully
with attitude who loves rugby and dreams of one day becoming an All
Black.
What he doesn't understand is that it takes
commitment, dedication and courage to make it to this level. But with the
help of his dad, his best friend Tamati, the persistence and belief of his
coach, find out how Zac achieves his goal.
"Old Red"
Old Red and The Adventures of the Little Red Austin Truck
Written by Alma Stevenson
Illustrated by P G Rob
Old Red is the story of a 1942 Austin Truck that farmer Noel buys off Mr. Young the Green Grocer in Dunedin. He drives him back to his farm in Southland and Old Red falls to bits on the way home. Farmer Noel restores Old Red and the story tells of all his adventures on the family farm and life with the Stevenson Family. Then Farmer Noel becomes ill. The farm is sold, but he takes Old Red with him to Arrowtown. When Farmer Noel dies the truck is given to the Miners Band to play on.
Old Red is now quite famous and is taken out each Autumn for the festival and Christmas time for the choir to sing on.
Old Red is written for children aged five to eight years old and enjoyed by some adults as well.
Written by Alma Stevenson
Illustrated by P G Rob
Old Red is the story of a 1942 Austin Truck that farmer Noel buys off Mr. Young the Green Grocer in Dunedin. He drives him back to his farm in Southland and Old Red falls to bits on the way home. Farmer Noel restores Old Red and the story tells of all his adventures on the family farm and life with the Stevenson Family. Then Farmer Noel becomes ill. The farm is sold, but he takes Old Red with him to Arrowtown. When Farmer Noel dies the truck is given to the Miners Band to play on.
Old Red is now quite famous and is taken out each Autumn for the festival and Christmas time for the choir to sing on.
Old Red is written for children aged five to eight years old and enjoyed by some adults as well.
Old Blue
The Halls of Hollyvale Farm
Written by Alma Stevenson
Illustrated by P G Rob
Old Blue is a 1958 Morris Truck and because Farmer Noel is selling his farm he is being given away to his five year old grandson as a Birthday present. Old Blue has many adventures on the Hollyvale farm, and visits farmer Noel (who has now retired in Arrowtown) many times with loads of firewood. On some of his trips he travels up the Remarkables and visit’s the Bungy Jump.
Old Blue is written for five to eight year olds.
Written by Alma Stevenson
Illustrated by P G Rob
Old Blue is a 1958 Morris Truck and because Farmer Noel is selling his farm he is being given away to his five year old grandson as a Birthday present. Old Blue has many adventures on the Hollyvale farm, and visits farmer Noel (who has now retired in Arrowtown) many times with loads of firewood. On some of his trips he travels up the Remarkables and visit’s the Bungy Jump.
Old Blue is written for five to eight year olds.
Old Yellow
The Adventures of an Old Bulldozer in the High Country
Written by Alma Stevenson
Illustrated by P G Rob
Old Yellow is a 1954 Bulldozer. Farmer Noel buys him and uses him to help clear his bush on his farm in Southland. But Old Yellow dreams of all his adventures of when he was new and worked on the Queenstown/ Glenorchy road and all the adventures he had in that area. On the way he saves Glenorchy from a flood by building a flood bank and rescuing a sinking jet boat.
He also helps to stop a bush fire and rescues Harry the Routeburn bus from a mud bog. Finally Old Yellow came to the end of his life happily retiring in a children’s playground.
The book is read by five to eight year olds
Written by Alma Stevenson
Illustrated by P G Rob
Old Yellow is a 1954 Bulldozer. Farmer Noel buys him and uses him to help clear his bush on his farm in Southland. But Old Yellow dreams of all his adventures of when he was new and worked on the Queenstown/ Glenorchy road and all the adventures he had in that area. On the way he saves Glenorchy from a flood by building a flood bank and rescuing a sinking jet boat.
He also helps to stop a bush fire and rescues Harry the Routeburn bus from a mud bog. Finally Old Yellow came to the end of his life happily retiring in a children’s playground.
The book is read by five to eight year olds
Waggoneer Jack
Written by Alma Stevenson
Jack Stevenson was my father in law, he wrote his life story but sadly died before it was finished. As a promise I made to him when he was ill, I have integrated his story with my own story and told it as one. Jack’s life or (Waggoner Jack) as he was affectionately known was steeped in history and tells of hard times on the crown terrace, in the depression years. Tales of driving six horse teams down the zig zag to meet the Earnslaw at Frankton with great loads of gran and wool. Stories of when he lost his crops and eventually his farm due to a particularly harsh winter. In later years Jack would spend six months of most years with us, The Stevenson Family, on the farm at Mokotua in Southland.
The Us part of my book tells of the hardship and the happiness. The good times and the bad of breaking 800 acres of bush and swamp. Of starting married life in a two roomed hut without power and rearing a family of four. Of how hard my husband Noel worked holding down two jobs and making the farm into an economical Dairy Unit. Also how ill health bought us back to Arrowtown to start a business at Walnut cottage in our retirement.
Waggoner Jack and Us tells the tales of the Crown Terrace and Arrowtown to pioneering on the Southland Pest.
Jack Stevenson was my father in law, he wrote his life story but sadly died before it was finished. As a promise I made to him when he was ill, I have integrated his story with my own story and told it as one. Jack’s life or (Waggoner Jack) as he was affectionately known was steeped in history and tells of hard times on the crown terrace, in the depression years. Tales of driving six horse teams down the zig zag to meet the Earnslaw at Frankton with great loads of gran and wool. Stories of when he lost his crops and eventually his farm due to a particularly harsh winter. In later years Jack would spend six months of most years with us, The Stevenson Family, on the farm at Mokotua in Southland.
The Us part of my book tells of the hardship and the happiness. The good times and the bad of breaking 800 acres of bush and swamp. Of starting married life in a two roomed hut without power and rearing a family of four. Of how hard my husband Noel worked holding down two jobs and making the farm into an economical Dairy Unit. Also how ill health bought us back to Arrowtown to start a business at Walnut cottage in our retirement.
Waggoner Jack and Us tells the tales of the Crown Terrace and Arrowtown to pioneering on the Southland Pest.
CD - The story and Song from Old Red
Track one - Old Red Story Read by Alma Stevenson
Track two - Old Red Song Sung by Will Northcoate
The Old Red song was born by a rhyme that I had put together for the Arrowtown Autumn festival and my daughter and I thought it would make a great song for Arrowtown. We contacted Will Northcoate who is a singer, songwriter and has a sound studio. So after some fine tuning by Will Old Red the CD was born. Will persuaded me to read the story from Old Red the book on Track one and Track two, is the song.
These CD’s are available from
almas@xtra.co.nz or the Lakes District Museum Arrowtown. RRP$15
Track two - Old Red Song Sung by Will Northcoate
The Old Red song was born by a rhyme that I had put together for the Arrowtown Autumn festival and my daughter and I thought it would make a great song for Arrowtown. We contacted Will Northcoate who is a singer, songwriter and has a sound studio. So after some fine tuning by Will Old Red the CD was born. Will persuaded me to read the story from Old Red the book on Track one and Track two, is the song.
These CD’s are available from
almas@xtra.co.nz or the Lakes District Museum Arrowtown. RRP$15
Alma has been working with Rachael Errington on some latest illustrations.
