Bruny Youth Stories Prize

Little Blue of Lunawanna-alonnah

On the first warm day of summer, 1816, a clutch of eggs appeared in the burrows along the silky sand dunes of the narrow strip of land connecting the two parts of Lunawanna-alonnah. The dunes were still and silent, safe from creatures big and small wanting some dinner.

On the second warm day of summer, a small blue penguin emerged from one of the eggs. No longer still and silent, there was now a whole world to explore. Eager to grasp this new and exciting life, he stumbled and waddled up over the hill.

Once he reached the top, he saw a small child playing in the bay below. Curious, he tried to take a closer look, but all of a sudden he slipped and tumbled all the way to the bottom landing right in front of the child. He immediately tried to get back up the dune, but his tiny claws slipped on the sliding grains beneath him. With no luck, he tumbled back down, letting one small chirp out as he landed.

The child was quiet, observing the little penguin struggling. “ Hi there, little penguin. Do you need some help?” she said. The penguin could not understand the child’s words, but her tone and demeanor were patient, kind and soft.

The child’s name was Trugernanna, just four years old. All she had ever known was the land, the water, the animals and her tribe, the Nuenonne band. She often spent her time observing the new baby penguins but had never seen one this close before. She sensed an innocence in this little penguin that felt familiar to her.

She reached out to help him. At first he was hesitant, but deep down he sensed she was harmless just like him. She felt his warmth through her fingertips as she walked him back up to the top of the hill. Gently, she released the small bird from her grasp.

The little penguin dashed off into the burrows, returning home. Trugernanna walked back down the dunes toward her own home. Just before she reached the bottom of the hill, she turned her head to look back at the penguins burrow. As the sea breathed softly against the shore and the dunes fell still and silent once more, she wondered if she'd ever see that little blue penguin again.
 

Winners of the Bruny Youth Story Prize will be announced at The Bruny Island Bird Festival on Sunday, the 22nd of March at 12 pm in the Adventure Bay hall. This prize is proudly brought to you by The Bruny Kids and Nature Project, led by Claire Boost and the Tasmanian Community Fund.