What do the fictional character Sir Les Patterson, the Polish explorer Paweł Edmund Strzelecki and the world's former number one tennis player John Newcombe have in common?
Out of all the many things people said came to mind when they thought of Australia — as part of my competition to win one of three sets of Kate Grenville's "colonial trilogy" — these were the answers that caught my eye.
Les Patterson, because, well, frankly, he's hilarious despite his bad manners, his lecherous ways and his obnoxious outdated attitudes.
Strzelecki, because I grew up in the Strzelecki Ranges, named after the man who led an expedition through this region in the 1840s.
And John Newcombe, because when he was winning grand slams in the late 1960s and early 1970s he looked a lot like my dad!
That means copies of The Secret River, The Lieutenant and Sarah Thornhill will be going to Philip, Zbyszekspir and Sdav. Congratulations. I will be in touch shortly to arrange shipment of your prize.
I must admit it was hard to select the winners out of the 41 who entered, so commiserations if you missed out — it was interesting to see what things people associate with Australia. The Sydney Opera House was a clear winner!
I have one more giveway planned for Australian Literature Month, so do pop you name in the hat when it goes live later tonight.
