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seandcI saw this recently when I was searching for something in old copies of the Department's various newspapers. Roald Dahl was one of my favourite authors when I was a kid, so I was rather pleased to find this in the papers. This interview was published in May 1989, about a year and a half before Dahl's death.
Roald Dahl gives his young fans a bit of "whizzpop" wisdom.
Roald Dahl is one of the world's most popular children's novelists. PIM HENDRIX got a taste of his special brand of humour when he visited Perth to talk to Distance Education Centre students last month.
Roald Dahl was in a grumpy mood, I was told. He was tired and eager to wind up his first tour of Australia. "No television cameras, no posing for photographers and no media interviews", were the emphatic instructions.
"What's left?" I thought, as I sat and waited for the enigmatic author, supposedly notorious for his cantankerous character.
All negative thoughts dissipated as the tall, bent figure of Dahl entered the room, walking stick held firmly by long, elegant fingers, looking more like a character from one of his own books than a best-selling author.
The man who brought the world Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Tales of the Unexpected, was in Perth last month to speak to some of his young fans through a teleconference link-up at the Distance Education Centre.
Favourite
After a short round of hellos, Dahl announced he was a smoker and asked for an ashtray.
"I'm a member of the Society for the Right to Enjoy Tobacco Without Being Screamed At," he said. "It's so difficult finding a place where one CAN smoke in this country."
What did he think of Australia?
"I don't like it at all," he said matter-of-factly. "I've only seen it from the inside of hotel rooms, so I can't really tell you. But I'm sure it's very nice."
Five children from isolated regions around the State were chosen from the 2500 DEC student population to probe their favourite author.
It was obvious from the outset that Dahl had a special kind of kinship with his youthful admirers, as their voices crackled over the link-up.
Torrential
Ben Bozanich, a Year 6 student from the Carnarvon School of the Air, told the author he lived on Edmund Station, about 500km northeast of Carnarvon.
As he described his world, it was obvious the words were conjuring an image of outback life for the 72-year-old scribe.
He stared contentedly into space as the words washed over him, etching a vivid scene on a blank canvas in his mind.
Rachel Agars, a Year 5 student from the Kalgoorlie School of the Air, set the author laughing as she recounted the trouble she had getting to town to join the link-up.
Living on Pinjin Station, about two hours northeast of Kalgoorlie, Rachel left her home early in the day in a convoy of vehicles, a number of which became bogged after torrential downpours in the area.
"All that for this little talk?" mused Dahl.
"I think it's a great big talk," replied Rachel instantly.
This clearly delighted Dahl and he made no effort to conceal his pleasure.
Dahl then told his listeners how he inadvertently stumbled on the profession which has seen him become a household name.
Born in Wales in 1916 of Norwegian parents, Dahl had a meagre English boarding school education, before heading to East Africa with Shell Oil.
He joined the RAF as a fighter pilot at the outbreak of World War II, serving in North Africa and Greece, but had his wings clipped after a near-fatal plane crash in 1942.
Upon being transferred to Washington DC as an assistant air attache, he met author C.S. Forster, who became interested in the story of the young Englishman's crash.
Dahl supplied Forster with some notes on the incident and, so impressed with their quality was Forster, he submitted them to an agent who promptly arranged their printing, word for word, in the Saturday Evening Post.
From those humble beginnings, a successful writing career was born.
His tale told, Dahl again thirsted for in-formation from his listeners.
Sandra Cheyne from Albion Downs Sheep Station, northwest of Leinster, described her life on a station, while Darah Layfield, a Year 4 DEC student from Nannup, explained how her father was involved in natural farming methods.
The formula behind Dahl's huge popularity among children was revealed when asked why his mind stayed so young.
"Half of my mind is adult, while the other half has remained in my childhood," he said.
"When men become middle-aged many of them become pompous. Pomposity is the enemy of everything, in my opinion."
Then, to the delight of the children, he recounted a series of deliciously vulgar rhymes about vicars and knickers, which prompted a chorus of giggles.
"You have to be coarse with them to make them laugh," he said as he hoisted his crooked frame aloft.
"You have to be, or they don't laugh. Words like 'knickers' and'whizzpop' crack them up."
It was evident from the joyous adult response within the room that it was not only the children who had found it amusing.
WA Education News, Volume 9, May 25 1989, page 3.
Roald Dahl gives his young fans a bit of "whizzpop" wisdom.
Roald Dahl is one of the world's most popular children's novelists. PIM HENDRIX got a taste of his special brand of humour when he visited Perth to talk to Distance Education Centre students last month.
Roald Dahl was in a grumpy mood, I was told. He was tired and eager to wind up his first tour of Australia. "No television cameras, no posing for photographers and no media interviews", were the emphatic instructions.
"What's left?" I thought, as I sat and waited for the enigmatic author, supposedly notorious for his cantankerous character.
All negative thoughts dissipated as the tall, bent figure of Dahl entered the room, walking stick held firmly by long, elegant fingers, looking more like a character from one of his own books than a best-selling author.
The man who brought the world Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Tales of the Unexpected, was in Perth last month to speak to some of his young fans through a teleconference link-up at the Distance Education Centre.
Favourite
After a short round of hellos, Dahl announced he was a smoker and asked for an ashtray.
"I'm a member of the Society for the Right to Enjoy Tobacco Without Being Screamed At," he said. "It's so difficult finding a place where one CAN smoke in this country."
What did he think of Australia?
"I don't like it at all," he said matter-of-factly. "I've only seen it from the inside of hotel rooms, so I can't really tell you. But I'm sure it's very nice."
Five children from isolated regions around the State were chosen from the 2500 DEC student population to probe their favourite author.
It was obvious from the outset that Dahl had a special kind of kinship with his youthful admirers, as their voices crackled over the link-up.
Torrential
Ben Bozanich, a Year 6 student from the Carnarvon School of the Air, told the author he lived on Edmund Station, about 500km northeast of Carnarvon.
As he described his world, it was obvious the words were conjuring an image of outback life for the 72-year-old scribe.
He stared contentedly into space as the words washed over him, etching a vivid scene on a blank canvas in his mind.
Rachel Agars, a Year 5 student from the Kalgoorlie School of the Air, set the author laughing as she recounted the trouble she had getting to town to join the link-up.
Living on Pinjin Station, about two hours northeast of Kalgoorlie, Rachel left her home early in the day in a convoy of vehicles, a number of which became bogged after torrential downpours in the area.
"All that for this little talk?" mused Dahl.
"I think it's a great big talk," replied Rachel instantly.
This clearly delighted Dahl and he made no effort to conceal his pleasure.
Dahl then told his listeners how he inadvertently stumbled on the profession which has seen him become a household name.
Born in Wales in 1916 of Norwegian parents, Dahl had a meagre English boarding school education, before heading to East Africa with Shell Oil.
He joined the RAF as a fighter pilot at the outbreak of World War II, serving in North Africa and Greece, but had his wings clipped after a near-fatal plane crash in 1942.
Upon being transferred to Washington DC as an assistant air attache, he met author C.S. Forster, who became interested in the story of the young Englishman's crash.
Dahl supplied Forster with some notes on the incident and, so impressed with their quality was Forster, he submitted them to an agent who promptly arranged their printing, word for word, in the Saturday Evening Post.
From those humble beginnings, a successful writing career was born.
His tale told, Dahl again thirsted for in-formation from his listeners.
Sandra Cheyne from Albion Downs Sheep Station, northwest of Leinster, described her life on a station, while Darah Layfield, a Year 4 DEC student from Nannup, explained how her father was involved in natural farming methods.
The formula behind Dahl's huge popularity among children was revealed when asked why his mind stayed so young.
"Half of my mind is adult, while the other half has remained in my childhood," he said.
"When men become middle-aged many of them become pompous. Pomposity is the enemy of everything, in my opinion."
Then, to the delight of the children, he recounted a series of deliciously vulgar rhymes about vicars and knickers, which prompted a chorus of giggles.
"You have to be coarse with them to make them laugh," he said as he hoisted his crooked frame aloft.
"You have to be, or they don't laugh. Words like 'knickers' and'whizzpop' crack them up."
It was evident from the joyous adult response within the room that it was not only the children who had found it amusing.
WA Education News, Volume 9, May 25 1989, page 3.
