It is a book born on the Far South Coast, inspired by the beauty of the ocean.
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Two Melbourne authors with a long connection to Tathra, Graeme Garrett and Jan Morgan, have released their book On The Edge, which draws on science and their own experiences into a musing on the wonder of the ocean.
“It is meant to celebrate and underline the beauty and fragility of the world we have,” Mr Garrett said.
“Let’s be careful with it.”
The couple has spent the end of summer together at Tathra for the last six years, although Ms Morgan has been going there for about 20 years.
They have also been in the town on some of its harder days, such as when the bushfire destroyed about 70 houses earlier this year.
“We were there on the day of the fire and ran with everybody else into Bega and watched the flames come in,” Mr Garrett said.
“But the area pulled together and I found that really remarkable.”
Tathra is the location where they were inspired to write On The Edge, which will also be launched in the town.
It uses their personal experiences of the town and scientific facts about the ocean set against a backbone of diary entries written over the years they have spent in Tathra.
They mainly wrote it by talking to each other, drawing out insights from each other they would not have thought of on their own.
“It’s very exciting, having this done,” Mr Garrett said.
“We’ve been writing it for four years, on and off.”
The title has a double meaning. Mr Garrett said on one hand it references the space between the land and the sea, while it also is about how there is scientific evidence the oceans of the world are changing and not always for the wellbeing of humans, such as due to global pollution.
“So we are on the edge of a change that might be not so good for everything,” he said.
There is a message he hopes people will take from the book.
“Love and appreciate the beauty of this world, that’s the message,” he said.
“People who come into Tathra and people who live there all speak about the beauty of the place.
“In a sense it’s also a celebration of Aussies’ love of the beach.”
On The Edge: A – Way With The Ocean will be launched on Sunday, July 22 from 3pm at Tathra Beach Tapas, 8 Andy Poole Drive, Tathra which is next to the surf club.
It will be attended by Mr Garrett and Ms Morgan and the book will be launched by Margaret Taylor.
Music will be provided by Bega Valley musician Peter Howe and there will be drinks and food available.