Crew, Gary

On a scorching hot summer day in Preston, Australia, Spike and Bubba go for a swim in the old water tower which casts a long dark shadow across everything in the area.

When she meets the famous Australian astronomer John Tebbutt, Alicia realizes that she is no longer doomed to a life of needlework and milking cows but that her future is as limitless as the stars.

Tristan, who had been curious since the time of his birth, finds a strange viewing machine at the dump and becomes transfixed by what he sees.

Three generations remember the significance of a memorial tree that is in danger of being destroyed by the local government. Through the stories, a young boy learns about the effect of war on his family and community members and works to preserve the living memorial.

When an archeology student, hoping to learn about his Aboriginal heritage, comes to work near their isolated village, sixteen-year-old friends Sarah and Rachel discover why the man known as the Father has had such control over their lives.

Overweight and shy, Janet keeps to herself at school until Lola arrives and decides they will be friends, but Janet is afraid Lola is just teasing her, as others do, when she reaches the spot where they are to meet for a sleepover and weird things start to happen.

Miss Edith Rosenbaum, given a pig-shaped music box as a good-luck charm for her journey to New York aboard the "Titanic, " uses the toy's cheerful tune to keep up the spirits of children forced to spend the night in a lifeboat after the ship hits an iceberg and sinks.

A young boy, who would rather spend time with his model airplanes, reluctantly accompanies his father on a fishing trip that starts before the first light of day.

Two children sit on a pier and talk of the sea monster known as the Kraken.