of the ‘Lost Paradise’

A real smell of the ‘Lost Paradise’

Life in the Torres Straits, on these small islands scattered between the northern tip of Australia and Papua New Guinea, has lost any romance it may have had, now that the pre-war boom times have long gone and the economy is depressed.

Today, the area is sometimes cynically called “Dire Straits” as represented by this

glum-looking Australian Aborigine

photographed on Thursday Island. Some of the islands to the far north of Thursday are currently subject to a dispute between Papua New Guinea and Australia, and thus publication of a book by Roderick Hulsbergen, “Torres Straits; The Lost Paradise”, from which the above photograph is taken, is most timely.

There is a dearth of up-to-date material on the Straits, and although this book is designed mainly for a pictorial impact,

there is also responsible and informative text of about 9000 words. The 52 full colour photographs were chosen by the author/photographer from about 15,000 slides he took in all the islands of the Straits, including the disputed ones, over a period of years, his last visit being made in 1975. Their selection and reproduction are first-class, and the large format of the book (15 ins x II ins) makes for a spec tacular display. One cannot go through it without getting a real smell of the islands.

Although they may be depressed

economically, there is still beauty there.

Roderick Hulsbergen is a designer who lives in Sydney and has published the book through his own company, Eyes & Hands Publishing Co, PO Box 241, Cammeray, NSW, 2062, at a recommended retail price

of only $5.95, which is good value.

S.I.