My Scrapbook is released in Australia on the 31st July 2009…(Hey that’s my birthday…)
Anthony “Ace” Bourke and John Rendall are both thrilled to announce the release of their Christian the Lion… My Scrapbook in Australia.
My Scrapbook
It is ideal for children, as the glossy 26 page scrapbook features many never before seen photographs as well as their favourite images of Christian, which accompanies the retelling of their amazing story in Christian’s words.
Christian the Lion: My Scrapbook will be available to purchase from good book stores across Australia as of the 1st August 2009…
A Lion Called Christian to be published on over fifteen new territories 24-Jul-2009
A Lion Called Christian
Ace Bourke and John Rendall’s book A Lion Called Christian is on track to become a global success with the book confirmed to be published in over fifteen territories worldwide.
The publications will roll out over the next twelve months commencing on 30 July 2009 in Brazil followed by Italy, Norway, Spain and the mainland Chinese edition to be published by Christmas 2009.
The book has already been a success in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the United Kingdom and, continues to appear on the Best Seller’s lists in these territories around the world.
Congratulations to Anthony “Ace” Bourke, whom on the 23rd of July 2009 graduated with a Masters of Arts from the University of Wollongong this last week. Ace Bourke is also the co author of A Lion Called Christian with fellow Australian John Rendall.
His MA(R), titled Family Footprints: Tracing the Past in the Present through Curatorial Autobiographical Practice. Ace examined a new form of “autobiographical” curatorship, that evolved from three major museum exhibitions. He has worked through every staged over the last few years which has synthesised, to various degrees. Australian foundational narratives, an Aboriginal perspective, and Ace’s own family colonial history, which includes Governors Bourke and King.
Ace Bourke and John Rendall share with us the photographs from their publicity tour for A Lion Called Christian.
The tour saw them appear on programs including Oprah, The View, and Entertainment Tonight in the US, This Morning with Richard and Judy and take part in numerous interviews for BBC Radio in the UK, Today Tonight and Sunrise in Australia and CCTV’s “Us” in China.
Ace Bourke and John Rendall’s appearance on Oprah is to air in the UK on the 10th June 2009.
Ace Bourke and John Rendall’s interview with Oprah, which has been viewed by millions of people across America and Australia, will be seen in the UK on Friday the 17th July and Sunday the 19th July on Diva TV.
In their interview, which was a rare and wonderful opportunity, Ace and John talk with Oprah and the Friday Live Panel about their experiences with Christian the Lion and his release into Africa.
The interview is where Ace and John first shared the footage of their final farewell with Christian in 1972.
Ace Bourke and John Rendall are currently overseas promoting a Lion Called Christian to audiences in China and India.
Looking back over the last three months I can say without a doubt, Embracing A Lion Called Christian has been an experience I will never forget. I feel it needs to be shared with the world.
Christian The Lion
When I began this journey on the quest to meet Ace Bourke and John Rendall, I did not know embracing Christian the Lion would have such an impact on my day to day life.
Ace Bourke described what took place over forty years ago in Kenya, a “Euphoric Moment” . For me the euphoric moment was when I saw for the first time in April this year the famous “Reunion” clip from You Tube. It was the most beautiful event I had ever seen. I am not comparing it to the birth of my two sons. However, I am comparing it to a once in a life time moment that can never truly be repeated in our own existence.
Harrod's Lion
Watching it on You Tube made me aware of this amazing footage but nothing could prepare me in seeing it on my television. Watching the reunion of Christian in Kenya, and seeing that glorious moment, with the background music of Whitney Houston, ” I Will Always Love You”, brought me to tears. This pure unconditional love enveloped me and captivated me to see a powerful bond between man and beast.
Since then I have spoken to many people who have heard the story of Christian and I have spoken to many people who have not yet seen this rare footage. Mentioning Christian the Lion to people, I asked them what they thought when they saw the clip. Each answer was pretty much the same; ” It is magical, beautiful, unbelievable, amazing, wonderful, and my favourite, “God works in mysterious ways”. However, when I asked people “How did it make you feel?” The response would be; “it made me feel happy, it made me feel there is love in this world, regardless whether it is animal or human being. The consensus was, “it was an amazing event”.
I realised then what I must do. I wanted to meet Ace and John and say thank you for giving me a euphoric moment of my own. So I began this quest and started to create a series of different Internet sites which would be dedicated in my quest to meet them.
Ace and John
In the next post I will share with you the steps I have travelled so far in the quest to meet these two amazing Australian men.
A Lion Called Christian - The Dedication 