Andrew Stevenson

The Battle of Water Park Andrew Stevenson

The Battle of Water Park: Armed with nothing more that mud pies and water balloons, Art and his band of schoolmates stand side-by-side to save Water Park from the dreaded Boney Gang. Against overwhelming tactical brilliance, waves of bicycles, hoards of football players and angry junior schoolers, will Art be able to rally his boy's inner fortitude, or will this be his Waterloo?At around the time of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, Water Park provides a unique perspective on the famous events of 18 Jun 1815. Through the eyes of Art's boys we experience what it is like to withstand the assault of Derlon, the charge of Nay's bicycle mounted 'cavalry' and finally the power of the St Trinity forward pack representing the Napoleonic Guard. Mud pies, flour bombs and military tactics combine ingeniously to build the tension of war. Through this allegory we follow our narrator on a journey through fear, rage and emptiness to the brotherhood of war; the brotherhood between warriors. Within the desperate fighting by Art's gang we find the humour that abounds in children's lives and contrasts to the grimness or war. Though a story of boys, as with Lord of the Flies, Water Park is filled with deeper meanings, as trusted friends fall, boys come of age, the excluded gain acceptance and the emptiness of words are exposed against the purity of action.