UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO BOOK SHOP To Whom it May Concern

I write in support of Maree Wilks’ application for assistance for the book project Return to Monte Cassino.

I am presently studying Accounting at SIT and working part time for a local educational publisher. Prior to this I worked for leading independent publisher, Craig Potton Publishing, for eight years including roles as Associate Publisher, Sales & Marketing Manager (including management of distributed titles),and Editorial/Production Assistant. I have a BA (Honours) in English Literature from Otago University. Through this experience I have been involved in many publications, particularly photographic books, and in the selling and distribution of self-published titles.

From what I have seen of Return to Monte Cassino project to date, it is at the highest level of all self-published titles I have been a part of. The design is extremely good, fitting to the historic nature of the archive photographs and the nature of the Veterans’ return through Italy and the pre-Anzac day intended launch date highly appropriate. History, particularly retrospectives books and exhibitions of our war effort, is an important genre in New Zealand. It assists with the understanding of New Zealand’s development of our own identity and our place in the world, along with giving a contextualisation to present-day geopolitics. As each generation passes, written, oral and photographic accounts become increasingly valuable as the primary source of knowledge about wartime experience.

Maree’s capturing of the Veterans’ return is done with empathy, where the emotions of the men are captured, but where their dignity is maintained. A unique aspect is documenting of the Battalion members joining in the remembrance ceremony of the Germans. The use of archival photographs enlarges the reader’s understanding of the experience, and the devastation from which present-day Monte Cassino has rebuilt itself.

Publishing in New Zealand is incredibly difficult. Printing is expensive, wholesale discounts are large, the trade is dominated by a large chain-store focused on mass-market titles, and print runs are consequently small (and expensive) – one of the economic downsides of living in a remote part of the world, with a relatively small population base. Because of this, I am not generally in favour of self-published titles, believing that often-times they are more about the ego of the writer/publisher than fulfilling a role in positively contributing to the factual or fictional understanding of our society, or meeting some demand for a particular topic no picked up by a publisher. Return to Monte Cassino however, is not in that ‘vanity’ category. Maree Wilks’ tenacity in compiling a beautiful publication is to be commended; her photographic journey to Monte Cassino should be documented in a manner available to the wider public through such a publication; and the veterans’ original and subsequent experiences in Monte Cassino should be celebrated. Not because of any inherent view of ‘victory’ at the time or subsequently, but because of what these experiences teach us about humility and the human tragedy of war.

I have much pleasure in being asked to write this letter of support, and anticipation at the generosity of your organisation to enablethis publication to make it through the final stages of production, and into the hands of the veterans who made the trip, and New Zealanders who are interested in learning more about who we are as a nation, through where we have come from.

I am happy to answer any questions regarding my response to the project, view of the suitability of it within the wider market place or other issues deemed relevant.

Yours sincerely

Phillippa Duffy