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My interest in kites goes back to
the 1950's. As a schoolboy, I learnt to fly Indian fighter kites
during the course of one wonderful summer school holidays. A police
officer, stationed in Devonport, had lived in India, was importing
kites, and taught the local kids how to fly them. For a brief
time Indian kites became the rage around my home and the sky above
Forbes Street was the battlefield.

(click on images
to enlarge)
Like most childhood fads,
kites made way for other interests, and it was almost 20 years later
that I began again to cultivate my interest in kites. I'm please
to say that interest has stayed with me and developed into enthusiasm.

I have made all types of kites and in the first rush of enthusiasm one
experiences when taking up a new hobby; I would see a kite in a book
and have to make it. The more unusual the kite was, the more I
felt the need to make and try it out. Needless to say, many of
these kites were less than satisfying and I would discard them and
discover another kite to make.

Now I like to make paper and bamboo kites. I no longer feel the
need to make large kites, as bigger is not better and some of my kites
are very small. I get as much satisfaction making a small kite as
I do a large one.

Here are a few of the paper and bamboo kites I have made. As you can
see, many are heavily influenced by Asian kites, particularly those
beautiful creations that come from Japan.
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