The book contains unique Australian fables aimed at educating 11 and 12-year-olds accompanied by bright and imaginative sketches.

Jensz, who has long held a desire to release a book of fables, said he looked forward to its launch. “I’ll be glad when it’s all happened and I can see it out in the public domain,” he said.

“They [fables] are written in the style of Aesop and are a follow up of his work… I was the gentle age of seven when I first got into fables. From reading them, I realised they were the way to go,” Mr Jensz said.

The picture book contains 30 stories, each of which holds a valuable life lesson. From ‘The Koala Who Didn’t Like Gum-Leaf Sandwiches’ to ‘The Dung Beatle with Smelly Feet’, Australian Fables will teach morals as it takes the reader through the red sands of the desert to the gum tree by the billabong.

Nes, who specialises in oil and watercolour paintings, enjoyed the challenge the project had to offer.

“I came into it quite by accident,” she said. “Ron talked about these stories and had generally made it known he would like them to be illustrated. One day I said ‘I’ll do it’.

“From there on in, it’s been about a two year process… I’m fairly excited about the release. It’s been stressful getting there, but I’m sure it will all be worthwhile.”

Anneka was hopeful many of the book’s sketches would be placed on exhibition at Gundaroo in the coming weeks.

Australian Fables will be officially launched at the National Australia Library Bookshop from 2-4pm tomorrow.