Tugboat heroics inspire mum's book

Captain Doug Hislop and his tugboat Mavis saved the Brisbane Gateway Bridge from destruction during Queensland's floods last year when they manoeuvred a fast-moving 300-tonne slab of concrete away from its pylons.

A Channel 7 news helicopter captured the event and Perth mother-of-two Tania Whitfield was so touched by the story that she decided to create a children's book to honour them.

The book, written by Ms Whitfield's father Ray Thompson and illustrated by Jane Hudson, also honours the boat's engineer, Peter Fenton, who died last month.

Ms Whitfield said Mavis reminded her of the story about the little tugboat that could, Little Toot. The Adventures of Mavis the Tugboat and the Brisbane Floods was launched this week on the anniversary of the floods. It is being donated to kindergartens, primary schools and children's hospitals around Australia.

Mavis was launched in Fremantle in 1965 and is the oldest working tugboat at Bowen Tug and Barge in Brisbane.

"She handles as good as anything you build today," Capt. Hislop said.

The book costs $14.95 and $5 from each sale will be donated to the Queensland Premier's Flood Disaster Relief Fund.