'We need to send our survey party there!' (pointing to map) 'But Colonel, we cain't do it. that's the most insecure area in the whole country!' 'Insecure? Goddamn it! the greatest concentration of American troops in the country is there!' 'Yes Colonel, and have you considered why the greatest concentration of American troops is right there?' CAPtAIN BULLEN'S WAR combines the irreverent humour of M*A*S*H with the sharp satire of Catch 22 in portraying one man's extraordinary experiences of the war in Vietnam in 1968, the bloodiest year of the conflict. the difference is that neither Captain John Bullen nor his experiences are fictional. Nor was he a reluctant soldier. A graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and a career soldier in the Australian Army, Bullen commanded the vital map-producing section of the Australian task Force at Nui Dat. Alert to the possibility of humour in the bleakest circumstances, he decided to chronicle the events around him. What emerges is one of the most darkly funny and lacerating accounts of the Vietnam War ever written. Strewn with wonderful character sketches and hilarious anecdotes, CAPtAIN BULLEN'S WAR is more than just one man's insightful account of the absurdity of war. He perceives with unsparing clarity the nature and enormity of the conflict around him. A thoughtful, decent man, Bullen's is a voice of sanity in a world gone mad.
Celebrate the legends of Australian fantasy. Extraordinary voices ... extraordinary worlds. Come to Erith, to a faerie tale with a sting, or to Obernewtyn, long before the Seeker was born. Revisit a dark pocket of history for the Magician's Guild or get caught up in the confusion of an endlessly repeating day in the Citadel. Cross the wall, where Charter magic is all that lies between you and death. A trip with a graverobber can be gruesome, and it's hard to share the fear of a woman who must kill her husband if her child is to rule ... A mysterious tale plays out in Sevenwaters. Catch up with Ros and Adi as they prepare for the greatest change of all. Other twists in these fabulous tales bring us to demonic destiny and an alternate WWII. these eleven short novels will take you on amazing new journeys with favourite characters from the worlds you know and love ... 'this is a book to savour, treasure, re-read' SYDNEY MORNING HERALD on tHE LOCUS AWARDS, edited by Jonathan Strahan and Charles N. Brown 'at once quintessentially Australian and enticingly other. If you read short fiction you'll want this collection. If you don't, this is a reason to start' BOOKSELLER+PUBLISHER on DREAMING AGAIN, edited by Jack Dann
this is a chance to read the stories which have been fine tuned by generations of other Australian storytellers as they were passed from generation to generation.
the first instalment of a stunning trilogy about power, decay and the hard path to redemption. In a remote coastal outpost of the Asan Empire, Hwenfayre is an outsider, taking pleasure only in her beautiful driftwood harp. the harp has extraordinary powers, and when Hwenfayre tries to use it she finds herself in mortal danger. In the decadent Asan capital, Shanek, the third most important man in the Empire, becomes disturbed by a growing ability to sense the thoughts and feelings of others, while in a quiet village, a young man unleashes forces within himself that compel him to journey into the wider world. But these strange powers will not be allowed to emerge unchecked, especially when Shanek becomes aware that the Empire's ancient enemy is on the rise once more ...
Super cool author and Surfing Scientist Ruben Meerman from ABC tV's RollerCoaster is back with 40 Super Human Body tricks that will reveal your inner superhero. All you need is your body, some household items and an appetite for fun science experiments.
A compelling debut from a Varuna Award-winner, saturated in the landscape of rural Australia they were a river of dogs. Loose skeins of cloud drifted high above, floating to the east, foretelling of cold nights. the paddocks rolled smoothly beneath his feet ... they rested against the windbreaks of fallen trees. they slept in the lee of a half-built haystack; left the next day at dawn before its builder returned. While he was daunted by the demands of his responsibilities, Edgar loved this companionable, aimless end. He wished it might never finish. tony tindale is a young lawyer sent on a mission to rescue an uncle he barely knows from prison. What he discovers is Edgar: a man innocent in the ways of the world, brought up on a desperate farm in the west of New South Wales and orphaned too soon, whose only solace is the dogs who find him. A natural target for suspicion in the small, isolated community, inevitably one day Edgar is found in the wrong place at the wrong time ... Where can he be truly free?
the problem with being a sleepwalking dog is you don't have a clue where you are when you wake up! When Skoz wakes up feeling all cosy and warm, he's relieved to be safe in his kennel for once. But, hang on, is that the roar of a crowd Skoz hears? Soon Skoz is the star of the show - like it or not. Will he survive the Patadogian jumping snakes? And can he avoid the mouth of the biggest cat he's ever seen? Want to know more about everyone's favourite sleepwalking dog? Head to harpercollins.com.au and andrewdaddo.com, where you can write a review, download an activity pack and more! Skoz's hilarious adventures continue in All at Sea and Up in the Air, and watch out for more wacky sleepwalking tales coming soon. Oh boy oh boy oh bowowow! Age 7+ PRAISE FOR SKOZ tHE DOG 'Daddo has expertly achieved the voice of a dog and woven first person and third person narration to a very humorous effect ... Skoz is sure to become many 8-12 year olds new "best friend"' MAGPIES 'A fun, fast-paced read' DMAG 'this energetic story flies by' SUN-HERALD 'We need more whimsical, harmless, chapter books for children who are beginning to read independently, and the adventures of Andrew Daddo's Skoz seem made to order' WEEKEND AUStRALIAN 'a non-stop adventure that simply can't be put down. Packed with action, excitement, twists and turns, readers will pick this up and - parents be warned - stay up half the night reading to the end' KIDS' BOOK REVIEW 'Perfect for emergent readers, this is bound to be popular with junior primary aged readers' AUSSIE REVIEWS
'I lived many lives beneath that piano ... I heard ten thousand stories in that space. there I was privileged to observe, to gather - and not only gather, to concentrate within myself - so much that is usually denied a child of my age. As a result, I have, you might say, grown.' So says Augustus trump - a dwarf destined to be a circus freak. Cursed by nature as he is, Augustus is nevertheless blessed with a determination to survive, and more than survive, to grow. this growth, both in stature and in spirit, is brought about by a second blessing - his divine voice: an instrument so sublime that even the stars pay heed. Because no-one knows better the agonies, the violence and the love that inform the poetic than Augustus trump: dwarf, protege, man. tHE ARCHItECtURE OF SONG is a truly magical, unique novel of beauty, imagination and song, with a cast of dark, surprising characters who will enchant and delight you, just as the songs of Augustus trump enchant and transform them.
Where would our country be without its proud traditions? Beer, ballads, blokes - and the ability to laugh at yourself. Folklorist Warren Fahey's fabulous collection of Aussie jokes is guaranteed to entertain and offend absolutely everyone! GENERAL RULES OF AUSSIE EtIQUEttE 1. Never take a beer to a job interview. 2. Always identify people in your yard before shooting them. 3. It's tacky to take an Esky to church. 4. If you have to vacuum the bed, it's time to change the sheets. 5. Even if you're certain you're included in the will, it's rude to take the trailer to the funeral home. Warren Fahey, larrikin, balladeer, author and professional joke collector, has done all the hard work for you by bunging together all his favourite gags: the ones about marriage and men, about work and cars, about politics, foreigners (especially that lot across the tasman) and religion. So all you have to do is laugh. Which you will, or risk being branded a dickhead. the Big Fat Book of Aussie Jokes is the biggest, fattest, funniest joke book in the land..
This award-winning biography is a long overdue reassessment of the iconic Australian war correspondent 'The book I have enjoyed most in recent times has been Ross Coulthart's on the great war correspondent Charles Bean' - Peter FitzSimons, Sun Herald 'Fascinating biography ... strongly recommend it'Hon. Malcolm Turnbull via Twitter Charles Bean's wartime reports and photographs mythologised the Australian soldier and helped spawn the notion that the Anzacs achieved something nation-defining on the shores of Gallipoli and the battlefields of western Europe. In his quest to get the truth, Bean often faced death beside the Diggers in the trenches of Gallipoli and the Western Front - and saw more combat than many. But did Bean tell Australia the whole story of what he knew? In this timely new biography, Ross Coulthart investigates the untold story behind Bean's jouralistic dilemma - his struggle to tell Australia the truth but also the pressure he felt to support the war and boost morale at home by suppressing what he'd seen. '[Bean] had an obsession with recording the truth and Coulthart has lived up to his legacy in this superb biography' - Tim Hilferty, Adelaide Advertiser>
For as long as I can remember, I've focused on two things-cheerleading for the college football team and my future as a fashion designer. Failing has never been an option, until all of a sudden it's happening. Now I need a tutor to help me pass or I risk missing out on the internship of a lifetime. But the tutor I get is not at all what I imagined. Joel Haynes is attractive, cocky, intelligent beyond words...and the most infuriating guy I've ever met. He's everything I should be avoiding. And yet, my traitorous heart falls in love with him...hard. But I have to leave for Paris. My internship awaits. And even though it's going to shatter both our hearts, it's always been the plan. Falling for Joel was not. I've had my life mapped out since I was young, and everything has been falling into place, but nothing could have prepared me for what happens next. And I don't know if we can survive it. Still Here Without You is a dual POV emotional new adult, second chance, college sports romance filled with humor, heart and spice. This interconnected standalone is book two in the heartstrings series and contains adult language with some storylines that may be triggering. All triggers are available on my website http: //katherinejayauthor.com
Sarindi and the Lucky Bird introduced a little boy and his family, and their life together in Indonesia. Sarindi is certain he will never be unlucky again when he wins the lucky marble from Jaya. But luck is more mischievous than a monkey. When Sarindi's mother becomes sick, Sarindi thinks that all the bad luck in the world has come to visit. He thinks there must be something he can do to help her get better. this time, the song of the Lucky Bird won't work, so he visits all the sacred places he knows. At each, Sarindi prays for the good health of his mother, because who knows which prayer will succeed? Ages: 7 - 10
the Royal Flying Doctor Service is a unique icon of Australian culture. Since its beginnings with the Reverend John Flynn in 1928, the RFDS has helped build a nation. Its many pilots, doctors, nurses and support staff still risk their lives daily to save others. they, and the remote stations and communities that they serve, have become enduring symbols of what it means to be Australian. In MORE GREAt AUStRALIAN FLYING DOCtOR StORIES Bill 'Swampy' Marsh has gathered together another fascinating swag of first-hand stories from all walks of life, capturing the larrikin voices retelling the wonderful, frightening, hilarious, tragic and poignant true stories before the tales and the tellers vanish into the mists of time. this remarkable anecdotal record is a chronicle that reminds us of our past and keeps us in touch with the independent and inspired pioneers of our inland.
I love this book Peter FitzSimons Without doubt, we Aussies love our sport. We've got passionate opinions about the contest, the players, the refs and umpires - and about the commentators. Love 'em or loathe 'em, their calling of a game or race can lift something ordinary into the extraordinary, while their quick-thinking asides are often as timeless as the event itself. In Back to the Studio, Peter Meares talks to more than 40 of Australia's leading commentators to find out just what it's like on their side of the mike. It's all here: snappy quips, classic one-liners, first calls, funniest memories, best moments - and most embarrassing gaffes. Sure to delight every sports fan who's ever thought they'd like a crack at the job and wondered what it takes to make it to the top.
An ancient Maasai legend tells of a child born holding a stone in its palm. the story is a warning, and now a baby is born holding a stone in not one but each of its tiny fists ... In 1904, the British government promised the Maasai control of their traditional lands - for so long as they shall exist as a people. Seven years later, that promise is broken, and the Maasai must choose between war with a powerful enemy and a perilous trek to the land allocated them by the government. Ole Sadera has risen from village scapegoat to leadership of his people. Now he struggles with rapid change - and his desire for another man's wife. George Coll arrives in East Africa to face impossible choices of his own. How can he stay silent in the face of betrayal? And how can he ask the woman he loves to share an uncertain future? the Maasai gather to make their historic decision ... and an Empire holds its breath.
the spiritual quest is timeless and ongoing. For David tacey, the quest incorporates key issues such as the redefining of our human identity, a new consciousness about Aboriginal reconciliation, a recognition of youth culture and its spiritual directions, our quest for environmental integrity, and our responsibility to community and to each other. Ultimately, the quest is for a re-enchantment that enables us to overcome our alienation, allowing us, at the beginning of this new century, to build a more harmonious and integrated Australian society. Here, with great exuberance, is David tacey's visionary scholarship and devotion to purpose - clearing away the cobwebs and slander and overburden which have stifled and diminished the culture of spirituality in Australia. p>David's work is not just about spirituality; it is, in its function and its lilt, profoundly spiritual - vibrantly so - in that it cultivates and heartens and defends the deepest, most true and lovely possibilities for this country. - Michael Leunig
Funny, familiar and deeply moving, these true stories of Australian working horses stretch over three generations and every part of our continent. Teams of powerful, labouring Clydesdales, patient and spirited saddle horses, brave police mounts and talented Olympic competitors canter through its pages, their stories told first-hand by the owners who cared for and worked alongside them. Follow country tracks in a hawker's wagon, visit floodlit arenas with thumping music where horses perform with quiet trust, and trudge mountains where brumbies run. Trick riders, talented trainers and outback stockmen share their secrets. Updated with many contemporary tales, this new edition is an unmissable treat for horse-lovers.
'How one person can endure so much and then rise and be the incredible woman that she is today is a testament to how change comes from within. Lani reminds us how the spirit can fight, no matter how broken and bruised, to make a difference in this world.' Deborah Mailman A confronting and compelling account of a young woman's journey from victim to survivor. Raised in an urban Aboriginal community in Sydney, Lani had a childhood filled with love but alcoholism in her family left its scars. By thirteen, she was in a cycle of drug and alcohol abuse herself. then a relationship with a young man from her community trapped her in a situation that she almost didn't survive. Subjected to extreme physical and sexual violence at the hands of her partner, Lani finally knew she had only one choice: to leave him, or die. She escaped and got sober. But the past wouldn't leave her alone and she knew that to heal herself she had to speak out. Braving the police, the courts and her community, she stood up, determined to bring her abuser to justice.
Once upon a time, there were three mums - Mum A, Mum B and Mum C. Bored with their suburban existence, they decided to add some spice to their lives. For three months, they would dare each other to do things. Mum B would find herself wearing firecracker red lipstick for a whole week (yes, even to swimming lessons); Mum C would tell her atheist husband she'd found religion; and Mum A would have a secret tryst with Santa in a shopping centre. they also dared each other to tell the truth ... the truth about motherhood. the truth about their lives. the truth about who they'd become, compared to who they wanted to be. By turns jaw-achingly funny, touching, sad and sensible, Anonymums proves that sometimes a dash of spice, two good friends and ripping all the hair from your body (dare number three) is all you need to get you back on track.
In his affectionate and gently humorous verses John O'Brien sang of farming life and of the life of Irish settlers in Australia - at home, on the land, and at the Church upon the Hill that is the centre of their lives. this volume combines O'Brien's two books of verse, Around the Boree Log and the Parish of St Mel's. It is verse that is simple and sincere and lit with a kindly understanding of the lives it chronicles. 'He is the Poet Laureate of the Irish settlers in Australia' the Advertiser, Adelaide For when the Holy Morning strung Its beads upon the grass, You'd see us driving - old and young - the tall white graceful trees among, On every road to Mass.
Within twenty years, dementia is set to overtake heart disease as the number one cause of death in Australia. Recent studies show that almost half our adult population already have a family member or friend with the illness. those statistics seem rather grim, but there is GOOD NEWS! We don't need to accept dementia as an inevitable part of ageing. the main forms of dementia affecting people today are not inherited, and there are practical steps you can take right now that will not only help prevent dementia but also improve the overall health of your mind and body. In MAINtAIN YOUR BRAIN, leading Australian expert Dr Michael Valenzuela addresses all the common (and not-so-common) questions people have about dementia, and explains complex cutting-edge medical discoveries in a way that is clear and easy to understand. His practical advice is based on years of first-hand research and experience, and covers everything from blood pressure, diet and cholesterol to mental activity and physical exercise. Featuring plenty of simple tips, summaries and even recipes, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to enjoy a healthy, active and happy life well into old age.
More people than ever in Australia are living with heart disease, and the number is on the rise. But there is good news - heart disease can be managed, prevented and even reversed. Healthy Heart for Life shows you how. Designed by health and fitness expert Andrew Cate, this unique six-week program contains achievable exercise tips, meal suggestions and proven advice to help you boost your health and lower your blood pressure and cholesterol without medication. - Complete the healthy heart check-up to identify the lifestyle factors affecting your heart health - Discover what foods can help fight heart disease - Outsmart the genes that predispose people to high blood pressure and cholesterol - Learn strategies to help you live longer, lose weight and feel great Andrew Cate lost his grandfather to heart disease, and has since dedicated his working life to helping others maximise their health and fitness. With qualifications in health science and fifteen years as a personal trainer, Andrew has helped thousands of people get their health back on track with advice that achieves real results.
Providing inspiration for today's women, in this book of profiles, Susanna de Vries examines what it takes to be a truly heroic Australian. Women of grit and courage, women of integrity, resilience and resourcefulness: the 21 individuals whose stories make up tHE COMPLEtE BOOK OF HEROIC AUStRALIAN WOMEN were a rare breed. they faced different tests - harshness as pioneers in outback Australia; the turmoil of war - but when encountering adversity, even death, each proved her mettle. From Olive King, who saved countless lives in the war-ravaged Balkans, to Vivian Bullwinkel, who survived the Bangka Island Massacre only to endure three tragedy-filled years in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp, to Jeannie Gunn, who turned her experiences of hostile outback conditions into a classic book, We of the Never-Never, these are women who displayed extraordinary determination in often terrible circumstances. the 21 women are: Georgiana Molloy, Frances ('Fanny') Bussell, Elizabeth ('Bessie') Bussell, Charlotte Cookworthy Bussell, Emma Mary Withnell, Atlanta Hope Bradshaw, Jeannie Gunn OBE, Evelyn Maunsell, Catherine Langloh Parker, Myrtle Rose White, Olive May Kelso King, Dr Agnes Elizabeth Lloyd Bennett, Dr Lilian Violet Cooper, Sister Alice Elizabeth Kitchen, Joice NanKivell Loch, Sister Sylvia Muir, Sister Vivian Bullwinkel, Sister Joyce tweddell, Sister Betty Jeffrey, Mavis Parkinson, and Sister Frances May Hayman.
In a unique and balanced portrayal, renowned journalist Paul Ham recounts both the Australian and Japanese perspectives of the events on the hellish Papuan jungle trail where thousands fought and died during World War II. Based on extensive research in Australia and Japan, and including previously unpublished documents, Kokoda intimately relates the stories of ordinary soldiers in 'the world's worst killing field', and examines the role of commanders in sending ill-equipped, unqualified Australian troops into battles that resulted in near 100 per cent casualty rates. It was a war without mercy, fought back and forth along 90 miles (145 km) of river crossings, steep inclines and precipitous descents, with both sides wracked by hunger and disease, and terrified of falling into enemy hands. Defeat was unthinkable: the Australian soldier was fighting for his homeland against an unyielding aggressor; the Japanese ordered to fight to the death in a bid to conquer 'Greater East Asia'. Paul Ham captures the spirits of those soldiers and commanders who clashed in this war of exceptional savagery, and tells of the brave souls on both sides of the campaign whose courage and sacrifices must never be forgotten.
Based on a true story, this beautifully crafted novel gives a startling insight into how the seeds of terrorism are sown. Gool Mahommed worships Allah and Lifebuoy soap. In 1914, the young Afghan returns to Broken Hill, five years after he was sent back to his homeland by his mentor, Abdullah. A camel driver and mullah, Abdullah has learned through bitter experience that the edge of the Australian outback is not the place to be a foreigner. But Mahommed won't be discouraged - he has dreams of embracing all the habits of the quintessential English gentleman and, one day, owning a prosperous submarine shipping line. Alice Mercer, born and bred in Broken Hill, yearns for a new life somewhere more exotic. When she and Mahommed first cross paths, they are immediately drawn to one another. But the prejudice of others soon causes tensions between them, not to mention the outbreak of World War I. When a series of cruel acts against Mahommed and Abdullah drives them to despair, what follows is unthinkable ...
In the fifty years it's been on air, Four Corners has broken more stories, triggered more headlines, generated more controversy and aired more high quality investigative journalism than any other program in Australia. In today's world of 24-hour news cycles it is an anachronism, "a television miracle" as Kerry O'Brien puts it in his introduction to this book. But when it first went to air, no-one expected it to last. Now to mark its 50th anniversary, many of the program's most renowned journalists and producers look back on their biggest stories - from war, famines, and terrorism to indigenous rights, reproductive rights, and corruption in all corners of the globe. they take readers through the dramas and intrigue involved in bringing stories which anger people in high places to air. they tell what happened away from the cameras as well as on, share moments of humour and pathos and reflect on the vital role played by the ABC's flagship news program.
A collection of three of Bob Barrett's Les Norton stories. LEAVING BONDI - Les figured by tossing $50,000 into the Gull's movie he'd become the next Sam Goldwyn. Only someone put a bomb on the film set. And who gets the blame? Now Norton's a fugitive from the law, and desperate to prove his innocence. Satanists, drug dealers, nutty poets, blabbermouth disc jockeys - everybody between Sydney, the Blue Mountains and South Australia wants a piece of Les Norton. So what are Norton's chances of clearing his name and coming up smelling of roses? VFO. But rely on Les to come up smelling of something. MYStERY BAY BLUES - Les travels to a quiet little seaside town on the south coast of New South Wales and uncovers what seems to be some very unsavoury goings-on. Can Les solve the mystery of Mystery Bay? Or will trouble, once again, find him first? ROSA MARIE'S BABY - Hold onto your hats for a rip-roaring read full of all the action, sex and humour that is the Robert G. Barrett trademark.
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