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Laughter is the Best Medicine
by Jean-Paul BellYou see, I'm not really a doctor. Not a medical doctor, that is. I'm something a bit more unusual. I reckon I have the best job in the whole world - I'm a clown doctor.' Jean-Paul Bell Imagine being a child in hospital, away from the home and feeling sad, frightened, lonely or in pain. This is where the Clown Doctors step in to help with their own quirky style of 'medicine'. Join this very special troupe as they do their rounds in children's hospitals all over Australia, bringing laughter and joy to more than 100,000 patients and their families each year. Meet Dr B Loony and Dr Twang, Dr Know-It-All and others when they conduct their clown rounds through children's and emergency wards, intensive care, burns and oncology units, dispensing jokes and songs with skill and compassion. And always with the aim of helping families, hospital staff, and especially the children to forget their illnesses and fears for a while and return to a world that is about fun and play. Welcome to a day in the lives of the Clown Doctors, filled with special moments, courage, tears, smiles and laughter.
Precious Bodily Fluids: 1961. A boy. A pub. And the great fluoride debate
by Charles Waterstreet`a funny, evocative memoir that perfectly captures a significant slice of Australian life.? Peter FitzSimonsIt is the end of 1961 and the New South Wales country town of Albury lies flat on its back in the sun, swatting flies, with its feet sticking out over the mighty Murray River into Victoria. Everything is on the cusp of something else.A battle royal rages as Alburnians present a united front against the dreaded prospect of fluoridation of the town?s water supply. This monstrous plot must be stopped in its tracks; the people of Albury insist on their sacred right to let their teeth, and those of their children, rot.Through this furore, local larrikin Charles Waterstreet, aged eleven, and his mate Taillight roam the parks and highways of their home town and discover the real hidden horror of childhood: everything is what it seems. `This is a story for every person who has ever been on the threshold of change ? A story of larrikins, rival pubs, words of wisdom and wistfulness from the inhabitants of a small town by the border.? William McInnes'brilliantly and hilariously captures the humour, tragedy and poignancy of what it was like to be a young boy growing up in rural Australia? Woman's Day
Mailman of the Birdsville Track: The story of Tom Kruse
by Kristin WeidenbachThe truly classic Australian story of Tom Kruse - legendary mailman of the Birdsville Track.For the people who lived in the desert between Marree and Birdsville, contact with the outside world was hard and sporadic - but one man was their lifeline: Tom Kruse. For more than twenty years he was the connection with the outside world for the families, station workers and others who lived along the Birdsville Track.Tom delivered everything from the mail and newspapers to fuel and food - whole communities waited in anticipation for him to drop off their supplies. But it was a hard life, from regularly making running repairs to his truck to unloading and reloading tons of stores so that he could ferry his cargo across flooded creeks. Come sandhills, hell or high water, Tom Kruse kept faith with the locals up and down the Track.Tom was a real Australian hero - and no matter what happened, the mail always got through.'Told with honesty and vigour' - Sydney Morning Herald'A tribute to a man who earned the love of a whole generation of Australians and shows us that the pioneer characteristics of guts and good-natured stoicism are still beautiful' - The Age'Full of characters' - Daily Telegraph
Mailman of the Birdsville Track: The story of Tom Kruse
by Kristin WeidenbachThe truly classic Australian story of Tom Kruse - legendary mailman of the Birdsville Track.For the people who lived in the desert between Marree and Birdsville, contact with the outside world was hard and sporadic - but one man was their lifeline: Tom Kruse. For more than twenty years he was the connection with the outside world for the families, station workers and others who lived along the Birdsville Track.Tom delivered everything from the mail and newspapers to fuel and food - whole communities waited in anticipation for him to drop off their supplies. But it was a hard life, from regularly making running repairs to his truck to unloading and reloading tons of stores so that he could ferry his cargo across flooded creeks. Come sandhills, hell or high water, Tom Kruse kept faith with the locals up and down the Track.Tom was a real Australian hero - and no matter what happened, the mail always got through.'Told with honesty and vigour' - Sydney Morning Herald'A tribute to a man who earned the love of a whole generation of Australians and shows us that the pioneer characteristics of guts and good-natured stoicism are still beautiful' - The Age'Full of characters' - Daily Telegraph
Australian Tragic: Gripping tales from the dark side of our history
by Jack MarxA compelling collection of tales from Australia's dark heart - of catastrophe and misfortune, intrigue and passion, betrayal and tragedy.AUSTRALIAN TRAGIC ranges across our past and our present: the heartbreaking story of the fire at Luna Park; the unstoppable opportunist who snatched innocent men and women from Palm Island to be part of P. T. Barnum's 'Greatest Show on Earth'; a world-class boxer who lost his battle with alcohol and ended up in an unmarked American grave; a man who heroically survived a war to find himself crushed and defeated by events much closer to home; and a new story - of an echo from Ned Kelly at Stringybark Creek, in our own time ... Heartbreaking and shocking, gothic and weird, these fascinating stories are all true, and told to remind us of the Australia we don't know, the one that simmers with love and hate, of hopes raised and futures dashed, unheralded and unnoticed . . . until now.
Australian Tragic: Gripping Tales From the Dark Side of Our History
by Jack MarxA compelling collection of tales from Australia's dark heart - of catastrophe and misfortune, intrigue and passion, betrayal and tragedy.AUSTRALIAN TRAGIC ranges across our past and our present: the heartbreaking story of the fire at Luna Park; the unstoppable opportunist who snatched innocent men and women from Palm Island to be part of P. T. Barnum's 'Greatest Show on Earth'; a world-class boxer who lost his battle with alcohol and ended up in an unmarked American grave; a man who heroically survived a war to find himself crushed and defeated by events much closer to home; and a new story - of an echo from Ned Kelly at Stringybark Creek, in our own time ... Heartbreaking and shocking, gothic and weird, these fascinating stories are all true, and told to remind us of the Australia we don't know, the one that simmers with love and hate, of hopes raised and futures dashed, unheralded and unnoticed . . . until now.
A Swag of Memories: Australian Bush Stories
by Brian TaylorA quintessential Australian bushman, Brian Taylor has spent most of his life on the land. Working as a drover, a stockman, a fencer, a shearer and a saddler, he has gathered a swag of stories over the years as he travelled way out past the Barcoo, along the dusty plains and beside the dry creek beds under the endless southern sky. In A SWAG OF MEMORIES Brian Taylor shares with us these stories, of the people he has met, the places he has been and the moments, long-gone, that define the traditions of the Australian bush. Like those bush poets and storytellers of days past, Taylor brings to life the characters and the creatures of the bush: men like Dangerous Dan Smith, a hard, self-reliant man who had a gentler talent; Father Peter, a parish priest and occasional hero; Charlie Gibson, an Aboriginal stockman who knew the land better than anyone; and Banjo, the ever-alert dingo watchdog. These colourful and evocative bush tales delightfully capture a slight of Australian life that many of us will never get to see. Luckily, with this collection, you can sit back with a billy of tea and read all about it.
The Voices of War: Australians Tell Their Stories From World War I to the Present
by Michael CaulfieldDrawn from engagements ranging from World War I through to operations in East Timor and Iraq, these stories are taken from the Australians at War Film Archive, a collection of the memories of more than 2000 Australians who have served, both on the front line and at home. Some are unbelievably, unbearably tragic, even after sixty or seventy years; others are the golden memories of happy, albeit unusual, times. And, more often than not, they are stories that have never been shared with others, even family members. There are stories from winners of the Victoria Cross; from the POW camps of Asia and Europe; from the patrols of Vietnam, through to those who served as peacekeepers in Rwanda and Somalia. There are stories from nurses, from those who have volunteered to serve with aid agencies and stories of ordinary Australians caught up by circumstances and by duty, in wartime. These are their words.
See Naples and Die
by Penelope GreenThe second book in a much loved Italian travel memoir trilogy which also includes the delightful When in Rome and Girl by Sea.After three years living and working in Italy, Australian journalist Penelope Green needs a reason to stick around - true love or gainful employment.When a job comes up in Naples - crime capital of Italy, home of pizza and the Camorra, and crouched at the foot of a volcano - Penny launches herself into the unknown.With her innate curiosity and eye for detail, Penny prises Naples open to show us the real city, in all its splendour... and all its depravity. She uncovers a chaotic metropolis when crime and poverty blur with abundant natural beauty, and where the shadow of Mount Vesuvius is a daily reminder that life must be lived for the moment.And when Penny meets a bass player in a local band, she thinks she might have found that other reason to stick around.'This is a bewitching, true tale of a tantalising city. Magnifico!' - Marie Claire'frank, funny and honest' - Notebook'Her down to earth tone and genuine curiosity make for an interesting and insightful read' - Sun-HeraldAuthor BiographyPenelope Green was born in Sydney and worked as a print journalist around Australia for a decade before moving to Rome in 2002. Her first book, When in Rome, recounts her early experiences in the Eternal City. In 2005 she moved to Naples to work for ANSAmed, a Mediterranean news service. She found an apartment in the city's colourful Spanish Quarter, worked hard at mastering the Neapolitan dialect, and writing her second travel memoir, See Naples and Die. Girl by Sea completes Penny's Italian experience as she moves to the idyllic island of Procida, across the bay from Capri, with her Italian partner, Alfonso. The couple have now returned to Australia, where they are making a new life for themselves back in the Southern hemisphere. For more information visit penelopegreen.com.au
Girl By Sea: Love, Life and Food on an Italian Island
by Penelope GreenThe conclusion to Penelope Green's bestselling trilogy about her life in Italy that includes When in Rome and See Naples and DieFrom her rooftop terrace, Penelope looks out across the sparkling waters of the Bay of Naples, and into a garden of lemon trees and magnolias. Has her Italian dream come true? Imagine catching a ferry home and stepping onto a waterfront lined with multicoloured buildings, busy with fishing boats and couples strolling to their favourite café. For Penny and her Italian love Alfonso, the idyllic island of Procida can offer the life they are looking for. But first Penny has to find a way into its small community. One thing she has in common with the locals is a love of food, so she sets herself a goal - to master the Procidan cuisine and become more than just a visitor. Across kitchen tables, in bustling cafés, and over long lunches under vine-covered pergolas, Penny learns the art of Italian cooking, builds friendships, and discovers the rhythms and secrets of island life. 'It?s a lovely chronicle of the joys and pitfalls of moving to a small community... A charming concoction of love, food and life ? with recipes!' - The Australian Women?s Weekly'With her observant eye for detail, young Sydney-born journalist Penelope Green's account of her time living on the beautiful Italian island of Procida with her partner, Alfonso, is an endearing insight into a small community where life, love and food reign supreme' - Sunday Telegraph'interspersed with mouthwatering recipes and Procida is explored from a historical, cultural, architectural, social and heart-on-the-sleeve personal perspective. Delivered with a light and breezy tone, it's easy to consume' - Courier MailAuthor BiographyPenelope Green was born in Sydney and worked as a print journalist around Australia for a decade before moving to Rome in 2002. Her first book, When in Rome, recounts her early experiences in the Eternal City. In 2005 she moved to Naples to work for ANSAmed, a Mediterranean news service. She found an apartment in the city's colourful Spanish Quarter, worked hard at mastering the Neapolitan dialect, and writing her second travel memoir, See Naples and Die. Girl by Sea completes Penny's Italian experience as she moves to the idyllic island of Procida, across the bay from Capri, with her Italian partner, Alfonso. The couple have now returned to Australia, where they are making a new life for themselves back in the Southern hemisphere. For more information visit penelopegreen.com.au
When in Rome: Chasing la dolce vita
by Penelope GreenWe've all dreamed of a new exotic life in a European city, but who actually goes? The delightful and award-winning WHEN IN ROME shows what can happen when you are courageous - and perhaps crazy - enough to chase this dream. With her thirtieth birthday on the horizon and a safe and comfortable life in Sydney outside her front door, Penelope Green decided it was now or never. Undaunted by the fact she spoke absolutely no Italian, had no job, no friends and nowhere to live and armed only with an Italian/English dictionary, irresistible optimism and a fair dash of bravery, she was determined to carve out her own slice of la dolce vita.
Don't You Know Who I Used to Be?: From Manolos to Motherhood
by Julia MorrisJulia Morris is the first to admit she does not know much, but these are some of the things she knows for sure: - Writing a Logie speech when you are aged eight is not normal; - Cathy Freeman is the only woman in the world who looks good in white lycra; - $22,000 Aussie dollars converts to about 23 pounds Sterling; - 'Overnight romance' sounds better than 'one-night stand'; - Tom Jones is not the only dark-haired Welsh man with sex appeal; - A blue cross on a white stick WILL change your life. DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I USED TO BE? is a delightful memoir from one of Australia's best-loved comedians about moving to the UK, frocking up, dating, getting married, giving birth to her first child and coming home...and not always wearing Manolos.
A Theory of Moments
by James KnightApproaching forty, with the predictable mortgage, career and comfortable surburan lifestyle, James Knight knew he was one of the lucky ones. He loved his wife and he had his health (occasionally the black dog would bite, but he'd learnt to manage this...most of the time), yet something wasn't quite right. Married less than a year, he and Clare weren't finding time for each other or themselves. Surely there must be more to life than the daily commute, the occasional trip away and rampant consumerism? The death of a good friend's mother gave James the perspective he needed to set out on a year-long journey through Latin America and Africa with Clare, doing voluntary work, learning Spanish and dancing whereever and whenever they could. This trip would change their lives in ways they never expected, teaching them that cherishing every moment is what matters above all else.
Pleasure and Pain: My Life
by Chrissy Amphlett Larry WriterChrissy Amphlett is a true legend of Australian rock?n?roll. Here, the spellbinding performer who inspired and outraged as lead singer of the Divinyls tells her own amazing story.In this raw, gripping and searingly honest account, Chrissy spares no one ? least of all herself. She reveals how she formed the Divinyls and, with a unique voice, steely ambition and an outrageous stage act powered them to Australian and international stardom.Having battled alcohol, drugs and a million dollars worth of debt, Chrissy tells of her fight with MS and of finally finding peace with the love of her life in New York.Brave, sad, funny, ferocious, there's never been anyone like Chrissy Amphlett.
The Weight of Silence: A memoir
by Catherine ThereseA moving and funny childhood memoir ... timeless.' AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY 'This is a special memoir. It is written with great feeling, imagination, humour and originality, and shows a writer with a distinct view of the world within and around her.' AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER MAGAZINEDo you remember the day you realised you were you?Catherine Therese does and invites you inside her head and upside down on a unique coming-of-age rollercoaster, chased by a purple feather duster through the sticky bitumen suburban streets of her 70s childhood - egged by Bernard King, terrorised by a frizzy-haired hooker with an axe - to going all the way with Meatloaf and a boy with half a thumb, in her achingly funny, intensely moving memoir ...The story of a girl losing and finding herself in the secrets that shape her life; the power of family, silence, language, grog and love ... of becoming who you truly are. A mother before she's a woman; a girl who carries a shard of windscreen glass, votes for herself and believes in holding rain.THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE is a brave beautiful book that will break your heart and mend it in the same breath.
Killer Caldwell: Australia's Greatest Figher Pilot
by Jeffrey WatsonClive 'Killer' Caldwell was a natural and brilliant pilot, a superb shot, and a born leader. He saw action against the Germans, Italians and Japanese, and remains Australia's greatest ever fighter pilot.Born and brought up in Sydney, it was obvious from an early age that nothing would stand in Caldwell's way. He bluffed his way into the RAAF, then made sure that he was posted to exactly where he thought he should be.His ability was unquestioned by all those around him, and he devised the vital 'shadow shooting' technique which contributed so much to Allied success in the air in the north African campaign, and in northern Australia. But he was never afraid of voicing his opinions to all those above and below him, be it about the training of pilots, or the equipping of Spitfires for use against the Japanese - and for trying to run the show his way...Caldwell ended his military career in the Morotai Mutiny in 1945, where he and a number of other Australian pilots tried to resign their commisions in protest at not being allowed by General MacArthur - and the RAAF - to take part in the main action. And then he was embroiled in the Barry inquiry into booze smuggling by him and other pilots...Killer Caldwell is a colourful portrait of a colourful Australian.
Ned Kelly: A Short Life
by Ian Jones'the best Kelly biography by a country mile' - The AustralianThe definitive biography of Ned Kelly - and a superb description of his times. A bestseller since it was first published, Ned Kelly: A Short Life is acknowledged as being the definitive biography. Ian Jones combines years of research into all the records of the era and exhaustive interviews with living descendants of those involved, to present a vivid and gripping account of one of Australia's most iconic figures. `It will probably stand as the definitive account of Kelly?s life and its meaning?a work of prodigious scholarship, vivid reportage and sharp analysis?the most detailed portrait of the outlaw ever written? - Rod Moran, West Australian`the definitive biographical work? - Dr John McQuilton, author of The Kelly Outbreak
Harry M Miller: Confessions of a Not-So-Secret Agent
by Harry M Miller Peter HolderAs a young man, Harry M Miller set out to become one of the world?s youngest showbiz impresarios. He left NZ for Australia in the late sixties and set about making his mark. He went on to become one of the Australian media and entertainment industry's most influential men and over forty years later the people he has worked with makes a very impressive roll call...Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis Junior, Chubby Checker, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, the Rolling Stones, John Farnham, Marcia Hines, Graham Kennedy, Barry Humphries, Alan Jones, Lindy Chamberlain, Stuart Diver and Maggie Tabberer among them. Harry M Miller has plenty of stories to tell about high-profile people and the A, B and C lists in-between. His memoir, CONFESSIONS OF A NOT-SO-SECRET AGENT, is full of witty and entertaining anecdotes from Harry's extraordinary life.
The Tiger Man of Vietnam
by Frank WalkerThe Vietnamese hilltribes made him a demi-god. The CIA wanted to kill him. This is the remarkable true story of Australian war hero Barry Petersen.As he flew over South East Asia towards Vietnam, Captain Barry Petersen struggled to keep an aura of calm. Inwardly he was incredibly excited. Aged 28, highly trained, with experience in anti-communist guerilla warfare, he was about to embark on the biggest and most important mission of his life.In 1963, Australian Army Captain Barry Petersen was sent to Vietnam. It was one of the most tightly held secrets of the Vietnam War: long before combat troops set foot there and under the command of the CIA, Petersen was ordered to train and lead guerilla squads of Montagnard tribesmen against the Viet Cong in the remote Central Highlands.Petersen successfully formed a fearsome militia, named 'Tiger Men'. A canny leader, he was courageous in battle, and his bravery saw him awarded the coveted Military Cross, and worshipped by the hill tribes.But his success created enemies, not just within the Viet Cong. Like Marlon Brando's character in 'Apocolyse Now', some in the CIA saw Petersen as having gone native. His refusal, when asked, to turn his Tiger Men into assassins as part of the notorious CIA Phoenix Program only strengthened that belief. The CIA strongly resented anyone who stood in their way. Some in the US intelligence were determined Petersen had to go and he was lucky to make it out of the mountains alive. The Tiger Man of Vietnam reveals the compelling true story of little-known Australian war hero Barry Petersen.'One of those great untold stories and Walker tells it with verve and excitement and, with meticulous attention to detail' - Sydney Morning Herald'Drips with adventure and intrigue and has at its centre a personality boys of all ages will identify with' - The Age'Walker's finely researched book goes beyond the biographical account of an Australian war hero' - Sun Herald'Walker's book about Petersen, The Tiger Man Of Vietnam, is well-crafted and racily written' - Weekend Australian
Under a Starless Sky: A family's escape from Iran
by Banafsheh SerovOne family's journey through the turmoil of the 1978 revolution, when the Ayatollah Khomeini came to power in Iran, and their escape over the mountains to Turkey, and ultimately to Australia. Banafsheh is eight when the revolution begins in Iran. At first her family are jubilant about the collapse of the Shah's rule and the return of Ayatollah Khomeini, but they quickly realise that Iran has traded one dictator for another, more ruthless, ruler. Banafsheh's parents, Kamal and Nina, struggle with the harsh laws of the new revolutionary Iran. Khomeini's revolutionary guard, the Komiteh, patrol the streets, enforcing Islamic codes of dress and behaviour, and dispatching harsh justice to perceived enemies of the revolution. They drag Nina's father in for questioning, interrogate Nina and put Kamal on a stop-list, so he is unable to leave the country. Fearing for the safety of their two children, Kamal and Nina decide the family must flee their beloved country, leaving behind their extended family and friends. But the only way of escape is to take the dangerous route across the Turkish mountains.
That'd be Right: A fairly true history of modern Australia
by William McInnes'a funny and clever reminiscence about what happened in Australia over the past 30 years ... Told with a delightful insight and sense of whimsy.' Daily Telegraph In THAT'D BE RIGHT, much loved actor and author William McInnes gives his personal view on the things we love – sport, families, politics and the greatest spectator sport of them all, an election campaign. He takes the momentous landmarks that fascinate us, such as Melbourne Cup Day, Grand Final wins and election night parties, and brings them into our back yards. He also writes about early morning swimming carnivals, lawnmowers and sitting in the stands at the cricket with his son. THAT'D BE RIGHT is a biographical trip through Australian life with lots of yarns along the way.
That'd Be Right: A Fairly True History of Modern Australia
by William McInnes'a funny and clever reminiscence about what happened in Australia over the past 30 years ... Told with a delightful insight and sense of whimsy.' Daily Telegraph In THAT'D BE RIGHT, much loved actor and author William McInnes gives his personal view on the things we love ? sport, families, politics and the greatest spectator sport of them all, an election campaign. He takes the momentous landmarks that fascinate us, such as Melbourne Cup Day, Grand Final wins and election night parties, and brings them into our back yards. He also writes about early morning swimming carnivals, lawnmowers and sitting in the stands at the cricket with his son. THAT'D BE RIGHT is a biographical trip through Australian life with lots of yarns along the way.
Coming to Life
by David MackenzieA man and his family come to terms with his fatal disease and it sharpens their appreciation of life.
Tenzing and the Sherpas of Everest
by Judy Tenzing Tashi TenzingBiographical account of pioneer Everest climber Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, written by Sherpa's mountaineer grandson Tashi and Tashi's wife Judy. Tells the story of a poor and illiterate man who left his small ancestral village in a remote part of the Himalaya to climb the world's highest mountain. Includes descriptions of Tenzing's family and the Sherpa people.
Invisible: A Memoir
by Hugues De MontalembertThe impressionistic memoir of an artist who was blinded in a sudden act of violence, leading to a profound meditation on what it means to see and be seen 'You live in a city like New York. You read the papers. You look at the television. But you never think it will happen to you. It happened to me one evening'. One summer night in 1978, Hugues de Montalembert returned home to his New York City apartment to find two men robbing him. In a violent struggle, one of the assailants threw paint thinner in Hugues' face. Within a few hours, he was completely blind. Eloquent and provocative, Invisible moves beyond the horrific events of that night to what happened to Hugues after he lost his sight: his rehabilitation, his solo travels around the world and the remarkable way he learned to 'see' even without the use of his eyes. Without a trace of self-pity, Hugues describes his transition from an up-and-coming painter to a blind man who had to learn to walk with a cane. His status changed in the eyes of other people as their reactions ranged from avoidance to making him their confidant. Hugues travelled to faraway places and learned to trust strangers and find himself at home in any situation. Part philosophy, part autobiography, part inspiration, Invisiblewill change the way you view the world.