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MCCARTHY, Gerry

May 4, 2022 | *, *Featured books, *listed, Animals \ Pets Fiction, Australian, Children's Books, Education Studies & Teaching, Fiction \ Novel, Painting & Illustration

gerry mccarthy author gus book
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ISBN 978-1-922722-74-4
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Gus: the Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon

Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeons were thought to be extinct however a small number were rediscovered several years ago and some were captured for breeding stock, which has led to several groups becoming involved in breeding programs.

Students can investigate native aquatic and land-based animals that rely on healthy wetlands, billabongs creeks and rivers.

How are billabongs and wetlands formed? What causes some animals to become extinct? How do introduced fish affect native fish species?

By reading the story of Gus, students can create a wetlands food web.

gerry mccarthy author

About the Author

Hooked on fishing from and early age, Gerry McCarthy and his dad Martin were regular hopefuls on all of Adelaide’s metropolitan jetties. Interestingly Gerry’s extensive teaching and educational leadership appointments were always situated close to water! In 2015 after forty-six years in educational settings, Gerry established his own teaching business Teachfishsa and South Australian schools took the bait.
Gerry’s passion for all things fish saw schools engage in STEM projects through aquaponics as well as fishing camps and fishing excursions. However, Gerry’s most recent focus as been to help save critically endangered native fish. The story of Gus the Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon (a fish that until recently was thought to be extinct) is shared by Gerry and his illustrator niece Elise Fitzgerald in the hope that others will join the cause and help save fish like Gus. 
Elise Fitzgerald Illustrator Gus book

About the Illustrator

Elise Fitzgerald is a Year 10 student at Mercedes College Adelaide and this is the first book Elise has illustrated. Elise has always loved art and in order to further develop her skills is taking on lessons outside of school. Elise has a preference for oil paintings and portraits.
When not producing outstanding art pieces, Elise spends a lot of time on her other passion gymnastics. Elise hopes to pursue illustrating and other creative avenues into the future.

POLA, Geoff

May 4, 2022 | *, *Featured books, *listed, Australian, Fiction \ Novel, Melbourne, Social Sciences \ Politics \ Government, Victoria

Geoff Pola The Shit Fairy
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ISBN 978-1-922337-20-7
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The Shit Fairy

Avril’s feelings for Dan are confusing. Hardened by institutional life, Avril Maguire sees Dan as someone she can use and manipulate. She has no concept of consequences and has difficulty adjusting to the psychological abuses by the staff.

Their friendship develops amongst the chaos of her mind, and her past. She inhabits two worlds. One of the sun’s rays, where she is burdened by her disability, and that of the moon’s beams, where she is tucked up tight in bed, free to explore her dreams. It’s through these worlds that Avril discovers a sense of identity and belonging.

The enigma that is Avril Maguire is unique in the complexity of a beautiful mind. Avril’s mischievous giggle is infectious and wills you into a world that is heart-felt and challenging.

Geoff Pola The Circle
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ISBN 978-1-922722-05-8
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The Circle

This is the second book in a series that follows Avril Maguire as she navigates a not so perfect world. At the age of five, Avril was sent to Pleasant Creek. In 1982 she was transferred to Aradale; formally known as Ararat Lunatic Asylum, which housed the adult population. We pick up Avril’s story as the year sees out the end of the 20th Century.

The true origins of the circle come from pagan rituals that worshipped the Sun and the Moon.

Avril knew the power of the circle; it was a symbol of defiance for the little girl that never grew up. She tried to block out the past and imagine her future. The scars on her forearms were a reminder; each one a chapter, a story. Danny Walters is one of Avril’s care workers; their relationship is conditional and one that is renegotiated on a daily basis. Hardened by institutional culture, Avril has no language and is frustrated by the restrictive practices to control her behaviour. Yet she is intrigued by the power she has over Dan.

“Dan thinks I’m all sugar and spice!” Hee

Geoff Pola author The Shit Fairy

About the Author

I was born in Melbourne and completed formal studies to gain a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at the federation University. My interest in psychiatric art lead to chance meeting with Dr Cunningham Dax in 1997 who was cataloguing the collection of psychiatric art from Aradale Mental Hospital, formerly known as Ararat Lunatic Asylum. This was the turning point in my career; I had the privilege of working with people in the disability sector who have fragile and broken minds, plus challenging and complex behaviours.

It was here I met some interesting characters and some beautiful minds filled with dreams and aspirations. I find it humbling to hold the memories of such souls; they will be always cherished and valued.

The Shit Fairy which is subtitled; The Complexities of a beautiful Mind, is a fictional book with contemporary historical elements. We follow the main character, Avril Maguire who has a profound disability. She was brought up in “institutional care” such as Pleasant Creek in Stawell and then transferred to Aradale in 1982, which housed the adult population. The plight of Avril is a poignant reminder regarding the recent Royal Commission into the Disability sector in Australia. I regard myself as a passionate advocate for people like Avril.

Avril story is set in the mid to late 1990’s and we follow her during the transitional period when it was Government policy to close these notorious institutions and integrate residents into social housing. These units were called Client Residential Units (CRU’s). The social expectations were a far cry from a society that had excluded her for thirty-six years.

This is the first book in a series that follows Avril Maguire as she navigates a not so perfect world. Her fear is that she will inflict her will on you! Will you still like me.

GODENZI, Trevor

May 4, 2022 | *, *Featured books, *listed, Australian, Culinary \ Cookbook, Design, Education Studies & Teaching

trevor godenzi full circle cookbook
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ISBN 978-1-922722-54-6
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Full Circle

Trevor Godenzi believes cooking should be an enjoyable experience. The joy of creating meals that ensure friends and family gather around your table to enjoy your efforts, your company, a glass or two of wine and above all enjoy meals that are made with love. Sharing meals that create wonderful memories. Your memories.

 

trevor godenzi full circle cookbook

About the Author

The fourth of five children to Jean and Frank Godenzi, Trevor was born in Traralgon, Victoria, Australia. His interest in cooking developed after leaving home at eighteen to work on an irrigation farm at Coleambally in the Riverina district of New South Wales. Having to cook for himself, Trevor quickly learnt some basic recipes that got him through, even then adapting them to suit his tastes.

Cooking took a backseat for many years while Trevor concentrated on several career moves until finally settling on work within the disability and aged care nursing sectors. Before long though, the cooking urge returned and in 2016 Trevor opened the Gaudenzi Wine Bar (now The Penny).

Six years later, Trevor no longer owns the wine bar, instead moving on to posting recipes in the online SBS Food recipe group. From that and his wine bar, the idea grew for this cookbook.

HOGG, Gavin

May 4, 2022 | *, *Featured books, *listed, Addiction & Recovery, Australian, Autobiography, Design, Psychology \ Mental Health, South Australia, Sport

gavin hogg hoggie author
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ISBN 978-1-922803-03-0
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Hoggie

GIFTED GAVIN HOGG WAS NOT GIFTED BY CIRCUMSTANCE.

Hoggie takes you on the journey of Gavin’s rollercoaster life. In this book, Hoggie recounts how he became a top country cricketer, had his world upturned by severe depression and the resultant alcohol addiction, and then finally recovered to build a new wine business in Coonawarra.

He now faces his greatest challenge.

stephen and terri author fork in the road

About the Author

Gavin, or ‘Hoggie’ as he was affectionately known, started life in a dirt-floored shack on a Soldier Settlement block. He went on to become one of Australia’s most award winning winemakers, taking home some of Australia’s top wine trophies, including the revered Jimmy Watson.

WALES, Stephen

May 4, 2022 | *, *Featured books, *listed, Australian, Autobiography, Biography, Design, Health & Wellbeing, Memoir, Self-help \ Personal Development, Social Sciences \ Politics \ Government, South Australia

Book : Unbreakable by author Steven Wales
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ISBN 978-0-6483239-1-4
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Unbreakable

A true story of love & human resilience

On their honeymoon in remote Northern India, Steve and Terri’s lives would be forever changed when their tour vehicle collides with an oncoming bus.

What follows is a series of events only the rarest of people survive.Left with catastrophic injuries and given little hope of ever regaining her life back, Terri’s story is one of true courage, determination and ultimately triumph over enormous odds.

stephen wales fork in the road
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ISBN 978-1-922722-95-9
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Fork in the Road

When the screaming fades and the sounds of breaking glass and twisting metal are just distant memories, what happens next?

Putting the pieces of lives torn apart back together is a challenge that will test Steve and Terri well beyond the accident that forever changed them.

Steven Wales Author - Unbreakable
stephen and terri author fork in the road

About the Author

To come.