SKU 2370001982710
HARDCOVER
The Shadiac’s Family Story by Julie Quigley (nee Shadiac)
told in her own words to Carmel Shadiac during 2022 and 2023.
This story is dedicated to Barakett and Kinsolia
and their beloved children for their determination and hard work
on their journey from Benache to Mile End.
ISBN 978-1-923523-62-3
PAPERBACK
An insightful and unforgettable account of a young boy’s journey through family struggles, history, way and a nation’s aspiration to free itself from colonialism.
Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, was a contested island for nearly a century. Germany, UK, Japan and Australia each had interrupted periods of administration, influence and development of the island and region around it.
In 1975, Warwick witnessed the country’s shift into independence.
As a young boy, he watched the place he’d grown up in change for the better. For the first time, its people felt they could once again be at the forefront in determining their own destiny, and the excitement and optimism at such a prospect was almost tangible.
This one of a kind memoir is told through the memories and records of a boy who lived through one of the most major changes in PNG history, following him from his formative years to the country’s 50 year anniversary of independence.
Part-memoir, part-business wisdom, Leading Out of Loss is a coming-of-age story – of human endurance, transcendence, and alchemising suffering into success.
This searingly honest book delicately deals with grief, the cobwebs within a family lineage, divine intuition, self-reinvention, and Michael’s personal and professional epiphany: the power of vulnerability, in business and in life.
Leading Out of Loss is a testament to depth of the human spirit – and gives you the permission to lead with heart and humility, embracing vulnerability as your greatest asset.
ISBN 978-1-923443-73-0
HARDCOVER
This book shares the journey of a young Greg Jorgensen with scoliosis who, in the mid 70’s, with his family’s support, travelled solo to Hong Kong for corrective spinal surgery.
A 16-year-old spending a whole year in a completely different country and culture! This memoir recounts that adventure navigating a new world, figuring out the language, and all the memorable experiences along the way.
In Cantonese, “gweilo” (鬼佬) literally translates to “ghost man” and is a common slang term for foreigners, particularly Westerners. While it has a history of potentially being used in a derogatory way, its modern usage is often neutral or non-derogatory. Whether the term is offensive or not is debated, even among Cantonese speakers and Westerners.
Thank you for reading this somewhat autobiographical text on one part of my very lucky life!
Greg Jorgensen
July 2025
[email protected]
ISBN 978-1-923443-56-3
HARDCOVER
An illustrated history of the Darchy family, early settlers in the Western Riverina area of colonial Australia. The mysterious history of the patriarch Thomas Darchy, his voyage to Australia, his marriage to Susan Byrne from another pioneering family, and their early years in Australia are described. Included is a description of an early droving trip and stories of his descendants. Also a number of conjectures on his origins.
The late Dr. Ann Prendergast (on left) and Nancy Gibb discussing some early research.
Born in Sydney in 1940 to Vada and Warwick Johnston, Nancy was totally deafened by meningitis when six years old. She obtained a B.Sc at the University of NSW (the first totally deaf Australian woman to gain a degree), followed by a M.Rur.Sc in Animal Genetics at the University of New England, Armidale NSW. After a stint overseas she worked for 12 years in the Biochemistry Dept at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.
She married Englishman Geoffrey Kendall Hoffmann in 1973. They lived for ten years in Bowen, North Qld on board their converted Broome pearling lugger, together with their small daughter; taking time off from running a slipway to circumnavigate Australia in 1980-81. Following Geoff’s death from melanoma in 1983, Nancy and Nicole moved to Townsville and then Brisbane where Nancy worked as a Senior Medical Research Scientist in several succeeding faculties at the University of Queensland. She moved to Christchurch, New Zealand in 2000 and is now married to David Murray Gibb.
In 2016 Nancy & Dave made a caravan tour of eastern Australia, visting as many places associated with the early Darchys as possible. Nancy kept a blog at https://darchyblog.wordpress.com/
A keen genealogist, since her retirement she has published several illustrated travel and family history books. In 2009 she made a memorable visit to ‘Oxley’ with cousins Darchy Catt and Arthur Rowlatt. It followed a month of very welcome rain so everything was lush and green, the saltbush was blooming and it was very, very muddy! It is planned to add photos from that visit to the blog.
Ann, as she preferred to be known, was born in Hay, NSW. She is Nancy’s third cousin through the Prendergasts. She obtained a Doctorate in 1968 for a study on the History of the London Missionary Society in British New Guinea. A well-known Catholic historian, she published a number of treatises over the following years. Ann also researched the early Byrnes and Prendergasts; some of her work is incorporated in this book.
In 1985 she was on study leave under the auspices of the Kuring-gai College of Advanced Education (now known as the UTS, Sydney University of Technology). She wrote at the time: “I first came across the name d’Archy when I was putting together a history of my family who settled in what is now called the Western Riverina in the early 1850s. My GGG Aunt Margaret married as her second husband Francis, son of Thomas d’Archy squatter of Oxley station, Hay and his wife Susan Byrne.”
On first contacting James d’Archy, she told him she was researching her own family and came across his d’Archy family which appeared much more interesting (!). Among other family members she also contacted Nancy’s Aunt Betty d’Archy, who was a little bemused by all the new information and shared it with her niece Nancy …. and so began the latter’s interest in genealogy.
ISBN 978-1-923523-00-5
PAPERBACK
This is the story of Peg, an ordinary woman who was “made of extraordinary stuff ”
Margaret (Peg) Rankin is remembered by all who knew and loved her as a woman of kindness with a ready smile. Her long life brought her much joy, love and happiness.
She was the devoted mother of twelve children and many grandchildren, a farmer, a chef and a confidante for many.
There were also challenges and tragedy. With her strong will she persisted and got on with the next thing. Always positive, Peg was quick to move on from trials and setbacks.
She was a true Christian. She embodied love, mercy, joy, a ready sense of humour and above all, resilience and faith.
This is her remarkable story told by a loving son.
PETER RANKIN, born in Warragul in 1958, was the tenth of twelve children.
A devoted Salesian priest from 1989, he served in parishes across four states. He was loved for his gentle manner, kindness and faith. Aside from religion, he was a passionate Essendon supporter and storyteller.
He began writing his mother Peg’s story in 2014. Diagnosed with cancer in 2021, Peter passed away in 2022, leaving this book as his tribute.