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LACKEY, Clive

Apr 18, 2024 | *Featured books, Australian, Fiction \ Novel, Historical Fiction

Clive Lackey self-published author Shepory Crossing: Jim's Story book cover
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Vale - farewell

Clive Lackey 19 May 2025

ISBN 978-1-923156-75-3
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Shepory Crossing: Jim’s Story

When the Shepherd family and the Gregory family pool their resources and talents the results are impressive and have repercussions far beyond the confines of the Kirconnell Valley.

Jim’s Story traces the growth of an Australian community from the 1890s through the global influences of two world wars and an economic depression. The story parallels the development of the Australian nation as it grew from a colonial outpost that rode on the sheep’s back toward the cosmopolitan society we know today.

Shepory Crossing’s characters experience floods, bushfires, economic growth and depression, the cannon-fodder controversies of WW1, the bitter divisiveness of conscription, the fall of Singapore and the horrors of Changi and the Burma railway. The story examines the effects of tariff protectionism in the 50s and the opening up of the outback by the motor car and the aeroplane.

Written in the first person by Jim Gregory, Shepory Crossing contains believable characters, historically accurate events and deeply moving romances.

Historical figures such as Breaker Morant and Henry Lawson stroll through its pages and touch on real episodes from my own family history.

Clive Lackey self-published author Shepory Crossing: Christopher's Story book cover
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ISBN 978-1-923214-47-7
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Shepory Crossing: Christopher’s Story

This book continues the Shepory Crossing trilogy, commenced in Jim’s Story. It centres on the life of Christopher Gregory, son of Jim and Elise. It follows him as he joins the Australian war effort against the Japanese onslaught in 1941 and his subsequent incarceration as a prisoner of war in Changi and on the Burma Railway. Post-war he tries to settle down back home at Shepory Crossing. He marries Anne from Tarenvale and they eventually have a daughter, Jennifer.

The young family moves to the city and is soon swept up in the social, youth and sexual revolution of the 1960s and 70s. Christopher’s world is turned upside down when Jennifer sinks into a sexual morass of her own making. But more traumas are to come. He discovers the older daughter he’d unknowingly fathered during the panics of pre-invasion Singapore then faces the challenge of keeping his two families satisfied without compromising his marriage to Anne or his ongoing support to Jennifer. Anne’s growing feminism and the sexual revolution raging around them add more layers of confusion to Christopher’s life and add to the pressure he already feels from so many directions.

Like so many men of his generation Christopher is claimed by a sudden cardiac arrest, laying the foundation for Jennifer’s own story which forms the third book of the trilogy.

Shepory Crossing: Jennifer's Story Book Cover
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ISBN 978-1-923214-43-9
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Shepory Crossing: Jennifer’s Story

Jennifer Gregory is the daughter of Christopher and Anne.

Inspired by her Auntie Gloria but brilliantly talented in her own right, Jennifer’s story picks up where Book Two of the Shepory Crossing trilogy left off. Jennifer and her family move to the northern beaches of Sydney where her over-active hormones run riot. Through her high school years her sole intellectual stimulus comes from the school’s brilliant gardener Simon Taylor. Despite the difference in their ages, Jennifer and Simon spark off each other and manage to keep each other sane.

A decade or so later they meet again, and resume their friendship. In the process the two of them re-write the political scene of the entire country.

CUNNINGHAM, Andrew

Sep 15, 2023 | *, *Featured books, *listed, Australian, Fiction \ Novel, Historical Fiction, History, South Australia, Sport

Andrew Cunningham self-published author Cry Sorrowful for Bullocky book cover
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ISBN 978-1-922957-62-7
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Cry Sorrowful for Bullocky

A novel of the first Australian cricket team to tour overseas

Andrew R. Cunningham had a passion for cricket and he has taken historical events and characters and re-imagined them. He has produced a fascinating novel concentrating on certain aspects of the lives of individual players prior to and after the First Cricket Tour of England in 1868.

He has used his power of language to create and define characters in such a way that the reader will be entertained, whilst being introduced to perhaps unknown aspects of events in early days of colonial Australia, that were indeed real, and impacted on this story of the first Australian International team.

His evocative and clever writing describes aspects often forgotten or not previously represented by this story. He uses compassion and humour as he gently provokes the reader to think seriously about the past injustices practised by society at the time. His writing also celebrates the prowess, skills and sporting successes of the Aboriginal cricketers. His empathy is encapsulated in the title, ‘Cry sorrowful for Bullocky.’

 
 
 
Andrew Cunningham self-published author Cry Sorrowful for Bullocky

About the Author

Andrew was born in Tamworth NSW. He worked at the NSW Registrar Generals whilst studying Law at Sydney University. His professional career experiences were wide and varied, including; private practice, barrister, industrial advocate (PNG), ministerial assistant of the Department of Labour and Industry SA, first Police Complaints Authority SA , Member of the UN Board of the International Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (IACOLE) 1985-1992, and Magistrate of the Industrial Court of SA.

His passions, amongst many, included politics, photography, playing bridge (participant World Bridge Olympiad 1976), studying World and Australian history and literature… and then there was cricket!

O’CONNOR, S E

Oct 21, 2022 | *, *Featured books, *listed, Australian, Fiction \ Novel, Historical Fiction, South Australia

S E O'Connor self-published author The Ancestral Ring of Hope book cover
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ISBN 978-1-922890-45-0
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The Ancestral Ring of Hope

A high price for freedom in war torn Hungary

Inspired by true events.

István was a young man when the Iron Curtain blanketed Eastern Europe after the Second World War, vandalising the fabric of Hungarian society. Tortured for criticising the tyranny suffered under Communism, he conspires with likeminded rebels to retaliate and regain their liberty. But the Soviet masters are uncompromising. During twelve days in late 1956, the full might of Russia is unleashed, crushing the revolution. István’s fate is sealed. Fleeing reprisal and certain death is vital for he and his beautiful and beloved wife Natália. The Captain of Gyor Police Headquarters, Viktor Molnár, has other plans, thwarting and executing fugitives. Obsessed with Natália—his new elusive prize—Viktor stops at nothing to attain her.

The Ancestral Ring of Hope is a compelling story of love, grief, courage, and a resolute quest for freedom. Parallels between this novel and the horror unfolding in Ukraine at the hands of Russia’s dictator proves history does repeat. It’s a timely reminder of the fragility of peace and democracy and how easily they can be shattered by tyrants seeking power.

About the Author

Suzi O’Connor was born in Wollongong on the south coast of New South Wales to immigrant parents who fled Hungary after the failed revolution of 1956. This is Suzi’s debut novel, a work inspired by her mother, Katalin, and her deceased father, Fülöp. She lives with her husband, Allan, in Adelaide, South Australia.

SMIBERT, Kelvin

Jul 1, 2022 | *, *Featured books, *listed, Design, Fiction \ Novel, Historical Fiction, South Australia
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ISBN 978-1-922527-45-5 PAPERBACK

Who is Bill Jackson?

A historical Australian fiction.

A young woman sets out to write something about her family history.

She wants to start with the story of her late Grandfather, but her Italian Grandmother persuades her to research the origins of his German Father first.

This leads her in unexpected directions as a misty person she hardly knew existed becomes real and fills the stage. While events of the 1900s era of Australian history, quite new to her, open up.

About the Author

Growing up in outer suburban Melbourne, (Australia), Kelvin Smibert finished schooling with an interest in the sciences. Worked for a large manufacturing chemist while studying Chemistry at night at RMIT.  He spent 4 years of Wartime in the Navy, mostly as a Naval Beach Commando.

Returning to workplace politics was difficult. He enrolled at Melbourne University to do Electrical Engineering…But the urge to ‘Escape to the country’ was too strong. After 2 years he took up a Soldier Settlement block. During the 35 years there, he and his wife Nora spent a total of about 18 months spread over 5 years, 1973-1978, living in Iran. For which country they retain great affection. On one occasion flying from Australia to Tehran with a load of cattle.

‘Retired’ to Mount Gambier, South Australia in 1988. Nora continued with volunteer work and sport. While Kelvin formalised his Art hobby with a Certificate of Art. Which led to years of making 3D replicas of ancient Aboriginal ‘Rock Art’. The largest piece now in a New Delhi museum. Concurrently, he built a factory to make quality artists paper for local and export markets.

Both these projects led to travel, study and symposia in Europe and India.

Many years on the committee or board of various local organisations. Writing is a therapeutic old- age occupation.

The couple have five children and many Grand, and G-Grandchildren.

 

GREEN, Michael

Dec 7, 2021 | *, *Featured books, *listed, Australian, Design, Fiction \ Novel, Historical Fiction, Queensland, Social Sciences \ Politics \ Government
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ISBN 978-1-922722-84-3
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Sons of Grace

The saga (tale, story) of a mother’s love for her boys.

Abbervale, mining village, 1940s country Australia. The McCanns a local family, Grace the wise and strong wife and mother, Gordon, a mining team boss with elder son, Bruce. His brother, William, works in the mine office. Delicate daughter, Millie, dies.

In 1949 comes the long strike. Tough times for Abbervale. Gordon is killed in a mine collapse.

Grace and boys move to the city. William works as an accountant. He marries Ellen and soon a child arrives. Bruce rises to Party leader and muscles William into state premiership. But William is appalled by the extent of criminal corruption, tolerated by Bruce and the Party. He sets about reform.

Ross, police officer and friend of William, is killed by corrupt police. This is the turning point for William. He resigns from the premiership and announces a judicial inquiry into state criminal activity.

Sons of Grace is a story about a family, first in a mining village then in the city. Its focus is on love between mother, father, son and wife. It highlights the futility of words to reform corruption. It points to the success of courageous action and the value of a strong supportive woman.

About the Author

Michael Green QC is a retired Catholic priest, a retired criminal barrister, a fortunate husband (non-retired), a devoted father and grandfather, a passionate traveller and hopeless golfer. He has written three self-help books and three novels. A resident of Newtown, an inner-city Sydney suburb, he is a keen reader, and is an organiser of Newtown Literary Lunch, a monthly celebration of books, food and wine.

 
 

THOMSON, Stanley

Dec 2, 2021 | *, *Featured books, *listed, Fiction \ Novel, Historical Fiction, Queensland

356 by self-published author Stanley Thomson
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ISBN 978-1-922722-15-7
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356

Recall the Truth – Fear the Perception

356 Easter Road Leith is the birthplace of Craig Erskine. He had migrated to Australia as a young man and now returns at the age of 70. Standing in front of the building, he recalls his close call with death there as a child. Also he had witnessed the unbelievable attempt to have Nazism resurface in Europe within 5 years of the end of the Second World War. Pain stabs at his heart as he remembers the betrayal that took place within his family.

Alenti Pawloswski, a Polish soldier returns from the war after contributing to the Allied victory, but finds little gratitude and certainly no assistance to repatriate and join British society.

It was a violent incident outside Number 356 that introduced these two men to each other and saw the beginning of a mysterious relationship. The story weaves its way from the German invasion of Poland to D Day and perhaps the biggest battle of them all, Truth versus Perception.

About the Author

Stanley McGill Thomson was born at 356 Easter Road Leith in Scotland where he lived for the first two years of life with parents Bill and Janet and beloved brother David. His father was a Congregational minister and among Stan’s earliest memories was sitting on a windy hill outside the Scalloway Church, on the Shetland Islands.The family moved to Cumnock then to Dunfermline from where they emigrated to South Australia in 1958.
Education was at Salisbury North and King’s College in South Australia. He left school at Wentworth in NSW to commence a career within the PMG (now Australia Post)
For several years he and his first wife Pamela ran the General Store in Hepburn Springs Victoria where they had moved from Melbourne with their sons Christopher and Paul. It was from there that he made his foray into Radio at stations such as 3CV, 5PI (Port Pirie) 5SE (Mt.Gambier) and then to a 30 year career with the ABC proudly based in the South East of South Australia but broadcasting regularly interstate and nationally. Carole and Stan joined their lives in 1988 and they lovingly share 6 children, enjoy many grandchildren and are proud of being great grandparents. Stan is an ardent supporter of the Arts and was a long serving Trustee of Country Arts SA and board member of the Riddoch Art Gallery in Mt. Gambier.