MAHAMOOTH, Kenneth

ISBN 978-1-923333-49-9
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Sri Lanka

Hidden Gems And More

Sri Lanka, a magical island not far from the southern tip of India has enchanted travellers and merchants since ancient times. Marco Polo the 13th century Venetian explorer described the country then known as Ceylon as being of the highest quality and most pleasing island in the world. Sri Lanka has had its share of travails over the years. A 26 year civil war which finally ended in 2009 with the defeat of the ‘Tamil Tiger’ rebels, a devastating tsunami on boxing day 2004, two armed insurrections and a governance system since independence from the British Empire in 1948 that has not been able to extract the true potential of the land and its resourceful people. The country lacks economic development, a 21st century infrastructure, adequate foreign currency reserves and a comfortable standard of living for a majority of its citizens. Poverty is widespread and growing. Sri Lanka needs to attract investment, both foreign and local. Tourism is one way forward due to the island’s beauty, wildlife and culture.

My book is intended to pique the curiosity of modern-day travellers who would enjoy the many aspects of this diverse and interesting island nation which has so much to offer. Tourists can enjoy the many attractions and historic wonders of this resplendent isle, delve into its culture and ancient past and savour the nostalgia of Sri Lanka’s tea industry and lifestyle of the planters in an era gone by. The people of this enchanting yet troubled island deserve the prosperity and happiness which has eluded them so far.

About the Author

 

The author lives in Melbourne with his Colombian wife. He frequently travels to Germany to visit his daughter.

LEE, Warwick

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ISBN 978-1-923523-62-3
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Child of the Pacific

From empire to independence, through the eyes of a child

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.

GIBB, Nancy Vada

ISBN 978-1-923443-56-3
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Darchy of Australia

 

An early pastoral family

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.

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The late Dr. Ann Prendergast (on left)  and Nancy Gibb discussing some early research.

About the Authors

 

NANCY VADA GIBB

 

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.

 

DR. PATRICIA ANN PRENDERGAST (1934-2013)

 

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.

BYRNE, Bob

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ISBN 978-1-923680-71-5
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Photos & Memories 1970s

 

Peace, Love and War

The Dawn of the Modern Age

This is the story of Australia’s most turbulent and transformative decade through the eyes of the people who lived it. From the fall of a government to the fall of a space station, this nostalgic and historic journey captures what life was really like for ordinary Australians during the 1970s.

From fish and chips wrapped in newspaper to the arrival of fast food, from red phone boxes to colour television, these are the stories of a nation finding its voice. Relive the drama of the Whitlam years and the Dismissal that divided a country, the shock of Granville and the heartbreak of the Montreal Olympics, the thrill of Countdown on a Saturday night, and the revolution Kerry Packer brought to cricket under floodlights, Meet the butchers, the tea ladies, the kids who roamed free until the streetlights came on, and the Vietnamese families who arrived with nothing and built everything.

Whether you were born in the 70s or grew up, went to school, got your first job, got married and started a family, these are your memories.

Through personal memories and researched stories, this book brings to life the decade that changed Australia forever-when we went metric, went colour, found our voice, and grew up.

ISBN 978-1-923680-16-6
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Photos & Memories 1940s

 

In the Shadow of War

Out of the Darkness: The Decade That Defined Modern Australia

This is the story of Australia’s most transformative decade through the eyes of people who lived through it. From the outbreak of war to the birth of modern Australia by decade’s end, this nostalgic and historic journey captures what life was like for ordinary Australians during the 1940s

From rationing and blackouts, victory gardens and air raid drills, these are the stories of the men and who faced some of Australia’s most difficult times. Meet the men and boys who marched off to war, the women who built bombs and made bullets, the children who collected scrap metal for the war effort, and the immigrants who arrived with cardboard suitcases and unpronounceable names. Relive the excitement of Victory in Europe and then the Pacific, the first Holden rolling off the production line, and learn just how an unusual breakfast spread became a national icon.

Through personal memories and carefully researched stories, this book brings to life the decade that shaped modern Australia – when a nation faced its darkest hours and emerged stronger, more confident, and ready to build the lucky country we know today.

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ISBN 978-1-923645-33-2
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Photos & Memories 1960s

 

What made the swingin’ sixties

The Sixties Down Under: Discover Australia’s Era of Extraordinary Change

Step back into the Australian decade they call “The Swingin’ Sixties”. From the comfortable certainties of 1960 to the moon landing that ended the decade Photos and Memories 1960s captures the extraordinary transformation of a nation in a time of great change.

As Beatlemania swept through our cities and decimal currency replaced pounds, shillings and pence, we witnessed the 1967 referendum that overwhelmingly voted for Aboriginal rights. Relive the controversy of Vietnam, the disappearance of Prime Minister Harold Holt, and the cultural revolution that saw young Australians questioning everything their parents had accepted.

Beyond the major events, discover what daily life was really like – from typing pools and record shops to marching girls and Earl’s Court adventures. Through personal memories and year-by-year chronicles, this book brings the sights, sounds, and spirit of 1960s Australia vividly to life.

Whether you were born in the swinging sixties, went to school or simply want to understand the decade that shaped modern Australia, this nostalgic journey will inform, entertain, and transport you back to one of the most exciting eras in our nation’s history.

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ISBN 978-1-923589-62-9
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Australia Remember the Year 1796

 

A look back in time

Welcome to your history.

Step into Australia of 1976. A nation recovering from political upheaval, where flares were fashion, Countdown ruled Sunday nights on TV, and the local Chinese restaurant was exotic dining.

Discover the everyday details that shaped your world – from platform shoes to emerging environmental movements, from meat-and-three-veg to the first stirrings of multiculturalism, from the tribal passions of football codes to the revolution happening in women’s lives.

Through vivid storytelling and photos, explore the politics, culture, technology, and social changes of this pivotal year. Learn about the workplace your parents knew, the classrooms of your childhood, and the seeds of change that would define your future.

This is more than history – it’s the story of the Australia you were born into, told with warmth, insight, and a deep appreciation for the complexity and possibility of that remarkable year.

ISBN 978-1-923523-34-0
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Photos & Memories 1950s

 

For All Those Who Can Remember

A nostalgic journey through the years that helped build a nation’s identity.

Come back with me into a most remarkable decade in Australia – the 1950s. Photos & Memories 1950s: For All Those Who Can Remember captures the stories, pictures and memories of an era that shaped a nation, from the end of wartime rationing to the arrival of television, from the dream of a quarter-acre block to the birth of teenage culture.

This isn’t just the history of our nation, it’s the story of everyday Australians rebuilding their lives after World War II. Tales of how families embraced new suburbs, welcomed European immigrants, and celebrated together during the Queen’s visit and the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

If you were born or lived through the fifties, this book explores the milestones that defined a generation – first jobs, first cars, first homes, and the simple pleasures of backyard cricket and visits to the corner shop. For seniors, these pages will spark cherished memories; for younger readers, it’s a window into the decade that helped create a modern Australia.

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About the Author

 

Bob Byrne is a veteran Australian media professional with a 40-year career in radio broadcasting.

Following his tenure as a radio personality, Bob transitioned to print as a columnist and feature writer for the Adelaide Advertiser.

As an author, he has published seven books, most notably the acclaimed “Remember When” series. His expertise in chronicling Australia’s social history has earned him a substantial following, with his “Australia Remember When” Facebook page attracting over 375,000 engaged followers.

Bob continues to create new stories focusing on the baby boomer years in Australia. His latest work, “Photos & Memories 1950s,” launches an ambitious new series that will document the social and cultural evolution of Australia throughout the last five decades of the twentieth century.

STEPHENS, Edward Ted

ISBN 978-1-923386-92-1
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The Ormonds of Borriyalloak

 

The Story of the Great Philanthropist Hon Francis Ormond and His Family

Francis Ormond, a great Victorian philanthropist was fired by his passion to bring education to the masses. Not having children he contributed millions of pounds to educational buildings and institutions.

Francis Ormond travelled from Scotland to Shelford near Geelong in 1843 with his father Captain Francis Ormond, Mother Isabella and her tiny baby Alfred. There they built a hotel on the road to the Western District. They were the only people making money during a rural depression and they took over several large grazing runs including thousands of sheep.

Later Francis married his childhood sweetheart Mary Greeves and they moved to Borriyalloak near Skipton. Appalled at their workers lack of education, they taught them themselves in the evenings. In 1853 when Gold was discovered, thousands of immigrants needed food so Francis’ future was assured.

Francis built Ormond College, a residence for country students to gain an education. Then to enable them to obtain a technical education, he built RMIT. He established the Conservatorium of Music. From this beginning we now have the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

In Geelong Francis contributed the first money towards the Gordon Institute and he was Chieftain of the Commun Na Fienne Society until his death. He contributed to the establishment of many rural secondary schools. He gave a great amount of money to finish building St Pauls Cathedral in Melbourne as a memorial to his first wife who was an Anglican.

He died in France in 1888 and his second wife Mary Oliphant brought him back to probably the largest funeral ever to pass along Ormond road to the cemetery in Geelong.

ISBN 978-1-923386-05-1
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The Langlands

 

The History of the Langlands Family in Melbourne and Horsham

IN 1840 ROBERT LANGLANDS, A YOUNG SCOTTISH MAN, TOOK A HUGE STEP FOR LOVE AND LEFT HIS FAMILY TO EMBARK ON A ROMANTIC ESCAPADE ACROSS THE OCEAN…

He shocked his family by deciding to pursue his lady friend who had been deported to Australia for a minor misdemeanour.

After arriving in Melbourne, Robert immediately set off to Sydney to ask his girlfriend, Agnes, to marry him.

Robert’s brother, George, and his wife, Betsy, during his leave, and having fallen on hard times, had become interested in an offer to start a Post Office in Western Victoria.

So, they loaded their five children (including Ted’s future grandmother Margaret, at age six) on board three bullock drays and set off to find a survey peg 300 miles away on the Wimmera River marked as “A place to be called Horsham”.

Robert set up a foundry in Flinders Street in 1841 which thrived and Horsham grew around the Langlands store.

The rest, as you will discover in this book, is wonderful history…

“An authentic telling of real life in a part of our history not to be forgotten… A wonderfully written and engaging book…”
Dillon, Readalot Magazine reviewer

About the Author

 

A retired farmer, Ted Stephens comes from a literary family. His grandfather Edward James Stephens founded the “Horsham Times” in 1873. Ted’s father Harold was brought up in his father’s many Wimmera newspapers and wrote prolifically for “The Leader”, “Weekly Times”, the “Gadfly” and others. They wrote their history as it happened, enabling Ted to publish their story, “The Langlands”, in 2024. This gave him the will to research and write about the forgotten Ormond family. After 60 years with the CFA, church and local committees, writing local histories, and 53 years developing a world-class collection of historic machinery at the Geelong Showgrounds and now a museum, he has been honoured as a Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem Hospitaller for his contribution to society.

TARRY, Rhonda

ISBN 978-1-923443-50-1
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ISBN 978-1-923523-42-5
EBOOK

Lucy Harriet Thomson Reflections

In 1924, Lucy Thomson and her husband William travelled by ship from Australia to tour Great Britain and the Continent.

Part of Lucy’s diary has survived from that year, and this diary (along with her broader recollections of the trip) has been transcribed in this book. Her entries move back and forward in time across the pages. It appears that much of the diary was written during the return journey, likely drawn from earlier notes and memories rather than recorded daily.

Let her words take you there—across oceans and decades—to experience the journey through her eyes.