Category: Non-fiction

Rose, by Robert Wainwright

When Lang Hancock married Rose Lacson in 1985 it was a fairly quiet wedding – held in Sydney, away from the glare of the media and with only a few carefully selected guests. It is unlikely that Hancock could forsee that this was the beginning, however, of an increasingly public life. The marriage would send the previously private man into the public eye, a situation which would endure even long past his death.

Since that wedding, Rose Hancock Porteous has become one of Australia’s most recognisable and talked-about women. Known for her lavish parties, expensive tastes and outlandish behaviour, Rose continues to attract media attention. In Rose, Western Australian writer and journalist, Robert Wainwright provides a gripping account of this flamboyant woman.

From her childhood in the Philippines, to her first and second marriages and on to her third – with Lang – and fourth, with Willie Porteous, Wainwright provides insight into Rose’s life and motivations. Wainwright uses his own lengthy media association with Rose, as well as detailed research and interviews, to present an account which is as insightful as it is balanced.

A compelling read.

Rose, by Robert Wainwright
Allen & Unwin, 2002

The Boy From Boree Creek, by Peter Rees

When he announced his resignation as Deputy Prime Minister in June 1999, Tim Fischer began his withdrawal from Federal Parliament and from the political arena. After 28 years in politics, he had come to the decision that his family needed him more than the National Party or the Australian public did.

In the decades preceding that resignation, Tim Fischer had grown from a fresh-faced state politician, to the confident, hat-wearing leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister. He had weathered the highs and lows of life in politics and put his stamp on the nation’s history.

The Boy From Boree Creek explores Fischer’s life from his birth in 1946 until this resignation. Author Peter Rees attempts to capture both the private and the public persona, showing how he ran his campaigns, how he built a public image for himself and how he influenced policy making, and yet more intimately, how he coped with the pressures and constraints of the political life.

Readers with an interest in Australian politics will find plenty of interest in this book, as will all who enjoy Australian biographies.

The Boy From Boree Creek, by Peter Rees
Allen & Unwin, 2002

Planes, Trains and Elephants, by Brian Thacker

Brian Thacker loves to travel. His first big trip was at the age of six when he boarded a plane in England to come and live in Australia. Since then he has had many more adventures in many different countries. But sometimes, Thacker has dicovered, the journey can be a bigger adventure than the destination.

In Plains Trains and Elephants, Thacker shares the tales of some of his most memorable journeys. From riding a Vespa around the Greek island of Corfu, to doing a pub crawl on the London tube, and riding an elephant in Thailand, Thacker recounts his journeys with humour and perhaps just a slight degree of exaggeration.

Plains Trains and Elephants is a funny read and would make an ideal gift for the traveller (arm-chair or otherwise) on your Christmas gift list.

Brian Thacker was born in English and trained in advertising before spending many years travelling and working as a tour leader. His first book, Rule No. 5: No Sex on the Bus, also about his travel experiences, wss well recived. Thacker currently lives in Melbourne with his wife and daughter and works in advertising.

Planes Trains and Elephants, by Brian Thacker
Allen & Unwin, 2002

How to Teach Kids to Cook, by Gabriel Gate

Yes, having kids in the kitchen can be messy and time consuming, but it can also be fun and extremely beneficial. Teaching kids to cook not only teaches them important skills for independence, but also encourages creativity, an awareness of healthy eating, and allows time for family togetherness.

In How to Teach Kids to Cook, society chef and author of fourteen acclaimed cookbooks, Gabriel Gate, offers sound advice on how to introduce chidlren to the kitchen. There are over sixty yummy recipes for beginner cooks, as well as plenty of tips and hints for parents.

Beautifully presented with clear instructions and appealing photographs, this book is an essential addition to every young family’s kitchen>

How to Teach Kids to Cook, by Gabriel Gate
Allen & Unwin, 2002

Tim Fischer's Outback Heroes, by Peter Rees and Tim Fischer

As Australia’s traditional rural industries have either hit hard times or become increasingly mechanised and less labour-intensive, more and more towns have found themselves faced with dwindling populations and subsequent struggles for viability and survival. The gap between the city and the bush grows ever wider and those who wish to ensure the long-term future of their communities have had to work hard to meet the challenges they are faced with.

As a politician and head of the National Australia Party, Tim Fisher travelled widely throughout Australia’s rural areas. In the course of his work, he met many people and listened to many tales of hardship and of survival. In Outbck Heroes,he combines with journalist Peter Rees to share the stories of Australians who have succesfully faced the challenges of the changing nation, using initiative, hard work and determination to help themselves and to inject life into their communities.

From every state in Australia come stories of unique ways of survival and success. Whether it is making cheese in Tasmania, unique cosmetics and oils in Western Australia’s south, or transporting goods across the country, the individuals in this book all show that with positive thinking and the will to succeed, dreams can become reality.

An excellent read, especially relevant in the Year of the Outback, and at a time where much of Australia is suffering the effects of severe drought.

Tim Fischer’s Outback Heroes, by Peter Rees and Tim Fischer
Allen & Unwin, 2002

What Every Woman Should Have, Herter Studio

Every woman should have…one old boyfriend you can imagine going back to, and one who reminds you how far you have come…

The text of this book is not new – it has been doing the rounds as an email for some time and can also be viewed on websites, in gift cards and so on. What makes this print version special is the accompanying photography, punctuating the text with humour, empathy and subtle wisdom.

What Every Woman Should Have is the manifesto for every woman, young or old, who lives life to the fullest. In book form, it is a wonderful gift for the woman you love, a female friend, a sister or even your mother.

What Every Woman Should Have, The Herter Studio
Allen & Unwin, 2002

Black Snake, by Carole Wilkinson

Ned Kelly was only 25 years old when he died. Yet within his short life he came to prominence as a thief, a bank robber and murderer. In the one hundred and twenty two years since his death, he has been portrayed in books, films and in art. Why has he remained such a prominent figure in Australia’s history?

Black Snake: The Daring of Ned Kelly offers insight into the life of the outlaw and the chain of events which led to his hanging. In clear, easy to understand language, author Carole Wilkinson recounts Kelly’s life from birth to his final moments. She details his criminal activities and his life on the run, his family connections and his friendships, giving the reader a detailed idea of the man and his motives.

Each chapter opens with a fictionalised recount from one of the characters present at the various events in Ned’s life, and the text is supported by archival photographs, press clippings and quotes from correspondence and other documents.

This is not a glorification of a criminal career – it is instead a historical exploration of the man who was Ned Kelly, and an exploration of why he chose to lead the life he did. Wilkinson challenges the reader to make their own decision whther Kelly was a villain or a hero, a rebel or simply misunderstood.

Author Carole Wilkinson was born in England and came to Australia as a teenager. Writing about history is her passion. Her other titles include the Ramose series, set in Ancient Egypt.

Black Snake: The Daring of Ned Kelly, by Carole Wilkinson
Black Dog Books, 2002

Endangered, by Rick Wilkinson

Did you know that the Tasmanian Tiger was wiped out within fifty years of white settlement in Australia? That there about 800 Red Pandas in captivity but only about 500 left in the wild? That over the last 400 years, 611 species have been documented as becoming extinct? Author Rick Wilkisnon does, so he set out to explore what was being done to preserve some of the many species now threatened with extinction.

In Endangered: Working to Save Animals at Risk, Wilkinson outlines the work of zoos and wildlife organistations, explaining their role in conserving and building up stocks of rare animals. By providing case studies of both well-and lesser-known endangered species and detailing what is being done to help them, Wilkinson aims to increase awareness of these animals’ plight and the reasons they are in danger of becoming extinct.

Supported with stunning photographs of leopards, frogs, pygmy possums, tree kangaroos, gibbons and more and with clear, detailed text,this is an excellent resource for classroom and library use but is also interesting enough to be suitable for private reading by children aged 8 to 12.

Endangered: Working to Save Animals at Risk, by Rick Wilkinson
Allen & Unwin, 2002

Just Another Little Murder, by Phil Cleary

Phil Cleary is well known, especially in Victoria, as a footballer, coach, and media personality, as well as the man who won Bob Hawke’s seat in Federal Parliament. His new book, however, is about none of these things. It is about Cleary’s quest for justice and understanding in the wake of an event which rocked his family.

In August 1987, as she got out of her car to go to work, Vicki Cleary was brutally stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend, Peter Raymond Keogh. While this was earth-shattering enough for her family, the ensuing trial offered no sense of closure. Instead the family listened in disbelief as the court found that Keogh was not guilty of murder, on the grounds that he had been provoked by his victim. Instead, he would serve less than four years in jail for the lesser crime of manslaughter.

When Cleary began a search for understanding of how this could have happened, he learned that Keogh had a long history of vilence and sex crimes against women and children. He also found evidence of what, to him, was a legal system which had worked to protect Cleary and had let down not only his sister, but also countless other women, victims of Keogh and of other men like him.

Just Another Little Murder is not an easy book to read. The reality of the crime it explores and the justice system it exposes, serve to make the reader uncomfortable. This is what Cleary wants – to remove his readers from their comfort zone and to make them feel his rage. In this way, the book is highly effective.

Just Another Little Murder is a challenging but important book.

Just Another Little Murder, by Phil Cleary
Allen & Unwin, 2002

The Writer's Guide, by Irina Dunn

If you have ever dreamed of writing – of being able to call yourself a writer – then The Writer’s Guide is a good starting point.

Having been the Executive Director of the NSW Writer’s Centre for ten years, Irina Dunn is well aware of the kinds of problems and decisions likely to confront an aspiring writer. From what to write, to how to get it published, from basic equipment to self-promotion, Dunn provides detailed, sensible advice, backed by a comprehensive listing of useful resources.

Aimed at those who wish to write either for pleasure or as a source of income, Dunn’s counsel is frank. She explores the realities of the publishing industry in Australia and New Zealand, providing insight into the prospective highs and lows for a novice writer. For those with little expereince of the industry, this inside look is valuable.

Included in the book are over a hundred pages of resource listings. There are lists of reputable literary agents and manuscript assessors, poetry and children’s book publishers, literary festivals and internet resources. Some of these will be of immediate use to a new writer – others will be great for future reference.

The Writer’s Guide provides what its title suggests – a guide for writers to understand the intricacies of the writing life. An excellent resource.

The Writer’s Guide, by Irina Dunn
Allen & Unwin, 2002