Three Crows on a Bloodstained Saddle
310 pages | paperback | Dicker Books (2016)
AUD $29.95
This book is a good read; one that you will have difficulty putting down. Laurie is a skilful and experienced writer. This is a life story worth telling.
A descendant of eleven English and Irish convicts transported to the other side of the world, Laurie was born during the Great Depression of the 1930s into a small country town community where there was no running water, sewerage, electricity or paved roads.
Following World War II, during which time his father was away fighting in New Guinea, he survived the bastardisation of a boy’s agricultural boarding school to enjoy a good education in a somewhat Huck-Finn environment before moving out of his comfort zone to teachers college and National Service. He commenced teaching as an 18-year-old in a high school where some of his students were older than him.
Laurie progressed to Head Teacher, Inspector and Regional Director before setting up his own private management consultancy. His exchange to New Zealand and his Teachers Service Fellowship gave him the opportunity to study and experience other educational systems around the world.
This book is not so much about Laurie’s experiences and achievements. It is more a reflection of the social, cultural and historical context of the last eighty years, the changes that occurred throughout his lifetime and the people, events, places and situations that affected everyday life at the time and how that compares to life today. Travelling to the next town was a big experience. Marriage was considered a life commitment. There were no TVs, mobile phones, computers, social media or internet. Buying cars and houses required a 50% deposit.
This story also deals honestly and openly with critical issues such as child sexual assault, national service, external studies, adoption, suicide, aged care and euthanasia. Laurie has blended these matters with good times and wonderful relationships, all flavoured with his great sense of humour.
310 pages | paperback | Dicker Books (2016)
AUD $29.95
This book is a good read; one that you will have difficulty putting down. Laurie is a skilful and experienced writer. This is a life story worth telling.
A descendant of eleven English and Irish convicts transported to the other side of the world, Laurie was born during the Great Depression of the 1930s into a small country town community where there was no running water, sewerage, electricity or paved roads.
Following World War II, during which time his father was away fighting in New Guinea, he survived the bastardisation of a boy’s agricultural boarding school to enjoy a good education in a somewhat Huck-Finn environment before moving out of his comfort zone to teachers college and National Service. He commenced teaching as an 18-year-old in a high school where some of his students were older than him.
Laurie progressed to Head Teacher, Inspector and Regional Director before setting up his own private management consultancy. His exchange to New Zealand and his Teachers Service Fellowship gave him the opportunity to study and experience other educational systems around the world.
This book is not so much about Laurie’s experiences and achievements. It is more a reflection of the social, cultural and historical context of the last eighty years, the changes that occurred throughout his lifetime and the people, events, places and situations that affected everyday life at the time and how that compares to life today. Travelling to the next town was a big experience. Marriage was considered a life commitment. There were no TVs, mobile phones, computers, social media or internet. Buying cars and houses required a 50% deposit.
This story also deals honestly and openly with critical issues such as child sexual assault, national service, external studies, adoption, suicide, aged care and euthanasia. Laurie has blended these matters with good times and wonderful relationships, all flavoured with his great sense of humour.
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