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Mitchell, a former English resident of New Zealand, has written the funniest, frankest and most provocative book about New Zealand, its people, its institutions - in fact, the New Zealand way of life. His shafts, often barbed, a aimed freely at people and institutions but he is well-disposed to New Zealand and New Zealanders and perhaps the natural progression of events is that on his return to England, Mitchell became a Member for Parliament for Great Grimsby, 1977-2015. -
The zestful, indefatigable and irrepressible Frank Clune investigates great cities and small villages, as well as an Old Master or two and chats to a young mechanic - and that contributes to the diversity of his presentation of historical backgrounds and the contemporary feel of the countries he visits - or as he calls it, Random Rambles in Paris, Eire, Iceland, Vienna and Belgium. Illustrated with black and white photographs. -
Barcs, a correspondent for a firm of Hungarian newspapers, had just been expelled from Mussolini's Italy in 1938 when he decided to come to Australia. He arrived with his wife and eight letters from various European newspapers expressing mild interest in Australian life. These sources of income disappeared as war engulfed Europe, and Barcs was on his own. He immediately began contributing to the Sydney Daily Telegraph and was accepted as a member of the Australian Journalists' Association. He was an unusual figure in Australian journalism at that time for his university education, extensive background as a foreign correspondent and ability to speak five languages. He worked as a freelance journalist for Australian and overseas newspapers. Interned as an enemy alien in late 1941, he was called up for full-time duty in the Citizen Military Forces on 27 July, he served with the 3rd Employment Company and was asked to join the inaugural committee of the Association of Refugees (Association of New Citizens). Barcs was naturalised in 1946. It seemed that he certainly became naturalised in Australian humour: the sections of these memoirs are entitled: Nobody Owes You A Living; His Majesty's Most Loyal Internee and The Backyard of Mars. He died in 1990. -
Journalists are an irreverent breed who must find humour in any event in order to stay sane. Here is a fabulously varied collection of stories from Frank and Kerry packer, Rupert Murdoch, Ita Buttrose, Ron Saw and many others on the world where truth is often stranger than fiction...When screen goddess Ava Gardner was in Melbourne for the filming of On The Beach (1959) a young reporter was told to get Miss Gardner's opinions of Melbourne, her latest romance, the film, etc. No interviews were being given by anyone and all the reporter could garner was a few scraps of information about the stars and the filming locations. So he concocted a story, the last paragraph being an alleged quote from Miss Gardner via a rumour at third hand from a usually reliable source: "On The Beach is a story about the end of the world and Melbourne sure is the right place to make it." The reporter fully expected that the editor would cut it, realising it was a practical joke. The 'quote' went viral world-wide and was included by by writers whenever mentioning Melbourne (or even Australia) for the next twenty years. In 1980 Miss Gardner was asked about the now-hackneyed quote. She said she couldn't remember saying it, but it was funny and she'd be happy to take the credit for it. The reporter - in 1982 - issued a formal confession and apology to Miss Gardner. -
Complete dagg John 'Nobby' Clarke (1948-2017) claimed a PhD in Cattle and held important positions with Harrods, Selfridges and Easibind; was sacked by ABC Radio and worked for various defunct newspapers; he enjoyed such recreations as reading theological works and dog trials. His address was care of the people next door. (Or just pop it inside the door of fuse box for Friday collection.) He really was the complete dagg. Chapters include: Australia - A User's Guide; Celebrity Interviews - luminaries include the late Bob Hawke, Prince Charles and Meryl Streep; Farnarkeling; The Resolution of Conflict; Golf (extensively covered...) This Week On ABC Television; Australiaform; Australia And How To Repair It (with a section on Troubleshooting); Very Worrying Developments. -
The colourful and exciting story of Australian aviation and the men who chanced their lives in the primitive 'box kites' and gliders that were literally made from wood, wire and fabric. Thanks to these men, it was not long before Australia was brought nearer to the rest of the world by spanning oceans and continents. With fabulous archival photographs. -
Bill Scott became a 'battler' after his hilarious discharge from the Royal Australian Navy in 1949, after which he sets off round Queensland to try his hand at many occupations: 'fail-safe' gold prospecting with his mate Johnny (not much gold but lots of fun and experience) ; copper mining in Mount Isa, described as a kind of 'Foreign Legion' existence where men didn't speak about their pasts; cane cutting, one of the hardest labour jobs at that time and finally becoming 'fireman' on the little steam locomotives that help collect the cane harvest and take it to the mills for crushing. And throughout, he meets a swag of colourful characters and intriguing adventures. A real life adventure. Apparently, this is not a book for the 'politically correct' reader. -
Here is a roistering view of Australian from the time of the First Fleet onward, as seen by men and women who expressed their opinions of the country and each other in language forthright, abusive, wistful or cheerful. Part One is devoted to popular (and uniquely Australian) sayings, jests, rhymes, anecodotes and yarns...The bushman recounted, 'When I was doin' a bit o' grave diggin' at Guyra, it so was so perishin' cold there one winter we were forced to demand two weeks' notice of anyone who was goin' to die. It took us that long to dig the hole.' Part Two is Australian Perspectives 1788 - 1918: Farmer's Pride and Prisoner's Hell; The Southern El Dorado (includes a recipe for damper and Black Swans as Table Birds...); An Album of Victoriana; Land of Hope and Glory. You won't get anything more dinki-di than this volume. -
As the 1940s came to a close, the dream factory of Hollywood was in turmoil: McCarthyism was a dark shadow, television had begun to make inroads and there was the realism of post-war society. But five young actors came west: James Dean; Rock Hudson; Montgomery Clift; Elizabeth Taylor and Natalie Wood. They became the idols of their generation. As well as their stories, this book encapsulates the glamour, the hype, the delusions and scandals that was the Hollywood of the Fifties. With black and white photographs.
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