When the Japanese war machine swept through South-East Asia in early 1942, it was inevitable that conflict would reach Australian territory on the island of New Guinea. The ultimate Japanese target was Port Moresby. Conquering the capital would sever communication between Australia and her American ally and allow Japanese air power to threaten Australia’s northern cities. When a seaborne invasion was thwarted at the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Nankai Shitai landed in Papua on 21 July and launched an overland attack. Having captured the village of Kokoda with its vital airstrip, the Japanese headed for Port Moresby, traversing the treacherous Kokoda Trail that winds across the mighty Owen Stanley Range.The Australian Army was ill prepared to confront the Japanese. Poorly equipped, undertrained, and unaccustomed to jungle warfare, the untested militia battalions were the first to face the battle-hardened invading forces. Later, when veteran AIF brigades were rushed forward to bolster the militia, they also fell in the path of the Japanese onslaught.But the over-extension of supply lines and disaster on Guadalcanal eventually cruelled Japanese aspirations and the Kokoda campaign became a bloody and protracted struggle as the Australian troops fought to drive the Japanese off the Owen Stanleys and out of Papua.While the front-line troops were engaged in a bitter fight for survival, a power struggle erupted at the top of the Allied command hierarchy resulting in a series of sackings, the competing ambitions of the Allied commanders clouding their judgement at a critical time.It was under these conditions, against a determined enemy and on one of the harshest battlefields on earth, that the Australian forces began to learn the crucial lessons that would be needed to break the back of the Japanese Army in New Guinea.

'My Vietnam' is Dave Morgan's story. A typical 20 year old, he was forced into extraordinary circumstances in Vietnam. The Vietnam War would expose Dave to an omnipresent danger and sheer terror that would impact him forever. Dave's story focuses on his time as a soldier and his return psychologically exhausted to a divided nation.

There were few bushrangers whose influence extended as far as that of Frank Gardiner. Handsome, clever, charismatic and dangerous, he inspired many young men to abandon the drudgery of their honest work and turn to highway robbery. So strong was his influence that it set in motion a craze known as “Gardinerism”. Gardiner was the leader of the infamous Gold Escort robbery at Eugowra Rocks; he was the one who almost “got away” with the crime. escaping to Queensland and running a successful public house until his eventual, controversial arrest. Such was the man’s charm and influence that respectable citizens petitioned successfully on his behalf and Gardiner was released early from gaol amid a storm of controversy. This book outlines the life of Frank Gardiner, his descent into crime and the mystery of his final years in exile. The Australian Bushrangers series by librarian and historical researcher, Jane Smith, details the colourful lives of six ofAustralia’s most famous bushrangers of the gold rush era: Captain Thunderbolt, Captain Moonlite, Frank Gardiner, BenHall, and the two men known as ‘Captain Starlight’.Based on meticulous research of primary sources such as birth, death and marriage certificates, Police Gazettes, Court, policeand gaol records, letters and newspaper articles, Jane Smith, has produced a series of books that align with the national curriculum and are both entertaining and historically accurate; for the first time dispelling many of the myths.These simply written, concise narratives provide an insight into the lives of these bushrangers. From their family background,crimes, family and gang members, the circumstances and events that led him to crime, and where relevant, his capture and death, the books are full of interesting facts and loaded with images, newspaper clippings and records.

One Shot Kills is the story of the sniper's journey from the South African veldt to the recent battlegrounds of Iraq and Afghanistan. It is also the story of the development of the modern sniper's combat weapon system in which technology has been harnessed to produce extraordinary results on the battlefield.

Ride shotgun with author and award-winning copywriter Josh Langley as he battles his inner-cynic and subjects himself to a barrage of strange and creepy adventures as a result of his lifelong obsession with the afterlife. Determined to find out what happens when we die but realising it’s unlikely that an obliging ghost is going to jump out in front of him with the verdict, Josh designs his own unique “afterlife investigation plan’’ and sets off on an extraordinary journey in aquest for answers to the question we all secretly want to know. Things get a little weird and spooky as he visits crematoriums, experiments with out-of-body experiences, attempts past-liferegressions, conjures up dead people, converses with his long dead grandmother and is scared witless on a terrifying ghosthunt, to name a few. Explore the paranormal from the safety of your armchair with Dying to Know a humorous and moving travelogue like nothing else before it. Join Josh as he searches for answers to the question that has plagued him for years, and reaches his final, and somewhat surprising, thought-provoking conclusion.

In 1869 Mt Egerton was outraged by the armed hold-up of the local bank by a masked villain calling himself ‘Captain Moonlite’.The shock deepened when the perpetrator turned out to be the new lay preacher, Andrew George Scott. On his release from prison Moonlite led a ragged bunch of young desperadoes to stage a siege that would end in a shoot-out and the death of a policeman. His death cell protestations of innocence raise doubts and sympathy in the hearts of some historians even today. This book tells the story of Captain Moonlite’s life, from his birth in Ireland to his death on the gallows.The Australian Bushrangers series by librarian and historical researcher, Jane Smith, details the colourful lives of six ofAustralia’s most famous bushrangers of the gold rush era: Captain Thunderbolt, Captain Moonlite, Frank Gardiner, BenHall, and the two men known as ‘Captain Starlight’.Based on meticulous research of primary sources such as birth, death and marriage certificates, Police Gazettes, Court, policeand gaol records, letters and newspaper articles, Jane Smith, has produced a series of books that align with the national curriculum and are both entertaining and historically accurate; for the first time dispelling many of the myths.These simply written, concise narratives provide an insight into the lives of these bushrangers. From their family background,crimes, family and gang members, the circumstances and events that led him to crime, and where relevant, his capture and death, the books are full of interesting facts and loaded with images, newspaper clippings and records.

After 22 years in the Army, there was nothing Craig Jackson (CJ) didn’t know about the deadly craft of bomb detection and disposal. He was the go-to guy for clearing an area of explosives. So when he left the military, there was really no choice: his expertise was rare, sought after, and potentially very lucrative. He’d long ago learnt to put the danger to one side; now he loved the adrenaline rush – the exhilaration – of the job, staying cool in the face of death, outsmarting the murderous and wily bomb-makers.Craig establishes his own landmine-clearance company, and is soon catapulted into the thick of the war in Iraq, tasked with disposing of Saddam Hussein’s massive array of bombs, ammunition and weapons. This is Craig’s dream job: getting to play with hundreds of thousands of tons of explosive ordnance, while also doing a bit of good on the side.Everything is going smoothly until a typical convoy sortie in the Iraqi desert turns Craig’s world into a nightmare. Ambushed by a large, well-armed and organised enemy force, Craig and his colleagues are taken prisoner by Saddam’s henchmen. Thrust into a nether world of pain and brutality, all of his thoughts and efforts become focussed on one thing: staying alive. Disarming a bomb would soon come to seem like child’s play, as Craig has to draw on every shred of his mental and physical strength to endure the horrific daily torture at the hands of his captors.He constantly dreams of escape, but will they break him first?

It's the year 2020, and John Dean is making plans - big plans. He's seen the writing on the wall. Temperatures of over 45 degrees are a regular occurrence and sea levels are rising; severe drought has meant harsh water restrictions, and the economy has slowed almost to a standstill. But John is not going to sit and suffer; he'll do whatever it takes to protect his family, and he's taking action. This is the story of how he moves his family away from a society on the brink of destruction to create a haven and make a fresh start. The Dean family and those who join them on their farm pull together to create a self-sufficient life as civilisation crumbles around them. They struggle to learn farming techniques and long-lost skills, but they survive. Then a threat comes from the north when refugees stream into northern Australia to escape heat, flooding and starvation. The Dean group must do the unimaginable: they must kill to defend the farm and their lives. This well-paced futuristic story about the astonishing human ability to adapt will keep readers engaged from the beginning as they imagine what they would do in the same situation - a totally credible scenario, as global warming increases its grip on our planet. The characters are beautifully drawn, and readers will be able to relate to the family relationships and admire the leadership of John and his son. Until the Little Birds Sing is a thoroughly engaging book - at times a grim tale, but ultimately one of hope, courage and renewal.

On her eleventh birthday, Annettes parents gave her a cowgirl suit. She loved it: she put it on immediately, and set off for her favourite playground, in a nearby park. Some time later she returned home, her flesh scraped and bruised, her brand new suit now dirty and torn. Annette didnt answer when her parents asked her what had happened. She didnt know what to say, so she kept quiet. She would keep quiet for a long time after that day This powerful autobiography tells the sad story of a life stunted in childhood. Traumatised by a brutal assault, Annette retreats into herself. Many years pass before she seeks help: a friend recommends a personal development organisation. Before she knows it, she has fallen into the clutching hands of a cult called Kenja. Forsaking her children, her home, her job and her finances, she devotes herself with a converts zeal to Kenjas activities, doing menial jobs to raise money for its leaders, spending all of her lifes savings on its courses, and recruiting members of the public to join its ranks. Over time, Annette realises that, for all she has given to Kenja, she has not improved, and is instead completely dependent on the group for her self-esteem. She wants to get out but finds herself unable to: she cant stop being the prey. When she eventually does act having suffered further assaults, and witnessed others she is devastated, forsaken and despised by the only community she has ever belonged to. Determined to bring Kenjas leader to justice and, in the process, find some redemption and perhaps even peace for herself Annette embarks on a legal odyssey. The Good Little Girl is Annettes story about a traumatic beginning and journey to a triumphant ending.

This memoir is a frank, moving and at times humorous account of Matt Barwick’s struggle with infertility, and diagnosis with bipolar disorder triggered by family suicide.At twenty-nine, still childless after a year of trying, Matt and his wife Ali realised that starting a family was not going to be the ‘cinch’ it appeared to be for most of their friends. The couple start a crash course in conception from a straight-talking fertility guruand the journey towards more serious medical intervention begins. Already feeling the strain of infertility and the recurring cycle of disappointment, Matt’s world comes crashing down when he loses his only brother to suicide, resulting from depression that was largely hidden from the world. Shortly after his brother’s funeral, the unthinkable happens, and Matt finds himself in a mental facility dealing with his own diagnosis of bipolar and beginning a battle with the demons of depression that will test him, his marriage, relationships and career; creating an uncertainty that threatens to destroy everything. Told with refreshing honesty, Life in Limbo offers a rare perspective on the topics of infertility, family suicide and mental illness diagnosis from the perspective of a self-deprecating, young, Australian man. Keen to remove the stigma attached to mental illness, particularly for men, and bring the subject out into the open, Matt’s story is an inspiring message of courage, hope and unwavering love.

Conducting Counterinsurgency uses the personal experiences of officers and soldiers from RTF4 - described in their own words - to illustrate the principles of counterinsurgency operations. The book provides a vivid and personal snapshot of the work of these soldiers, the challenges they faced and their interaction with the local people during their tour of duty. This is a first-hand account of counterinsurgency operations conducted by the contemporary Australian Army in its fight against the Taliban. Conducting Counterinsurgency sheds light on the little- understood operations of the Australian Army in Afghanistan and is a must for military professionals and commentators.

Lonesome George is a comic odyssey that combines travel adventure and comedy in a journey of epic proportions. Author Jorge Sotirios illuminates the beauty of the South American landscape, interweaving its history, culture and people, in his mock heroic quest. Beginning with the writer lured to South American by an Argentine beauty, his journey commences across the equator, through the Amazon jungle and climaxes in the austere Galapagos Islands. Incorporating angels in Argentina to sham Peruvian shaman. From Amazombies appearing on midnight boats, to visiting the lost city of Fordlandia. Accompanying ecowarriors to far -flung villages where jaguars roam, the writer ultimately finds the site of the legendary Amazon warrior women, gliding over the Mirror of the Moon Lake where everything is doubled. The alluring pink dolphin in the Amazon River, said to charm whoever encounters it, is a constant presence. Missionaries and Tarzans coexist with the cult of Che Guevara, with serious topics such as oil exploitation, deforestation and drought. Lonesome George is South America as seen from street and river level and a life- affirming portrayal of people and human emotion as Sotirios' confronts his doppelganger, "Lonesome George", the last surviving tortoise of his species.

When Colonel Marcus Fielding returned home from his tour of duty in Baghdad, a taxi driver asked him what it was like being a soldier there. Marcus, an experienced veteran, found himself speechless - how could he properly explain to a civilian the nature of his work and his life during his tour? He mouthed a few platitudes but felt frustrated: he had not done justice to his experience or to his fellow soldiers still in Iraq. This book is the result of that frustration, and it provides fascinating insights into the conditions on the ground in a theatre of war that more than 20,000 Australian men and women have served. Marcus was deployed as an 'embed' in the final days of the Australian presence. By this time, the violence had subsided somewhat from the carnage of the first few years of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but with several crucial elections being held, sectarian terror nonetheless reared its frightening head on many occasions. From his 'office' in Saddam's former al-Faw Palace, Marcus finds himself more involved with nation-building than killing 'bad guys'. His tour is not so much about combat, guts and glory as it is about dealing with the vital issues associated with the elections and the Coalition troop draw-down. But he also paints a vivid picture of everyday life set against a backdrop of violence: the heat and dust, attending meetings in the Red Zone, the camaraderie of the cigar club, visits to orphanages and the morale- raising visits of US 'personalities'. Red Zone Baghdad presents a rare glimpse into the reality of an officer's war in our time.

Seven Bones is the story of one of the more bizarre murder investigations in Australia's history. Two wives die in suspicious circumstances: co-incidence or, as husband Thomas Keir describes it, 'bad luck'? Three years after Thomas Keir alleged his first wife Jean deserted him and her young son for another man, his second wife Rosalina, Jean's cousin, lay scorched and strangled on her bed. Arriving on the scene, Detective Peter Seymour realised he was dealing with the world's unluckiest husband or a serial wife killer. While Keir was remarkably found 'not guilty' of Rosalina's murder, despite a clear cut case, her death unlocked the mystery of Jean's disappearance. A subsequent police investigation lead to the discovery of seven small fragments of Jean's bones - fingers, knuckles and toes - buried deep under the same house in which Rosalina died. Keir's 'grieving husband' act was suddenly in question. The investigation revealed Thomas Kier was a man so jealous he hated even his own baby son touching his wife, Jean. A man so possessive he threatened he would cut her up and feed her to the dogs if she ever left him. A man who thought he could commit the perfect crime and publically taunted the police through the media. Written through the eyes of Detective Peter Seymour, Seven Bones follows his relentless pursuit of justice and his own family sacrifices, through the drama of the police investigation into Jean's death, and the three trials, convictions, and appeals that would take fifteen years to reach their final conclusion. Peter Seymour, joined the NSW police force in 1980 as a general duties officer before gaining rank of Detective and then moving into the Police Prosecutor's Branch. He has written the book in collaboration with author, journalist and history teacher, Jason Foster.

Ice Journey is the biography of Vietnam veteran Dave Morgan, a self confessed ordinary bloke who has lead anything but an ordinary life. From the terror of a young soldier fighting far from home to exhilaration in Antartica far from the rest of the world, Ice Journey is a story of vivid landscapes and adventure before ending in a shocking, heart-wrenching final twist. Like many of his fellow Vietnam vets, Dave tried to present a "normal" face to the world while battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It was a debilitating struggle that sparked an obsession to escape the bonds of suburban Australia and embark on a journey to Antarctica, an experience that would change his life forever. In his early fifties and unable to find peace, Dave turned to the seclusion and hardship of Antarctic research, earning a rare and highly sort after posting to Macquarie Island and then Davis and Casey Stations. Carrying his deeply buried demons from the jungles of Vietnam to the icy peaks of Antarctica; Dave’s journey fulfilled a lifelong dream, while making him feel safe for the first time in 30 years. His experiences as an expeditioner on the starkly beautiful, harsh and inhospitable ‘ice’ was at once intoxicating and isolating, providing the catalyst for Dave to finally face his fears. It is an emotional journey that transports the reader from the terror of a young soldier fighting far away from home, to exhilaration on the ice far from the rest of the world. While the ghosts of Vietnam still exist inside Dave, Ice Journey is an invitation to share in an incredible journey, from the moment that would destroy his long cherished dream to ultimately finding a new way forward and the beginning of a new life.

The experiences of Australian prisoners of war (POWs) or Kriegsgefangeners held captive in Germany has been largely forgotten or ignored- overshadowed by the horrid stories of Australians imprisoned by the Japanese during World War II. Yet, as David Coombes makes known, the stories are interesting and significant - not only providing an account of what those young Australian soldiers experienced, and the spirit they showed in responding to captivity - but also for the insight it provides into Germany in the last eighteen months of the war.Drawing on previous inaccessible records - including interviews conducted by the late David Chalk as well as private papers and unpublished manuscripts (all part of the Chalk Collection) - Coombes focuses on one Australian brigade, the 4th Infantry, from its formation in 1914, through Gallipoli to its baptism of fire on the Western Front, culminating in the first battle of Bullecourt - which, in turn, leads to the prisoner of war experience. An unknown future was certainly what awaited those mostly young soldiers as POWs - whether it be exposed to their own artillery fire while working for the enemy 'behind the line'; in a hospital ward somewhere in France or Germany; or behind wire, in a camp, in Germany.What remained constant, and gave them reason to stay alive, often in the most horrendous circumstances, was their desire to be free - to get back to their family and loved ones in Australia.