Laurie Oakes is the most influential political journalist in Australia - if he says something has happened, the rest of the media (especially the Canberra Press Gallery) believe him and report it as news. He is respected by both political insiders and the wider public. He has worked in Canberra as a political reporter for 39 years and reported on 19 federal elections. He regularly finds the big story way ahead of everyone else. Currently the national political editor for the Nine Network he is the man who interviews all the big names. From 1987 to December 2007 he wrote a weekly column for the Bulletin and since its demise he has been writing a column for the Saturday Daily Telegraph in Sydney and the Herald Sun in Melbourne. POWER PLAYS is a selection of 150 of the very best and most timeless of Laurie Oakes' columns.

Power Plays: The Real Stories of Australian Politics

Oakes, Laurie

IMPORT AUS

In 1963, 28-year-old Australian Captain Barry Petersen was sent to Vietnam as part of the 30-man Australian Training Team, two years before the first official Australian troops arrived. Seconded to the CIA, he was sent to the remote Central Highlands to build an anti-communist guerrilla force among the indigenous Montagnard people. He was sent off with bagloads of cash and a vague instruction to 'get to know the natives'. Petersen took over the running of the paramilitary force that had been started by the local police chief and started to earn the Montagnards respect. He lived drank and ate with the Montagnards, learned their language and respected their skills. The Vietcong dubbed Petersen's force 'Tiger Men'. When Petersen he heard this, he had special badges made for their berets and supplied tiger print uniforms. The Montagnards loved Petersen and flocked to join his force but the CIA were worried. They thought he was out of control and too close to the Montagnard people...

The Tiger Man of Vietnam (Hachette Military Collection)

Biographies & Memoirs

Frank Walker

Leaders & Notable People

William McInnes brings the World, or at least Australia, into our backyards as he writes about families and sport and politics and life in his familiar style that makes you feel as if he is sitting down talking to you. Both funny and insightful That d Be Right is part memoir, part personal history of Australia over the last thirty years. It s a biographical trip told through sport, and families and William s own experiences. He writes: As with A Man s Got to Have a Hobby I weave in and around the events that have held such fascination for this country over the last thirty years or so, connecting them all with the progression of a life. Some of these events would be considered momentous, some small and personal. And all are seen through William s eyes. They range from a day at the Melbourne Cup with his mother where too many champagnes and too few winners were picked; a swimming carnival early in the morning after a gloomy and long federal election the night before; watching truly surreal Grand Final moments in a pub with a group of odd and unknown bar companions. Sailing on a massive yacht during the Sydney Olympics while listening to the conversation of an elderly lady from Texas in the cabin below. William also writes about a night at the cricket with his son, which shows how things can change and oddly come full circle.

That'd Be Right: A Fairly True History of Modern Australia by McInnes, William (2009) Paperback

McInnes, William

Memoirs

The Book of Love

Fioretti, Phillipa

Mailman Of The Birdsville Track: The story of Tom Kruse

WEIDENBACH, KRISTIN

Opening the Door Of Your Heart

Ajahn Brahm

'If you never give up, anything can happen'. Casey Stoner
Showing anything is possible when determination meets talent, two-time World MotoGP champion Casey Stoner shares his inspirational journey from Queensland toddler, with an extraordinary ability on a motorbike, to his decision to retire at twenty-seven with nothing left to prove.
For the first time, he tells of his early family life, the development of his riding skills and why, when he was only fourteen years old, his parents decided to sell everything and travel from Australia to Europe to chase the dream and support his aim to become World Champion.
As fearless with his opinions as he is on the racetrack, Casey includes all the highs and lows of his life so far: the real reason he left for Europe so young, his thoughts on the riders' hierarchy, the politics of racing, the importance of family, his battle with illness and why he decided to turn his back on a multimillion-dollar contract when he was still winning. And he lets us in on some of the new goals he set for himself.
PUSHING THE LIMITS is a unique and remarkable account of self-sacrifice and determination to succeed against the odds, the inspiring story of a young Australian who took on the world on his terms, his way. . . and won. 'An epic story of single-minded determination, steely resolve and ridiculous courage . . . A fine read.' INSIDE SPORT

Casey Stoner: Pushing the Limits

Stoner, Casey

In 1978 the Northern Territory has begun to self-govern. Cyclone Tracy is a recent memory and telephones not yet a fixture on the cattle stations dominating the rugged outback. Life is hard and people are isolated. But they find ways to connect. 
Sybil is the matriarch of Fairvale Station, run by her husband, Joe. Their eldest son, Lachlan, was Joe's designated successor but he has left the Territory - for good. It is up to their second son, Ben, to take his brother's place. But that doesn't stop Sybil grieving the absence of her child. 
With her oldest friend, Rita, now living in Alice Springs and working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and Ben's English wife, Kate, finding it difficult to adjust to life at Fairvale, Sybil comes up with a way to give them all companionship and purpose: they all love to read, and she forms a book club. 
Mother-of-three Sallyanne is invited to join them. Sallyanne dreams of a life far removed from the dusty town of Katherine where she lives with her difficult husband, Mick. 
Completing the group is Della, who left Texas for Australia looking for adventure and work on the land. 
If you loved THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, THE LITTLE COFFEE SHOP OF KABUL and THE THORN BIRDS you will devour this story of five different women united by one need: to overcome the vast distances of Australia's Top End with friendship, tears, laughter, books and love.

The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club

Literature & Fiction

Green, Sophie

Contemporary

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