December 2009 Several months back I was one of two people appointed Ambassador for Australian Libraries. I have tried to put this privilege to good use - Without a doubt my buzz for December was being involved with a group of kind people that collected and sent over 1000 books to a school in Bhutan. The school basically had no books. Between local Primary and the Highschool along with U3A, Rotary and our library some $2000.00 was raised to have them freighted to the country. It was an overwhelming success, so much so - that a local library is being mooted by READ International - which works to set and fund community libraries in South Asia. November 2009
Alpine
School. SnowyRiver Campus
On Tuesday
24th Nov I gave a talk at this school. The students were all year 9
from schools all over the State of Victoria.
It is a �live-in� school that offers leadership, companionship and similar skills.
Students also face domestic chores, isolation and deprived of many mod-cons.
Hmmm�this will be interesting.
No
question, they are the best group of students I have ever addressed. The school
is an inspiration and I was very moved by the maturity of the young people.
When I talk
at schools I usually request year10 or higher. At the Snowy river school, I
spoke to a bunch of decent young adults.
Well done
young people, well-done Mr Reeves and all of your staff, it was a pleasure.
* * *
Had a call from the Victorian President of the RSL Maj.Gen(Rtd.) David McLaughlan last week. He said that next year there will be a horse, wearing a gasmask, in harness, led by a person in uniform wearing a red cross on their back. I am thrilled. I have had 100's of letters requesting such an action after reading TAG.. Well done RSL.
October 2009 Koonung College Boxhill. My third meeting with Trish Stoman. Spoke to year 10's. Many stayed around for a chat. This is a good school. Visited Penleigh and Essendon Grammar - great day organised by Dav Christopher. Spoke to a large Year 9 group of students in their music centre. After numerous emails - many intend to read 'Well Done Those Men' Very mature and attentive students. Thanks.
Sept 2009 The (2005) audio of Well Done Those Men has featured every Sunday morning on ABC radio for several months. It was read by me on ABC Overnights on some 60 metropolitan and regional stations and streamed world wide on the net. The ABC had enormous response. Hence with enormous courage, on 25th September at 4.00am in the morning I did a live interview with Rod Quinn. It was b-----y hard to get out of bed! I've had several hundred emails and other contacts during the reading. Thank you.
Many of the contacts wanted to purchase a copy of the CD's. Originally they were available in ABC shops, however the audio is no longer produced. Scribe (my publisher) is hoping to make them available shortly. I will keep you posted on the page and the home page.
I have just started writing another book - on the War Nurse.
