The happiest refugee: A memoir. Anh Do nearly didn't make it to Australia. His entire family came close to losing their lives on the sea as they escaped from war-torn Vietnam in an overcrowded boat. But nothing - not murderous pirates, nor the imminent threat of death by hunger, disease or dehydration as they drifted for days - could quench their desire to make a better life in a country where freedom existed. Life in Australia was hard, an endless succession of back-breaking work, crowded rooms, ruthless landlords and make-do everything. But there was a loving extended family, and always friends and play and something to laugh about for Anh, his brother Khoa and their sister Tram.
Impractical jokes. In 1986, Charlie Pickering's dad, Ron, was pushed into a pool by his best friend, Richard. What followed was an all-out water pistol ambush in a five-star restaurant and then ten years of tit-for-tat payback and near fatal hijinx that eventually involved the State Emergency Service. When maturity is the first casualty of war, things tend to escalate. This book is the true story of two seemingly responsible, middle-aged men who opted out of having a mid-life crisis and instead gave themselves permission to be silly. It is also the tale of how Charlie finally learnt something from his dad - that being grown-up shouldn't mean losing your sense of humour - a lesson he lives to the full as one of Australia's leading comedians.
Very big journey: My life as I remember it. An inspiring story of one woman's determination to do better in life, raise a large family, improve the life chances of her children and keep the bonds of family alive. Though not always centre stage in the political sphere, Hilda Muir is emblematic of many Aboriginal woman working hard to keep their families and their culture alive.
War babies: A memoir. This is a compelling story of the intense bond between mother and son, its disturbance when the soldier father returns, an affectionate portrait of Brisbane, and an intriguing family history from journalist and film-maker Robert Macklin.
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