Hachette Australia – serie

For the people who lived in the desert between Marree and Birdsville, contact with the outside world was hard and sporadic - but one man was their lifeline: Tom Kruse. For more than twenty years he was the connection with the outside world for the families, station workers and others who lived along the Birdsville Track.Tom delivered everything from the mail and newspapers to fuel and food - whole communities waited in anticipation for him to drop off their supplies. But it was a hard life, from regularly making running repairs to his truck to unloading and reloading tons of stores so that he could ferry his cargo across flooded creeks. Come sandhills, hell or high water, Tom Kruse kept faith with the locals up and down the Track.Tom was a real Australian hero - and no matter what happened, the mail always got through.

Fifteen Australians tell their stories of surviving suicide and finding the way back to a better life.Every day, nine Australians take their own lives. Nineteen years ago, John Brogden came very close to adding his name to these statistics. But John survived and, since his recovery, he has become a passionate voice for mental health and suicide prevention. Now he is the Honorary President of LifeLine International.Personally and professionally, John knows how urgent it is to talk openly about suicide, and to provide people in despair with a way back when they are at their lowest point. Giving hope to those who think there is no other answer is critical. John is living proof that it's possible to survive and thrive.Now, in Profiles in Hope, John has gathered together some incredible Australians to tell their stories. With contributions from people such as James Packer, Jacqui Lambie, Tom Boyd, Layne Beachley, Preston Campbell and Ian Thorpe, alongside powerful stories of ordinary Aussies, these deeply personal accounts of survival, recovery and lives of purpose are a balm for the vulnerable and a beacon of light to those struggling. This book is for those at risk and for the people who love them and don't know how to help.Searingly honest and ultimately life-affirming, these are stories of solace and hope, and a lifeline for dark times.All royalties earned from the sale of this book will go to Lifeline.'Surprisingly hopeful' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ABIA BIOGRAPHY BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024From a Newcastle garage to worldwide recognition, this is the remarkable story of two teenagers who grew up in Silverchair, one of Australia's greatest rock bands.It all began in Ben Gillies' garage - where three high school kids from Newcastle, New South Wales, created magic with their smash-hit single 'Tomorrow', setting them on a path to domination of the Australian charts, worldwide touring and fame.So much has been written about Silverchair over the years but very little has been said by the band's members. In Love & Pain, drummer Ben Gillies and bass player Chris Joannou retrace their footsteps from when they were childhood friends living across the road from each other, and share their wild, unforgettable and often hilarious stories from the rock 'n' roll spotlight, along with the exhilarating highs and heart-wrenching lows they faced along the way.There was also all the love and pain that came from being in the band: the cost of fame and intense pressure on two teenagers who had no way of preparing for it; the complex dynamics of navigating friendships with each other and their relationships with friends and family members; the mistakes they made and the successes they cherished. Gillies and Joannou write with vulnerability and raw and blistering honesty, making for an extraordinary account of a band adored by so many.