In this compelling book, Harold Hunt OAM charts his life from his childhood during the Great Depression to the present. One of eight children raised by a single Mum in New South Wales bush towns, with only a primary school education, he forged a career as a stockman and shearer, but then graduated as a drunk. His recovery set him on a path to help others experiencing the same horrors he had.
Though he never achieved his dream of becoming a boss drover, Harold was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2014 for services to the community. This is a good yarn by an ordinary man at 90 years who has led an extraordinary life – with humour, sorrow and ambition.
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
Harold has lived a big life in every sense, traversing most of the changes of the 20th Century. From the Corner Country, out the back of Bourke, we follow a hard and resilient man through the drover’s camps, the dust storms and drought, meeting shearers, wandering swaggies and other memorable characters of the Australian bush.
In the end, it is Harold’s compelling honesty that makes this Everyman remarkable, confiding with us about the pain and pointlessness of racism, his own human failings and the love of a woman he adored but could not hold.
–Jeff McMullen AM, Journalist, Author, Film Maker
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
What makes this a remarkable story is not only Harold’s extraordinary memory for detail, but also the way his life charts how Aboriginal people survived in “the bush” in the twentieth century. Harold’s honesty in describing his own battle with alcohol and how he overcame his addiction is a tale of triumph and will inspire readers with his courage and determination.
Harold’s autobiography, one of few written by a male, joins a distinguished list of female indigenous memoirs and sits well alongside those by Sally Morgan, Anita Heiss, Doris Pilkington and Ruby Langford Ginibi.
– Irina Dunn, Director, Australian Writers Network
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
I just wanted to tell Harold how much I enjoyed his book. It is honest, pure and from the heart with sincere and loving reflections of his mother and his “pocket rocket” (my quote) wife, Nell. How I wish I had met these two strong women who stood by their convictions, loyalty and dedication to family but never wavered in their attempts to keep the feet of their kin firmly on the ground.
Harold’s account of his life and of those around him was more than “a good story”. It was a wholly private (though not any more) and personal reflection of a life lived (rather than existed) while acknowledging a monster that could overshadow the strengths of a very resilient man who was blessed with being able to turn his hand to any challenge put before him … except one, alcohol.
I believe Harold’s vision for this book came from several fronts: The love and respect he had for his mother (and father who he still speaks of fondly and with adoration for his strengths while acknowledging his shortcomings), for his amazing wife who was as loyal, strong and caring as the day is long, for his extended family who were by his side come hell or high water and, finally, the need to tell his own yarn as he so vividly remembers it to not only purge his self-loathing at times but also to give hope to others who may fall victim to the worst drug of all – alcohol.
What an amazing man who I respect and treasure as a close friend … and always will. And what a great read. Another to add to his “life well lived” collection. To quote Forrest Gump – “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get’.” Harold’s “box of chocolate” life has dealt him some soft, hard, nice and not so nice centres but he, in such a pure and honest way, acknowledges that the love of family is the single, most important ingredient in surviving the roller coaster of life.
–Denise Chudleigh