Trains in the Sky by Ivan G. Hawthorn
Ivan Hawthorn's Trains in the Sky is a fascinating account of childhood as a young boy in the great drought and depression of 1930s outback Australia. Growing up in an all-male household, Ivan Hawthorn documents his boyhood years with his brothers, a wonderful insight into the deprivations and the challenges and the amazing resolve of the outback families during these difficult times.
Not just a book for blokes, this is an intricate social history in which the role of women is set into sharp relief and there is more than a little love interest as Ivan grows up and pursues a career in the RAAF set against the backdrop of post war Australia. A blend of fascinating social insight, more than a passing commentary about early twentieth century farming, indigenous wildlife and the social positioning of men and women, Trains in the Sky will have you reaching for the sequel.
ANZEC Member - Ivan G Hawthorn
Born the son of a wheat farmer in outback NSW, third son of 9 siblings. I had little schooling as my parents traveled looking for work during the great drought and depression of 1929-1939. I finished school at Wagga Wagga and worked at the Rock as a farm hand. In early 1940 I was apprenticed as a mechanic at River View Motors, but left to work in the Northern Territory as a shooter and horse breaker.Returning, I married and joined the Royal Australian Air force for security and completed my mechanics training at Recruit School of Technical Training Wagga Wagga. For the next 17 years I worked my way up through the ranks, during which period I was awarded a certificate of outstanding service to Support Command RAAF and later the British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service for stabilizing a situation that could have risked the lives of the ship crew, the missile crew and subsequent loss of missiles and equipment on board LSM Brundell White in the Gulf of Carpentaria. After discharge I ran my own Garage before joining the Australian Antarctic Division where I wintered 4 time between 1970 and 1980. Returning to civvy street, I was involved in heavy forklift maintenance at Alco Australia until 1991 when involved in an industrial accident, I busted a back and after major spinal surgery every thing ground to a halt. Now permanently handicapped, but not useless, I work for the community in many ways as Formation committe member of Life Activities Club-Geelong Inc. Past President, curent Vice president, Editor and for 5 years have organised and run the Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Walk raising funds for Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia.
