This is what I mean about his quality of having ‘enough’ and being at peace: I have never felt like I was tied down to any one place or any one job. I would have stayed behind if I had known. His thoughts on war: Some men who didn’t go got a rough time, but we never said anything to them because we thought they had some brains. I even put in an extra wire around the sheep gate in case the dingoes troubled them. At night I used to roam around with my rifle and make sure everything was safe. I was a little scared at first, but soon settled to doing the daily chores. I felt very proud of myself – my fourteenth birthday wasn’t until the next month but they had enough confidence in me to leave me to look after their possessions. So, with these instructions, they set off on their much needed holiday. On the harsh responsibility thrust upon a thirteen-year-old boy. the birds and animals of the bush were all great company and very nice to see and hear. On his beloved surroundings and birds: They made the bush a beautiful place and helped one forget about loneliness. From wrestling pigs (to be eaten for lunch) to working for the Employees’ Union of Workers, he was heavily committed to his family and country, landing at Gallipoli and surviving that terrible ordeal. Self-deprecating and deathly honest, I imagine him to have been a very calming soul. His stories are told with candour and humour he tells us simply how it was. Albert had a hard life, being forced to work laboriously from age 9, working his little heart out for at times, little or no money, sometimes for people of little or no morals. The mere fact we are able to read the story of his remarkable life is testament to his hard work and tenacity having taught himself to read and write. I have to say this is a thoroughly thoughtfully told life story, of Albert Barnett Facey, an Australian born in 1894.

I picked up this by recommendation of my daughter, and the owner of Dymocks when spending a Christmas voucher.

Albert facey a fortunate life