Looking for a good book

[batesy]

Something always happens to me when I'm on holiday someplace - I do a little light reading/research before departing on my adventure but when I arrive at my destination I soon have an urge to unearth more info about the area.

Eventually I get back home and start reading a few books about the place - then get itchy feet about wanting to take a closer look at the holiday destination I had just visited.

If you have the same problem then this thread is for you.

Read a note-worthy book? Then feel free to suggest it to others.

My list:

Battlers of the Bush - First hand account of mining the Wenlock Goldfields.
Gold and Ghosts - Maps and details of Gold finds around the country.
Rice in the Weevils (No Swag too Heavy) - Iris Wallace's account of life at Merluna.
1000 Ounzes: Irene Taylor - Mal Brown retells Cape York icon, Iris Taylors life in Coen

plus many more to come.

If you are interested in obtaining these books but are struggling to find them, feel free to drop me an email (address is on contacts (http://www.capeyorker.com/contact) page of capeyorker.com)

[ant]

For my picks: you have to include all the field guides to the cape, guides such as the bird and fishing books. I have them all, even the ones about insects, spiders, dragonflies, etc. I like to know everything about where I am.

For other books, as long as it involves fishing of some sort then it has to be good. I have a stack of books that I have reviewed. When time is better, I will post a few of them up.

[YOYO]

For both batesy and Ant I would reccomend a book that both of you will understand well and appreciate...........

Toyota cruiser Repair Manual.LOL

[Nedly]

For what it's worth these are some of the books I have found, in no particular order.

River of Gold (Victor Holthouse) - A history of the Palmer River gold rush.
Mango Country (John Van Tiggelen) - Not sure what this one is about, haven't read it yet.
The Australian Geographic Book of Cape York (Hector Holthouse) - History, travelogue, photo's.
Cape York, the Savage Frontier (Rodney Liddell) - History of Cape York and the Islands.

I have read River of Gold and am reading Savage Frontier. It is amazing the things these people did and were forced to do to survive back then.
Well worth the read if you are interested in the white history.

Anyone know a good book of the Jardine history?

[ant]

YoYo, thanks for the thoughts. Mine is still in the original plastic. Not bad for 1987 model!

Are you able to wipe the grease off the pages of the Patrol manual or do you need to order a new one every 6 months?? You may be able to save some dollars by viewing the manual online. Oh Yeah-grease on the keyboard-nasty!!

[Nedly]

Then of course, while it may not necessarily be classified as a book, there is CAPE YORKER magazine.

WOOHOO, my copy of the first issue has just arrived :) :)

While I have heard it referred too by some as dodgy (you know who you are), and it's true, it may not be the thickest magazine, it is certainly all QUALITY.
Now, all I have to do is read this publication within the next couple of days, ..... why, ..... because the 2nd issue will be here within the week.

[YOYO]

YoYo, thanks for the thoughts. Mine is still in the original plastic. Not bad for 1987 model!

Are you able to wipe the grease off the pages of the Patrol manual or do you need to order a new one every 6 months?? You may be able to save some dollars by viewing the manual online. Oh Yeah-grease on the keyboard-nasty!!

Don't even own one. Have never had to put a spaner to it yet, just go to the servo and put some diesel in it. Thats about how technical it gets when you own a NISSAN. Not a bad try for a joke from a toyo owner.

By the way of course it would be still in its original plastic i don't think your mechanic is that stupid that can't fix anything thats wrong with it. I'm sure he's fixed Thousands upon Thousands of Toyo's before day in day out. Seriously ant you know NISSANS rock your world inside and out.............

[ant]

Allright-thats it YoYo-enough of the cheap banter. Anyone who lives and plays in the Cape knows that the only vehicle to own up here is a tojo. Here are some shots of a patrol from last year. As you can see, this one didn't even make it to Weipa. It was bought brand new from Cairns and made it as far as Archer.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Now where is your two thousand word comeback!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[batesy]

I know a secret - just between you and me Yoyo - before Ant brought the Cruiser he was considering a ... a ... god, I can't even say it ... a JEEP..!!!! :D

But that's just between you and I.

[ant]

Okay! As sure as I love fishing and the cape, I would never consider a JEEP or a PATROL. The whole Jeep thing was my wife's idea and as you know "Happy Wife-Happy Life" it is easier to bend than to break. As luck would have it, the Jeep dealer in Bris actually talked my wife out of the deal for a new Jeep and we ended up with the better car-a Toyota!

I have other stories-want to hear about my thoughts on tyres??????? C'mon Batsey, take the bait..............

[YOYO]

Oh my god, ANT was going to buy a jeep. So you want tell me your fishing spots hey. (low blow coming ANT)

your wife says you have to buy a jeep so you go to do so. It took a stranger to convince her otherwise so you didn't.

Maybe I should ask your wife for the GPS points sounds like she's the BOSS.LOL

[YOYO]

Allright-thats it YoYo-enough of the cheap banter. Anyone who lives and plays in the Cape knows that the only vehicle to own up here is a tojo. Here are some shots of a patrol from last year. As you can see, this one didn't even make it to Weipa. It was bought brand new from Cairns and made it as far as Archer.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Now where is your two thousand word comeback!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MATE good photo. If you re read my post i said that NISSAN ARE THE BEST not the people that drive them. Old mate that bought it thought he was bullet proof. Just becasue he was stupid enought to contest a raging flow of water doesn't take anything away from Nissans.

ANT a question for you

Do you Honestly think that the Toyo would of have made the crossing?

If yes please explain in detail. If the answer is No you know were you can shove those 2000 words.

(Ant your a good bloke I hope you Know i'm kidding about the 2000 words. I know how sensetive you are being a cruiser boy and all)

[ant]

YoYo,
No prob with the comments. Nothing wrong with a good dose of healthy sledging!

Now back to business: In actual fact, the Nissan was following two Toyota's. True story. In regards to the blame being on the driver-it kinda goes with the territory. If you are crazy enough to buy a Nissan ,then hey the rest is history.

Now where is my 2000 words!!!!!!

[Coza]

This Thread is really off topic. Oh yeah I'm with you Yo Yo Go the Nissan.
The Toyota's must of been tray back's yeah.

[batesy]

Waayyy off topic.

Anyway, back on topic....

Cooktown wharf features briefly in a book by Errol Flynn called 'Beam Ends'.

When Errol was 19 he won a schooner (yacht, not beer) in a card game, then sailed it up the coast. It's a hard book to find, but apparently it's a lively account.

I think you can get it at the Cairns Historical Society Bookshop.

[YOYO]

Waayyy off topic.

Anyway, back on topic....

Cooktown wharf features briefly in a book by Errol Flynn called 'Beam Ends'.

When Errol was 19 he won a schooner (yacht, not beer) in a card game, then sailed it up the coast. It's a hard book to find, but apparently it's a lively account.

I think you can get it at the Cairns Historical Society Bookshop.

MATE i know i was way off topic but at least it was fun reading I got excited when I saw the word schooner in your post till i realised it was a yacht.

[Nedly]

Is this still Books of Interest ?
I'll go back and have a look..........., ah yes, I'm in the right Thread.

Found a book the other day with a few photo's and lots of words.
Bit of a coffee table book, but seems to have a bit of info in it.
Book title:-
Cape York Peninsula, a Natural History by Dawn & Clifford Frith.
Book seems to be part of the Wilderness Society.
No cheap though, don't expect to get much change out of a 50.

[batesy]

I think that book has some of Kerry Trapnells pics in it.

We chucked some more of Kerry's photos in the new mag - and of course the cover shot is one of his.

[Nedly]

I think that book has some of Kerry Trapnells pics in it.

We chucked some more of Kerry's photos in the new mag - and of course the cover shot is one of his.

I'm assuming you are talking about the cover shot on the latest mag.
That is an excellant photo.
To think, he apparently took that shot without filters, the man is obviously a genius.
And yes, it does have some of his photo's, as example:-
Remote Waterfall, Northern Cape York Peninsula, 1991.

Where the hell is that fall ?
I suppose you could tell me, but then you would have to kill me, right.
Awesome place.

[batesy]

Err, the ummm, remote waterfall ... what remote waterfall ... don't know nothing about it...

I gotta stop letting these places get into print otherwise I'm going to have a very short lifespan.

[kingchevy]

Err, the ummm, remote waterfall ... what remote waterfall ... don't know nothing about it...

I gotta stop letting these places get into print otherwise I'm going to have a very short lifespan.

Just for the record there is no magical remote waterfall it was all in batesy's head. I swear c'mon guys don't you believe me?

[Dipmaker]

Just trying to get this thread back on track by suggesting a book called "Too Many Spears" by Peter Pinney and Estellle Runcie, it is about the Jardines and history of the Cape.
p.s could all NISSAN owners please in future not hijack these threads, you don't see us TOYOTA owners sinking to such low levels.:)

Cheers, Dipmaker.

[batesy]

Just trying to get this thread back on track by suggesting a book called "Too Many Spears" by Peter Pinney and Estellle Runcey, it is about the Jardines and history of the Cape.
p.s could all NISSAN owners please in future not hijack these threads, you don't see us TOYOTA owners sinking to such low levels.:)

Cheers, Dipmaker.


I think I might go looking for this book in the library here.

Which reminds me ... if anyone stops over in Weipa for a day or so, do yourself a favour and go and have a look through the Cape York Collection in the library. There are a swag of maps and old photos in files and drawers etc. The collection is only in a small room, but if you flick through the two index books/catalogues on the bench you will come up with some great stuff. Just ask the librarian how to go about it.

The collection even has a rare copy of 'We and the Baby' - the story of two kiwi fellas who drove the first car (a baby austin) to the tip in the 1920s.

[YOYO]

I think I might go looking for this book in the library here.

Which reminds me ... if anyone stops over in Weipa for a day or so, do yourself a favour and go and have a look through the Cape York Collection in the library. There are a swag of maps and old photos in files and drawers etc. The collection is only in a small room, but if you flick through the two index books/catalogues on the bench you will come up with some great stuff. Just ask the librarian how to go about it.

The collection even has a rare copy of 'We and the Baby' - the story of two kiwi fellas who drove the first car (a baby austin) to the tip in the 1920s.

YEAH WATCH ME i come to wiepa for a couple of days and the very first thing I'm going to do is go to a library. Mate what are you smoking

Thanks for the great advice. Bloody cruiser driver

[batesy]

YEAH WATCH ME i come to wiepa for a couple of days and the very first thing I'm going to do is go to a library. Mate what are you smoking



It wasn't directed at you Yoyo ... I know you can't read any word that has more than four big 'X's in it...!! :)

[burdekinbarra]

I love it.......

[campdog]

Just trying to get this thread back on track by suggesting a book called "Too Many Spears" by Peter Pinney and Estellle Runcie, it is about the Jardines and history of the Cape.
p.s could all NISSAN owners please in future not hijack these threads, you don't see us TOYOTA owners sinking to such low levels.:)

Cheers, Dipmaker.
Ive seen lots of toyotas sinking to low levels.anywhere there is mud.

[campdog]

Allright-thats it YoYo-enough of the cheap banter. Anyone who lives and plays in the Cape knows that the only vehicle to own up here is a tojo. Here are some shots of a patrol from last year. As you can see, this one didn't even make it to Weipa. It was bought brand new from Cairns and made it as far as Archer.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Now where is your two thousand word comeback!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Corruption going on here. Kinkychevy pushed him in, he said so himself.

[campdog]

I think I might go looking for this book in the library here.


The collection even has a rare copy of 'We and the Baby' - the story of two kiwi fellas who drove the first car (a baby austin) to the tip in the 1920s.
I thought it was called ewe and the baby. Wasnt about kinkychevy was it?

[Googy]

I know they didn't do the cape but I wonder where I could get a copy " Northern Safari" that used to do the rounds of the cinima when I was a kid

[batesy]

I know they didn't do the cape but I wonder where I could get a copy " Northern Safari" that used to do the rounds of the cinima when I was a kid


I had a chat last yeat to the old fella who made that northern safari flick - I think he lives in Adelaide. He posts out the DVD and Book, you can order from his website I think.

I'll go see if I can find it again.

[batesy]

http://www.crocodilesafariman.com/

[Googy]

Thanks for that Batesy. I hope it's still as good as I remember when I was a kid. You know what it's like when you tell your kids to watch something you remember was cool and you watch it as an adult and think "how did I watch this crap"

[Lushy]

The book written by the Moons is also a great resource for any body thinking of heading to the cape.

[xina]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the website for Northern Safari Batesy. Keith Adams lives in Karrinyup, W.A. I mailed my order for the DVD and Book combination today. His e-mail address is keith.adams@bigpond.com .
xina.

[xina]

Hi Guys,
I had my DVD and Book in a week. Book's good at a quick check, but haven't played DVD yet. Another few book titles: UNSUNG HEROES of the QUEENSLAND WILDERNESS by Glenville Pike. ( Pioneering our remote Far North. 1870-1914. ) CAPE YORK PENINSULA by Lennie Wallace. ( A History of Unlauded Heroes. 1845-2003. ) WOMEN of the WEST by Helen Gregory & W. Ross Johnston. ( It covers early historical times up to the present day in Queensland. Both Lennie Wallace and Thancoupie rate a mention, and it's about the conditions Women had to contend with. )
CAPE YORK to the KIMBERLEYS by George Farwell. (He wrote at least 10 books about Australia.) OPAL MEN by P. Vin WAKE. ( About Coober Pedy and Andamooka.)
'till I find some more,
xina.

[xina]

Hi Batesy,
I thought I might have "Beam Ends", but I haven't. The one I've got is "Showdown", which he is supposed to have written about actual events that happened after he got to New Guinea in that yacht. (Fictionalised of course.) Still makes an interesting read.
xina.

[dave]

The book written by the Moons is also a great resource for any body thinking of heading to the cape.

yeah thats a great book ^
and capeyork a 4wd adventure lynn / yvonne fraser

i just picked up a copy of les hiddins bush tucker man( explore wild australia )
and its a great read.
has lots of capeyork info ! bushtucker on the cape obviously clear colour pics drawings ect " plenty of good maps ,gulf/ cape history ,+ gulf savanna way /red senter and kimberleys is covered as well..

[Stacky]

For all the WW2 history buffs there is a book that has just been released by Michael Musumeci. It is very informative and factual with a lot of old photo's and good reading. It is about WW2 in Cape York and mostly concentrated around the Iron Range area.

I think you phone him personally and order it.
Sorry i don't know much more than that but you can Google his name to get further info. If it helps, he is the Sargeant at Ravenshoe.

[xina]

Hi Stacky,
I've got a little (119 page) book by Walter Battison, who was stationed at Iron Range/Portland Roads during the war, titled Jungle Outpost. It's an interesting book about conditions they worked under, and what they did in their down-time. One chapter is headed Crocodile Hunting on the Claudie.
Events in camp could be quite exciting too.
I can't find him on the White Pages site, so he might not still be alive. He was 25 when he was up there in 1943. It's a 1994 publication.
There was a Hospital at Portland Roads. The concrete foundations are still there. At least they were in 1986/7.
Cheers,
xina.

[batesy]

For all the WW2 history buffs there is a book that has just been released by Michael Musumeci. It is very informative and factual with a lot of old photo's and good reading. It is about WW2 in Cape York and mostly concentrated around the Iron Range area.

I think you phone him personally and order it.
Sorry i don't know much more than that but you can Google his name to get further info. If it helps, he is the Sargeant at Ravenshoe.


Yep, I'll give the book a thumbs-up. The book is great. Some excellent personal accounts by the fellas Moose interviewed.

Tons of pics too.

If you want a copy, send me an email: chris @ capeyorker.com and I'll fire you back the Sarge's contact details.

Wait a sec ... I may as well chuck the order form details here:

-----------------------
MAIL ORDER FORM


Post to: Michael Musumeci
PO BOX 37
Ravenshoe Qld Australia 4888

PRICE: $55.00 + POSTAGE $10.00
TOTAL: $65.00

Please forward ( ) copy/copies of Iron Range Airbase – carved in the Cape York Jungle 1942 – 1945

NAME – Mr/ Mrs/ Miss/ Ms………………………………………………………

Address……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………
Postcode………………………………….Country……………………………….

Please find enclosed my Cheque or Money Order for the Total of:

……………………………………………………………………………….


You may also wish to utilise payment via Bank Account

Acct Name: Michael Dean Musumeci
BSB: 064812
Acct Number: 10181145
Branch: Commonwealth Bank


---------------------------------------------

[xina]

Hi guys,
For anyone interested, there is a great little book titled--- LOST MINES & TREASURES of Northern Australia. Authentic Stories of Old-Time Prospectors. WITH MAPS. By F. G. Brown. Plan to do a little looking myself one of these days.
Cheers,
xina.

[Meliors]

Something always happens to me when I'm on holiday someplace - I do a little light reading/research before departing on my adventure but when I arrive at my destination I soon have an urge to unearth more info about the area.

Eventually I get back home and start reading a few books about the place - then get itchy feet about wanting to take a closer look at the holiday destination I had just visited.

If you have the same problem then this thread is for you.



You describe me to a T.
I read the Australian geographic book and the '07 Cape Yorker mag before I left, both were great, I wish I'd brought the geographic book along with me, also the Australian bird field guide... But instead I got Cape York Peninsula: A History of Unlauded Heroes 1845-2003
out of the library. I tried, but just couldn't get into it: my low tolerance for poor editing didn't help. Instead I reread Antartica by Kim Stanley Robinson, one of my favourite books and ironic to read about a cold wasteland while travelling through such a hot one!
Thanks for all the recommendations here, I will be following some up in the Cairns library system.