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9780648360506

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Reviews

Dennis has an exceptional knack for storytelling. He has been brutally frank and open in baring his soul. What shines through is the beauty, joy and sorrow of a shared humanity, the power of love and the enduring strength of family. Paul Isaac, Goodreads Book Reviewer Review on Smashwords by: Jude23 Ryan on Aug. 19, 2018: Dennis brings together a well told series of family history through major periods in his life. There are numerous anecdotes when Dennis' youthful endeavours ended with dramatic consequences for himself and his mates. When the responsibility of being a husband and father begins Dennis'career takes him to remote locations. There is humour as he recounts the hardships he encounters and colourful characters come to life in his descriptions of his colleagues. Dennis' partnership with Kathy highlights their lasting love for each other through joys and sadness. This is a story about key people who influenced his life and the relationships that developed in different Australian settings. (reviewed 13 days after purchase) Review on Smashwords by: Samlees on Aug. 15, 2018: A well written account of growing up in the 50s in a dysfunctional family and the lack of understanding of mental illness at the time. Dennis writes with self deprecating humour of his adventures through adolescence and early adulthood. The later part of the book deals with his career in the resource industry with many anecdotes from those on the front line of resource exploration. He later gives a graphic account of his wife's stroke and the reordering of their life. This is the life story of an intelligent man as he overcomes and is enriched by life's traumas. Well worth reading (reviewed 10 days after purchase) Review on Goodreads by: Peter Havord on Aug. 17, 2018: Harrison's intimate self-portrait is a vivid palette of memories and dreams, of deeds and doctrines framed by a sometimes troubled youth and often eclectic manhood. Told with candour, wit and pathos, his themes of struggle, failure, sacrifice, affirmation, love and triumph are timeless. His prose is simple, direct and unadorned. As fresh and pungent as a hand full of crushed gum leaves. This work is ultimately a love letter to the lives, the times, and to the country that shaped him. It also marks the arrival of a potent and authentic voice in Australian literature.

Author Information

I have had a 45-year career as a Geologist exploring and developing resources. My career was an exciting one which allowed me to mix with people from all walks of life. I was very lucky to ride the Australian resources boom and participated in a number of oil and gas discoveries. I rose through the ranks and built up over 36 years of experience in Australia's premier onshore oil and gas basin, the Cooper-Eromanga Basin. In my later years I was a consultant to the industry and because of my knowledge obtained and promoted acreage through my own private companies. I have been retired from my resources career for some five years now. My wife of 50 years Kathy and I decided to downgrade to an independent senior's living village called ""The Village"" at Coorparoo. Best decision we ever made. It is the beginning of a new life for us. We are both participating in Pilates, Yoga, gym work and dancing. I am teaching Tai Chi, active in the Variety group, choir and writing. I have always loved walking the roots of which were formed during my extensive field work years as a geologist. I have cut my teeth on poetry, short stories and a novella, all unpublished, and have completed my first book ""You Could Be Prime Minister One Day Son - Memoir of a Baby-Boomer"". The book has been six years in the making. I am interested in transformation, becoming, evolving into a new entity over time. Transformation can be an exhausting process of course but it sure beats stagnancy. I have experienced impermanence in my life attending four different secondary schools, being employed with nine different companies, self employed as a consulting and contract geologist for many more companies. Kathy and I have lived in six different houses in four different states of Australia. I have conducted field work in all states of Australia bar Tasmania and worked in New Guinea and New Zealand. Impermanence and change has become a Harrison family trait since that day in 1960 when my father decided to move from Perth to Melbourne. My fundamental motivation is to participate in creating a better world. My interests are family, health, ageing, psychology, philosophy, religion, travel, music, writing and the arts.

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