Book review with Torquay Books

Minds Went Walking: Paul Kelly’s Songs Reimagined

Jock Serong, Mark Smith, Neil A. White

With contributions by Robbie Arnott, Alice Bishop, Zoe Bradley, Jake Cashion, Sam Carmody, Lorin Clarke, Claire G. Coleman, Sarah Drummond, Laura Elvery, Kirsten Krauth, Julia Lawrinson, Matt Neal, Bram Presser, Mirandi Riwoe, Tim Rogers, Angela Savage, Jock Serong, Mark Smith, Neil A. White, Gina Williams and Michelle Wright.

For many of us, lyrics from Paul Kelly help tell the stories of our lives.

From Jock Serong on the fastest Ford in Western Australia to Lorin Clarke on the death of her revered dad-comedian John Clark-and from Gina Williams on the “special treatment” of the people of the Noongar nation to Bram Presser on the ghosts that inhabit St Kilda, 21 writers enter the Paul Kelly songbook and let their minds go walking.

$32.99, Freemantle Press

The Power of a Football

Peter Cullen

“The people who need sport the most have the least access to it. A football club can do more than win a premiership in a season. Is that possible? Yes, it is. It can save a life.”

– Peter Cullen AM

A few decades ago, on the streets of St Kilda, a young man popped up with an alternative to what was being offered to those seeking solace from the “dark side”.

That young man was Peter Cullen, and the alternative he offered – to addiction of any kind – was playing community sport.

Specifically, kicking an Aussie Rules football around.

“If you can kick a footy, you can kick a habit” – Father Bob Maguire (AM RFD)

Thirty years later, Reclink Australia offers evidence-based programs to people experiencing disadvantage.

Its reach has spread from urban Melbourne to all parts of the continent, in both major cities and outback communities, as well as regional areas, fostering socially inclusive, life-changing opportunities to people who would otherwise have little or no access to either.

The Power of a Football is a collection of the stories about these people, these communities, and the army of volunteers and generous supporters who have made Reclink’s work possible.

Authors of some of the stories in The Power of a Football include Martin Flanagan, Tim Rogers and Adam Yee, along with moving vignettes by, or about participants in the program, stories from the front line, and stories from behind the scenes.

The stories are interspersed with photo-essay of players, by Bruce Davis, and with testimonials – long and short – from supporters including Jeff Kennett AC, Anthony Albanese, Andrew Gaze AM, Rev Tim Costello AO, Graham “Smokey” Dawson AM, David Rhys-Jones, Tim Watson, Andy Maher, Sam Kekovitch, Paul Roos, Kevin Sheedy … and many more.

$39.99, Dirt Lane Press

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