Welcome to the book launch of Phil's latest book, The Red Dust.
My childhood was spent on my parent’s property, west of Griffith on the edge of the Hay plain. This property was one of sixty that were a part of a soldier settlement scheme. It is dated during the 1960s.
In 65 and 66 there was a severe drought. “The Red Dust’ tells the story of the community during this dry time.
Although the novel tackles such issues as isolation, education, distance, social structure, first nation people and the aftermath of WW2 on the settlers, the novel
obsessively deals with the women who followed their husbands into this hash environment.
Marg Stirling, the main character, has difficulty finding her place in this land that offered her little. The story follows her realisation and acceptance of her lot in this
very tough land.
In this novel I have tried to capture the spirit of the outback. It’s extremes, it’s unpredictability, the constant battle to survive but most importantly it’s great peace
and beauty. It is a description of the uniqueness of this land and its effect upon the inhabitants.
It has been written as homage to my parents and the community we were a part of.
by author Phil Aughey
