Please join authors Ruth and Don Pollock in conversation at our Port Macquarie Library on Monday 13th May at 2.30pm.
Meet Ruth Pollock author of the fictional novel, Clouds and Sunshine, set in Gunnedah and her latest book, “Hard Women,” a trilogy of three generations of women who overcame the challenges of the past century. Ruth converses with Don Pollock on the anthology, Suggy’s Men, about the operations of the first RAAF unit in Vietnam. Together they discuss the journey of two seniors in the publishing of their books when Covid closed their business after 27 years.
CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE
Ruth’s first book of fiction Clouds and Sunshine is the story of two daredevils with dreams of the future. From the days of settlement during the early 1900s in the mid-western New South Wales farming region, to the 1980s, there is generational discord, inheritance arguments, and jealousy, all of which ultimately create dissension between the characters, while adventurous pursuits continue in the isolated, NSW, country town of Gunnedah.
In the 1980s when Don was a leading stunt pilot in Australia, Ruth wanted to attempt wing walking with Don but it was illegal at that time. So with research and an acceptable way around the illegalities, the unfolding of the story became an exhilarating journey. Ruth explored the world of wing walking through the character’s eyes and got a taste of what it was like to be up in the clouds.
Being part of the Writers’ Group for nearly two years has been very satisfying for Ruth and she admits that the knowledgeable discussions that develop around the table at both the night group and the day group have boosted her confidence, widened her mind and influenced her writing. The support of the group members has been constant and empathetic.
SUGGY’S MEN
Don will include a presentation on Suggy’s Men. Now in its second edition, the anthology describes operations of the first RAAF unit in Vietnam in 1964 and its relevance to the present world situation. Most events in the book were personal experiences of those involved in and post-Vietnam. The first commander of that unit was Chris Sugden, who had a most interesting service career (three wars in three different roles), and in retirement was a grazier at Eungai Creek, built his own brick dwelling at Macksville and was the mayor of
