Defeating Terror is a behind the scenes look at the hunt for the Bali bombers. Although, given the nature of the book, many of the names and situations, have been altered for legal reasons. The author, David Craig, was a senior officer in the Australian Federal Police (AFP), he has trained with international forces including the…
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Tim Flannery, is a leading writer on climate change, a scientist and an explorer. His current book, Sunlight and Seaweed, explores the possibilities on how to feed, power and clean up the world. Whilst it’s no book for dummies, it is a rather accomplished achievement put together, cleverly researched and bounded in a not-too-thick book…
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To review a book based on a small nook of the life of a hated book critic, to be in the head of Raymond Saint and to be included in his thoughts and actions throughout makes me want to drink a bottle of red to soak it all in – however, if I did grab…
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Debbie Malone experienced six near death experiences in 1992, and from this her life changed. She could see dead people. Initially she was fearful of the visions she was witnessing till she began to embrace her spiritual awakening to try and help the spirits by investigating their murders or help find their missing bodies in…
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The Northern Territory Government has this week announced the appointment of Rhonda Roberts AO (Order of Australia) as curator of the second annual Parrtjima – A Festival in Light event in Alice Springs, which will run from Friday 22nd September to Sunday 1st October 2017. A Festival in Light is the first authentic indigenous festival of…
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“Uniforms conceal and uniforms reveal. They wrap the bodies of millions of Australians every day, deflecting sun and rain, insulating against heat and cold, making feet more mobile, camouflaging thighs and chests that would be distracting to display openly and correcting our all-too-human anatomy by lengthening legs, broadening shoulders and masking disappointing hairlines!” Craig Wilcox, with…
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Dirk Kurbjuweit is deputy editor-in-chief at Der Spiegel, receiving numerous awards for his writing over the years. Fear is the first of his works to be translated into English, as well as being adapted for film, television and radio. Fear is set in Berlin and East Germany, around the time the Berlin Wall went up. Randolph Tiefenthaler,…
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Stating that “no risk was too great for him to take”, William ‘Billy’ Sing, the real life protagonist of Ouyang Yu’s new book Billy Sing, arrived in Gallipoli in 1914 and became one of our greatest snipers. Whilst now regarded as a war hero, his start in life wasn’t always so auspicious. Born in 1886, Billy grew up,…
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The Northern Territory presents in its second year, Parrtjima – A Festival In Light. The magnificent free public event showcases the oldest living culture through the newest technology, illuminating 2.5 kilometres of the McDonnell Ranges, a 300-million-year-old canvas, plus more from Friday 22nd September to Sunday 1st October in Alice Springs. The showcase is an…
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Following on from documenting the life of the great Jim Henson, author Brian Jay Jones has given us another comprehensive biography, (and international best seller), this time of Star Wars creator George Lucas in George Lucas, A Life. George Lucas, A Life opens in March 1976 with Lucas having a tough time filming in Tunisia…
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Bernhard Schlink is a German lawyer and writer. His internationally best selling novel ‘The Reader’ became an Oscar winning film staring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes. He lives in Berlin and New York and he takes us from Germany to Australia in his current novel The Woman on the Stairs. The nameless narrator of this book…
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Cut, the new book from Marc Raabe, starts with Gabriel, an eleven year old boy, discovering a secretive and disturbing crime that happened in the family home, before both his parents are killed. Then the story moves forward 29 years later and we learn where Gabriel is now, what happened to his little brother and just…
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Holly Throsby is an Australian singer songwriter (and now novelist) who has five albums under her repertoire as a solo artist. Holly has now thrown her voice out and her thoughts in, to showcase her new debut novel, Goodwood. Goodwood is a story not about musicians or anything related to the musical world; it’s a…
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Alice Springs presents A Festival in Light – Parrtjima (‘pronounced ‘par-chee-ma’), a dramatic light show that stretches 2.5kms on the MacDonnell Ranges. The naturalistic themed piece references the drama and power of natural landscape. A Festival in Light is the first authentic indigenous festival of its kind ever held. This is dog story country and…
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Art installation – when you hear those words, what visions are created in your mind? Now think about an art installation based not far from Uluru (Ayers Rock), I bet that raises your eye brows. So, it’s now time to book your flights to Yulara, Ayers Rock and witness the incredible Field of Light by…
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The line up for today’s A Day On the Green at Bimbadgen Winery in the Hunter Valley has a stellar line up featuring a plethora of talented musicians. The venue appears to be practically sold out as there isn’t much green left to sit on, the regular general admission punters always arrive early to grab…
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Next time I’m heading into the city to meet up with friends at Federation Square they will find me round the back enjoying a beer (or two) at BEER DELUXE – isn’t that just the most fabulous name for a place serving over 250 types of beer plus a decent food menu! Tucked at the…
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As I enter La Svolta I am warmly welcomed by owners Valerio Calabro and Giuseppe ‘Pino’ Russo and I immediately feel like I’ve come to an Italian home as my hand is shook, names are vocalised and I am ushered outside to their new, ready for summer, dining space to eat and drink their exclusive…
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On a recent, starry night Melbourne’s reimagined retail icon Melbourne Emporium, created and hosted by creative visionary Baz Luhrmann, promised to be one of the biggest, most celebrated events on Melbourne’s calendar this year. We were lucky enough to head along to the launch, melting into the glitz and glamour as this lush shopping precinct…
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Matilda Bay Brewery, founded in 1984, threw a 30th birthday party and we were invited to help celebrate their occasion. It was perfect that the party reflected that delicious era of music from the 1980s, but mixed it up with music from the 90s and now. A cab took us to the Matilda Bay Brewery…
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Armageddon Expo – when you hear the name, what does it conjure up in your mind? The book of revelation will tell you it’s the end of the world between good and evil. Going to this festival you will see it is full of characters that are portrayed as good and evil as well as…
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The Royal Exhibition Building hasn’t seen a sight like Oz Comic Con since the zombie’s shuffled past it last year. Today there are scores of die hard comic and movie fans all streaming into the building to gain knowledge about a favourite actor, score some great purchases or meet new friends. A scene of mecca…
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Writer Paul Ham gives the history of the Sandakan Death March, a war march that lead to only six survivors. Nothing is spared in this book, which gives details of the gruesome punishments the prisoners went through, how they died and how the very small few survived. Cannibalism, bayonetted, shot, starved, given no illness, medical…
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Welcome to the world of Lola Bensky, born in Germany to parents who survived the Auschwitz death camp. Lola grows up with her parents dodging questions about their past, a dysfunctional family due to the war with a language barrier with unhappy yet loved times. After leaving school Lola found herself travelling to America and…
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I’ll See You Again is a book that will resonate with any person, male or female, with or without kids. A family is pulled into darkness at the awful and sudden loss of their three daughters in a car accident and the parents Jackie and Warren have to come to terms with a house filled…
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Burlesque – when you hear the word, what does it conjure up in your mind? Perhaps twirling dancers, lace outfits, stunning costumes? Or maybe nipple tassels, whips and leather? No matter where your mind wanders, tonight’s Miss Burlesque Australia 2013 will cover all areas – and whilst we personally have been getting over the hot…
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In 2008, it hit Mary Beth Ditto that she was now a celebrity (she was 27 years young); it took her raunchy photo gracing the cover of the NME magazine to realise this. Yet it was only after people told her she is a celebrity that she finally believed it. After walks up the red…
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The St Kilda Festival is a relevant piece of history as well as merriment and pleasure. Each year sparkles newsworthy debates that it will end but these scares disappear in a blink of an eye and any wonder, the festival attracted 400,000 revelers in 2013 alone. Bottle shops no doubt do a roaring trade (although…
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Upon entering a gig where The Living End are playing, you will notice one thing initially – there is always a huge crowd drinking and then you will notice throughout the night the passion that leaks into each punter about this band that reigns above all else and you will find it electrifying. Fans just…
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Birds of Tokyo have been around for quite a few years now. Since their debut in Perth in 2004 and after releasing two EP’s, they released their first full length album in 2006 titled Day One. After extensive touring they released a second titled album, Universes, which was recorded in LA and has won many…
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