‘Bush Tragedies’ is the latest offering from Moree-based, award-winning journalist and writer, Bill Poulos – a compilation of the crimes, murders and tragedies from the dark pockets of Australia’s history, written in stark detail. These stories had long since been forgotten – until now.
Bill Poulos has spent over three years researching news clippings, court documents, State and National archives, as well as private documents and information supplied by family members. He has delved into Australia’s turbulent and lawless past with this collection of 23 true stories recalling crimes, murders and tragedies from across western NSW and south-western Queensland that once made headlines around Australia. Poulos has detailed the rogues and villains, their unfortunate victims, and the lawyers and judges who decided their fate in this creative non-fiction work, covering the years from the mid-1800s to the 1950’s.
“Rather than compile boring, historical essays, I wanted to make these stories as interesting as possible,” Mr Poulos said.
Mr Poulos freely admits this work came about as a tangent to another work he was researching, but was confident that the overwhelming intrigue and curiosity sparked in his mind by the historical reports continually sidetracking his progress would also captivate other readers.
“I kept getting side-tracked by sensational headlines and news reports about murders, crimes and tragedies in towns and villages across western NSW and the bottom end of Queensland” said Mr Poulos.
“The creation of Bush Tragedies was entirely accidental.”
“This book is a classic case of serendipity, given I was working on a completely different project when the idea for this book came along.”
The pages of ‘Bush Tragedies’ will take readers on a gruesome journey across outback NSW, stopping at the small towns and villages where these shocking crimes and tragedies unfolded. This book chronicles historically notorious events from many local towns, villages and settlements including Goondiwindi, St George, Narrabri, Bingara, Inverell, Warialda, Quambone, Dubbo, Coonabarabran, Biniguy, Gilgandra, Garah, Mungindi, Boggabilla, Terry Hie Hie, Barraba, Collarenebri, Uralla and Moree.
Bush Tragedies has already received some great reviews by fellow authors. Reviewer Judith Flitcroft, the author of Walk Back in Time, said Bush Tragedies was a “meticulous and well researched work of brutal and sordid crimes, and accidents of awful, immeasurable and diverse events” which was also “an incredible tribute to country law enforcement officers and judiciary ‘back in the day’.”
Reviewer Kenneth N. Price, a retired Vietnam veteran and author of Broken Lives and Kokoda Mist, said: “Bush Tragedies is a collection of short stories that brings to life the early settlement times of western NSW and south-western QLD. This work will amaze you, shock you and on occasions bring a tear to your eye.”
The book is currently in the final stages of production with Sid Harta Book Publishers and will be available in bookstores and retail outlets by the end of August. It is currently available as “pre-order” online at Booktopia.
Mr Poulos, however, strongly encourages readers to support their local bookstore where possible.
“Please check with your local bookshop or retailer about the availability of Bush Tragedies – there’s nothing better than over-the-counter sales to support small businesses, especially in country areas.”
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