This is the story of Tom Phelps and the 'other Kokoda Track'. Seventy-five years later, Tom's grandson, award-winning actor and writer Peter Phelps, is sharing this inspiring tale of resilience and survival. March 1942: The world is at war. Too old to fight and with jobs scarce at home, Tom Phelps found work as a carpenter in the goldfields of the New Guinea Highlands. No one expected the Japanese to attack in the Pacific. But they did. Tom and his mates weren't going to hang around and wait to be killed. With escape routes bombed by the Japanese, their only option was to try to reach safety by foot, through some of the most rugged terrain on Earth - the Bulldog Track. Back home in Sydney, Rose Phelps, their son, George, and three daughters, Joy, Shirley and Ann, waited for news of Tom's fate. George watched the horrors of war unfold on newsreels knowing his dad was 'over there'. Travelling by foot, raft, canoe, schooner, train, luck and courage, Tom Phelps, half-starved and suffering malaria, would eventually make it home. His stories of New Guinea would lead his son and grandson to their own experiences with the country. The Bulldog Track is a grandson's story of an ordinary man's war. It is an incredible tale of survival and the indomitable Aussie spirit.

Recounts the first of the New Guinea offensives by the Australian Army in WWII.

Japanese troops seized and brutally occupied New Guinea’s capital, Lae, for 18 months – until 16 September 1943. That day Australian soldiers retook the town against fierce resistance. Defeated, and after suffering huge losses, 8000 Japanese soldiers fled across the formidable 4000-metre mountains behind the town ; 2000 died on the nightmare trek. In a groundbreaking publication, independent professional historian Dr. Ian Howie-Willis unveils the untold story of 'Operation Postern' and its significant impact on the Pacific War. His latest book sheds light on the recapture of Lae, the capital of New Guinea, from Japanese forces on 16 September 1943. Through meticulous research, Dr. Howie-Willis brings to life the heroic efforts of Australian soldiers, the harrowing experiences of the Japanese retreat, and the often-overlooked plight of the Papua New Guinean village communities caught in the crossfire. Japanese troops had seized and ruthlessly occupied Lae for 18 months until the fateful day of the Australian soldiers' counteroffensive. Despite fierce resistance, the town was retaken, forcing the Japanese to retreat across treacherous 4000-meter mountains behind the area. Tragically, 2000 Japanese soldiers lost their lives during this nightmarish trek. Referred to as a turning point in the Pacific War, 'Operation Postern' shattered the Japanese belief that they could maintain control over the New Guinea mainland. Their continual retreat paved the way for subsequent successful Allied campaigns in the South-West Pacific theatre. However, victory came at a high cost, with over 2000 casualties within a fortnight for the Allies, while Japanese losses exceeded that number nearly fourfold. The exact toll on the Papua New Guinean village people remains unknown but undoubtedly significant. Dr. Howie-Willis challenges previous military histories that have marginalized the Papua New Guineans, highlighting their essential role as the "third party" to the conflict. By focusing on the village communities, he illuminates the horrific impact of the war on their lands and lives, offering a comprehensive and inclusive narrative. "Operation Postern" provides readers with an opportunity to revisit and reinterpret this crucial battle that shaped the course of history. Dr. Howie-Willis' extensive knowledge and meticulous attention to detail make this book a valuable contribution to the understanding of the Pacific War.

The Independent Companies and Commandos were a unique form of sub-unit within the Australian army during the Second World War. They were units composed of an exceptional group of individuals with very special attributes and skills who thrived on the unconventional and doing things very much in their own way. The army found it very hard to accept this at first but ultimately allowed the Independent Companies and Commandos to fight in their own style. They did this in the Jungles of Timor, New Guinea and Bougainville using tactics and procedures all of their own. As exponents of jungle warfare they were second to none and contributed significantly to important Australian military campaigns from 1942 until 1945. This history follows the story of some of these remarkable soldiers and units and the manner in which they fought the war against Japan at a time when Australia was engaged in a struggle for its very existence.

By January 1943, Australia had emerged from the shadow of war in a strong position. The victories in 1942 at Kokoda, Guadalcanal, Buna, Gona and Sanananda had secured the northern coastlines of Papua and Australia. Australian forces were now poised for a full scale offensive to liberate New Guinea from the Japanese, the largest and most complicated operations in their history. Australia 1943 explores the high point of Australia's influence on operations and strategy in the South West Pacific, a campaign that has been traditionally overshadowed by the drama of Kokoda. It investigates critical operations from January 1943 to April 1944, including Salamaua, Lae/Nadzab, Finschhafen, Shaggy Ridge, the Markham Valley and the Huon Peninsula. Australia 1943 is the first detailed single-volume study of Australia's military operations in the Pacific during 1943 - Australia's 'finest hour' in the Second World War.

"The first book to tell the whole story of the Australians against the Japanese in Papua New Guinea during World War II. This is the war as the men described it in diaries, letters and memoirs. And in interviews with war correspondents, official historians and archivists, the author has reconstructed and bought to life the war from the perspective of the men who were there"--Inside front cover.

This Book was donated to Murrurundi Library by the Upper Hunter Shire Council on the occasion of Beersheba Day, 2004.

Your Bulldog Puppy Month by Month, written by a veterinarian, a trainer, and a breeder team, provides readers with everything they need to know and do at each stage of development to make sure their playful, energetic English Bulldog puppy grows into a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted companion. Coverage includes: * Information on what to ask the breeder before bringing your English Bulldog puppy home, the necessary vaccinations your puppy needs and when to get them, and when a trip to the vet is needed. * Instructions on making potty training as smooth (and quick) as possible. * Discussion on why and how to crate train and what to do when your puppy cries at night. * Knowing when to teach your puppy is ready to learn basic commands and how to go about leash training * Socialization: why it's necessary, when it should happen, and how to make sure it does. * Exercising and feeding your puppy appropriately to ensure he stays physically and mentally healthy * When your puppy is ready for obedience training and how to make sure it works * How and how often to bathe your puppy, brush his coat, clip his nails, and brush his teeth * What causes problem behaviors, when to expect them, and how to correct them

This book is not about selling products -- it is about selling yourself, your ideas, and your services. This book explains an innovative dialogue sales process, and the relationship sales principles that underpin it. In every sales situation, there is both a seller and a buyer and, at different times, either the buyer or the seller may take the lead. The dance they perform may or may not lead to a deal, but it will leave them knowing a little more about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. These two dancers are "connected" and follow the same steps -- The five steps they follow are to plan, connect, dialogue, record, and follow up. The five steps are the basis of the dialogue process. In addition, this book provides easy-to-follow guidance for three groups of people: 1. Professionals wanting to sell their services and improve their business development; 2. Thought leaders, change agents, innovators, entrepreneurs, senior public servants, and advocates wanting to sell their ideas to others; 3. Mid-career job seekers and recent graduates aiming to sell themselves into a dream job role either full or part-time.