DUTY NOBLY DONE, ADAM HOLLOWAY

This is the extraordinary story of 11 family members who served in the Great War and told by one of their descendants. Holloway weaved together stories from his family’s letters, diaries and memories. He skilfully shows how the brash confidence of Australian youth soon gave way to the harsh realities of a nightmare surrounded by death and madness, fear and despair.

BEFORE I FORGET, GEOFFREY BLAINEY

Professor Geoffrey Blainey has been one of the country’s most celebrated historians and writers since his debut work The Peaks of Lyell almost 70 years ago. That book explored the origins of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company in Queenstown, Tasmania. At age 89, the man deemed a National Living Treasure by the National Trust penned Before I Forget, a beautifully written memoir of the first 40 years of his own history, conjuring wonderful memories of Australia from the 1930s on.

THE LAST NAVIGATOR, PAUL GOODWIN

The author’s father Gordon Goodwin flew 32 missions with the Pathfinders, on bombing raids into Germany, and 65 missions with Bomber Command over enemy territory. Having survived a traumatic childhood, Gordon was ready for anything in the war and his calm, unflappable nature helped him later in his long career with Qantas. In the days before satellite communications the airline needed dedicated navigators to guide long-haul aircraft by the stars.

OAM is the bestselling author of numerous Australian historical titles and biographies. His most recent are Flinders and The Remarkable Mrs Reibey. Next April he will release a biography of the famous WWII nurse Vivian Bullwinkel.