A Farmer’s Memoir

Title: The Young Farmer

Author: Gordon Hirth

Price: $19.95

Publisher: Shawline

Publishing

By Samantha Elley

When Gordon Hirth was a young farmer, he had to deal with the Great Depression, drought and the World War Two years which brought with it rations and shortages of every kind.

Born in 1926, Gordon remembers the tough days of farming and the back-breaking work it was, compared to today.

e Young Farmer is a memoir of his life as he struggled in his early years on the farm at Werneth in Victoria, mid-way between Ballarat and Colac.

While he has good memories of his time on the land, the nal straw came for him in January 1944 when a devastating and widespread grass re swept through the area, bringing with it devastating losses. e account has been described as a reference book for future generations, a rst hand account of living on the land through some of the toughest events of modern times.

His farm ‘Glen Cairn’ did not escape the trauma and he spent the rest of that year, working to get the farm back on its feet.

By the end of 1944 he had had enough and le to pursue another career.

Farming never fully le his blood though, and it was in later years that he went back to it on a part-time basis, rediscovering some of the satisfaction and joy that people on the land swear by.

Nominated for both the WA Premier’s Book Awards and the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards for 2023, this is one for the book shelf.

You can order your copy of Walking Her Way Backwards from shawlinepublishing.com.au local kids.

“Having this piece of equipment is incredible for Kids Ward and is vital for sick babies that present needing medical care,” Rebekka Battista, Our Kids Fundraising Coordinator, said.

“Large pieces of equipment often stay on the Our Kids Wishlist for a while due to the price tag; however, thanks to the generosity of these groups working together, we were able to purchase the Giraffe quickly,” Rebekka said.

Representatives from the Local Government Golf Day and ‘Team Samson’, including members of the Lismore 41st Battalion who play a vital part in organizing the Lismore Samson Fitness Challenge, visited the hospital to see how the ‘Giraffe’ helps

The Knappick Family donated last year, and part of their donation kickstarted the funding for the Resuscitation Unit, followed by the Local Government Golf Day and the Lismore Samson Fitness Challenge in March this year.

Our Kids works with the Nursing Unit Managers (NUM) in the paediatric areas of each local hospital to determine items for the Our Kids Wish List.

Since 2001, through the community’s generosity, Our Kids has purchased over $2.3 million worth of equipment for local hospitals in Northern

NSW to help keep kids local when they need medical care.

If you or your business would like to partner with Our Kids, please email info@ourkids.org. au or phone the Our Kids Offce at 6620 2705.