Fairfield Press Fairfield Press i(A146148 works by) (Organisation) assertion
Born: Established: Preston, Preston - Northcote area, Melbourne - North, Melbourne, Victoria, ;
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1 y separately published work icon Tree Whisperer : The Story of Wilhelm Habel Norman Habel , Preston : Fairfield Press , 2013 6144425 2013 single work novel historical fiction

'Deep inside, I am a Wend. I am a son of the soil. I am at home in the forest. I still listen to the trees. Wilhelm Habel is my great grandfather. This is his story and my reading of his life. As I researched his journey, I began to wonder whether there was a hidden link between his spirit and mine or whether the strong connection is simply genetic. I became curious as to whether my great grandfather had an influence on my identity even before I knew his story. After considerable research, reflection and analysis of the family stories, a radical change took place in my writing. I discovered a dimension of Wilhelm's history that revealed something about my own identity. Throughout my life, my parents and grandparents in Australia spoke of themselves as German Lutherans. I discovered that my Habel ancestors were not Germans at all, but Wends who lived in Silesia, a province under Prussian rule. The Wends, sometimes called Sorbs, were of Slavic origin. For centuries, groups of Wends were closely associated with the forests of Europe, where they made their living by selling whatever they could find -everything from honey and wax to furs and timber. Many of the Wends became established members of farming communities or country villages. To highlight the spirit and strength of Wilhelm's story I have chosen to write a work of historical fiction...As I recount his dramatic story, especially his journey to Australia, I find myself in tune with Wendish ways of viewing the world and with the spiritual impulses that move them. So the book is my reading of Wilhelm's story and how his forest wisdom guided his spirit. It is the story of a tree whisperer in tune with nature and the mysteries of creation. It is the story of my Wendish spiritual father. (Based on the Prologue)

1 1 y separately published work icon The Postie and the Priest Ron Burrows , Preston : Fairfield Press , 2011 Z1850748 2011 single work biography 'The announcement that Fr Bob Maguire had been recognised as the 2011 "Victorian of the Year" came as no surprise to those who know him. People from all walks of life, from all religious backgrounds and none, have seen in Fr Bob something of the compassion of Jesus of Nazareth for those in need of kindness, acceptance, forgiveness, generosity, hospitality and encouragement.Perhaps he might sometimes be somewhat intolerant of insincerity of any kind, but his decades of selfless work for the under-privileged and the homeless, both young and not-so-young, have rightly gained him the admiration of thousands; and he has, for many years, presented a face of the church that is realistic and credible to countless people whose links with Catholic Christianity were either non-existent or had been badly damaged.Enter his postman - an impious postie, Ron, who develops a unique friendship with the priest. During their sessions in the rectory, Fr Bob, with his long-legged poodle lolling in an armchair, tells his stories against the background noises of ringing telephones and the door bell constantly buzzing.Despite their friendship, this is no hagiography but a biography about the iconic priest.' Source: Libraries Australia. (Sighted 23/03/2012).
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