Cirrus@Austlit

'For 13-year-old Cairns high school student, Willy Williams, life is not going smoothly. He has developed a passionate interest in girls, particularly the beautiful and mysterious Petra.

'But Willy is also bedevilled by temptation and is torn between his desire for Petra, admiration for red-head Barbara, and hopeful lust for Marjorie, his best friend’s sister.

'Worse, Willy has a secret enemy who makes his life a misery, as do the school bullies who pick on him at every opportunity. Complicating matters, his own poor choices do not help. Were the makeshift rockets and drone really good ideas?

'Willy is also fascinated in all things that fly and is an avid model aircraft hobbyist. As a First-Year member of the Australian Air Force Cadets, his dream is to one day become a pilot in the RAAF. But even as an Air Cadet he has enemies and challenges.

'But when a major crisis happens, his skills at piloting radio-controlled model aircraft is vital. Will his model of the Red Baron’s triplane bring him rewards or end his cadet career in disgrace?'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Fifteen-year-old navy cadet Tina Babcock is in love. But Tina is very shy, inexperienced and unsure of herself. While on a cadet canoe expedition on remote Koombooloomba Dam in the jungles of Far North Queensland, she and her friends encounter a gang of dangerous poachers.

'Tina's life is in peril because of the secrets she now knows. In a desperate struggle to escape, she must use her navy cadet skills and wits to extricate herself from the gang's clutches. Tina must push herself to the very limits of endurance to give herself a fighting chance of survival... and love.

'Cockatoo is suitable for teenage and adult readers with an enjoyment of adventure-spiced romance.' (Publication summary)

'Sixteen-year-old Air Cadet Willy Williams and his instructor are forced to make an emergency landing in their light aircraft at an isolated cattle station in the vast wilderness of Far North Queensland. As the repaired aircraft is taxiing to take off, a woman rushes toward them screaming for help. Behind her is an armed and dangerous criminal desperate to protect the secret he's hiding at the station, at all costs. The man takes aim at the airplane and fires, thrusting Willy into the most desperate situation he has ever encountered. To survive, he must use all the knowledge and skills he has learned as an air cadet. Over the next few days, Willy is tested to the limits of his character and physical endurance. Willy is torn between what he must do to survive and the person he actually is. Can he save the woman from the hands of the criminal gang? What terrifying choices tear at his conscience? Willy struggles to survive through the Devil's Eye and do what he believes to be the right thing.' (Synopsis)

'For twelve-year-old battleship hobbyist, Graham Kirk, opportunities like this don’t come along every day. He jumps at the chance to fulfil his dream of becoming a sailor like his father and enlists as a navy cadet. But he has discovered girls and is torn between doing what’s right and doing what’s forbidden.

'When at a party, Graham overhears a terrorist plot to sink a US navy destroyer as it sails into Cairns harbour. But who should he tell when his superiors don’t trust him? And what role does his new girlfriend, Thelma, have to play? Is she just an innocent anti-war protestor, or has his desire for her blinded him to the awful truth?

'His initiation into the navy cadets comes with some unexpected—and dangerous—complications… and Graham quickly learns that there’s no substitute for self-respect and being true to yourself.' (Publication blurb)

'"Hello Sailor!" the curvy blonde calls. Andrew, a 16 year old navy cadet, looks and is at once interested. Maybe this holiday in Cooktown might not be so bad after all, he thinks.

'Andrew is at that age where he is very interested in girls but he has not yet learned the social skills needed to sustain a relationship. His girlfriend Tina (another navy cadet) thinks she is being taken for granted and dumps him.

'During a short voyage on a navy patrol boat the cadets are spectators to the capture of a suspicious old freighter and then help search for an old naval mine that has been reported by fishermen on Hope Island. The mine is found and the patrol boat has to go to Cooktown to pick up a team of bomb disposal divers. While there Andrew meets some of the local girls and suddenly the prospect of spending the Christmas holidays at the famous bush pub, the 'Lions Den', looks quite attractive. But on their return to Hope Island the mine, now identified as having been laid by a German raider during World War 2, is nowhere to be seen. It has drifted off on the tide.

'After returning to Cairns Andrew's family travel to the 'Lions Den' and there Andrew and his big sister Carmen explore the surrounding country and river banks and meet some of their relations and a host of unusual characters. There is romance, lust, romantic opportunities and sadness. Andrew is faced with difficult choices (which girl?) and hard moral decisions during the following weeks. The difficulties are compounded when Tina, who is Carmen's friend, comes to join them after Christmas.' (Publication summary)

'Air Cadet Willy Williams wants nothing more than to become a pilot in the Australian Air Force. Willy is passionate about flying… and girls. His current fad is airships. Not content with making working models he decides to build his own.

'Whilst test flying his airship, Willy stumbles upon the grisly murder of his uncle. Willy and his friends are plunged into dire peril. During this testing time Willy learns much about himself, the meaning of true friendship, and love.

'Come along for the flight and share Willy’s adventures in the mountains of tropical Far North Queensland.' (Publication summary)

'Kylie, 13, her brother Graham, her friend Margaret and other, are about to begin a six day trail ride. Up until now Kylie's main interests have been her friends, her pets, dancing and horse riding. But she is now reaching that age where she is developing an interest in boys. She has hopes of romance.

'She also has hopes that Margaret's love for Graham will be returned. But there are many obstacles on the path of true love, and also many rivals. As her mother has warned her: 'A girl may have to kiss many toads before she finds a prince!'

'But on the very first day, before the horse riding has even begun, it looks as though the pleasure may all be spoiled. While the teenagers are at the Herberton railway station for its ceremonial re-opening a dramatic incident occurs that threatens many people, including Kylie and her friends.
The incident sparks a trail of adventures that is to test Kylie as she has never been tested before. Before she wins through she must use all her courage, cunning and determination. She must push herself to her limits. At the same time she finds herself emotionally torn and her loyalty and honesty questioned. It will be the toughest challenge of her young life.

'So join the friends on their horse ride through the rugged ranges west of Herberton as they explore both the fascinating history and scenery of that wild land and their own relationships. Be with Kylie as she struggles to win in a quite unexpected adventure that involves horses, horse racing, the Australian bush, a ghost town and the Kelly Gang.

'The Kelly Gang? This story is set in the 21st Century, not the 19th! So read on and solve the mystery.' (Publication summary)

'Fourteen year-old Navy Cadet Andrew Collins enrolls in a SCUBA diving course on the Great Barrier Reef to impress Muriel, the girl of his dreams. There's only one problem: Andrew is terrified of diving, not to mention the sharks, eels, and every other dangerous critter inhabiting the Coral Sea. Despite his fears, Andrew inadvertently stumbles onto an old family mystery: the mysterious disappearance of his grandfather, lost at sea many years before. The deeper they delve into the mystery the deeper they are caught in a deadly web of lies and danger. Andrew must face some agonizing choices and do battle with his worst nightmares. Read along and find out what happens to Andrew and Muriel in this rip-roaring adventure on the high seas. ' (Publication summary)

'The massive triangular mountain called Walsh Pyramid stands one thousand metres above the floodplain in Far North Queensland. Eight army cadets are hiking towards it, when they encounter a shadowy figure who tells them a tale so bizarre they find it difficult to believe. But not Stephen Bell. He knows it is true and urges the group to act immediately.

'As they clamber up the mountain in a desperate race against time, they collide headlong with forces they barely imagined could exist.

'Over the ensuing four days they are tested emotionally, spiritually and physically as they seek to vanquish the evil that lurks atop the mysterious pyramid.

'An evil that knows no limits.' (Publication summary)