In this charming and touching story David Cox remembers his bush childhood. He recalls Goonong, the family farm, and the animals, the funny neighbours with the blacksmith shop, the gig his dad made out of an old car trailer and being kicked in the head by the gig-horse Robin.

Life was good even though it was the time of the Great Depression. The travelling picture show came to town and there were big dances in the community hall. But then the drought came, one year after another.

The waterhole dried up,the cows grew thin and in the end Goonong had to be sold. David remembers the sadness as the family left the land they loved but also the excitement of looking forward to a new life in the city.
This heartwarming story is told in David's words and his lively and humorous illustrations. What a lovely way for children to learn about life in the outback a long time ago.
Age guide 7+

In an autobiographical note at the beginning of this important book David Cox writes, `I often think of my childhood and the farm that we were forced to leave. It was always the place we thought of as `home'.' The anecdotal record that forms the text along with David's distinctive line and wash illustrations - is important because it is a faithful human record of a time and lifestyle of which few children today know first hand. It is a way of life that has helped define Australia what it is today. Naturally there is an inherent strain of nostalgia at work; especially for people like this reviewer who also reflects fondly on his childhood and the farm that played such an important part in forming himself and his siblings. This is an absolutely faithful record, and it is essential that it be preserved not only for those of us who have experienced the joys and the solid values of growing up in a cohesive rural community, but for city children for whom milk is something that comes in a bottle or carton. The publishers are to be thanked for helping preserve part of our nation's heritage - and in such an appropriate and pleasing format. No website, or even a carefully constructed documentary, could achieve what David Cox has in this book so generously shared with his readers.
Apart from the countryside itself- beautifully sketched - the portrayal of its folk, their horses, cattle, the domestic animals, even their vintage car, David shares with us a wonderful gallery of characters. There is Mrs Johnson, dressed up with hat and gloves, who is bumped out of the car, hangs on to the open door, is prised off and seated on the running board shaking with laughter. Jack Sunday is one of the timber-getters, belongs to the Bayali people, and teaches the kids to box. Neighbourliness is pervasive. At the big dance in the community hall two polite old farmers invite the two tomboy girls of the family, dressed in their best, to dance - while dear old Mrs Johnson whirls the first-person narrator himself across the floor so fast that his `feet hardly touched the ground'. Cox's touch is light; humour shines through the text, but is never forced. His book breathes authenticity - and is to be treasured as a rare gift in this ephemeral, throwaway literary climate. MS