Arnie: Pearls and Luggers in the Torres Strait (2021), jointly written by Lee Duffield with an older cousin, Arnie Duffield, is a biographical and historical treatment of life in Northern Australia. It was launched in September at the Queensland Maritime Museum where it also formed part of an exhibition on indigenous water craft including the sailing luggers. The book records the long life of Arnie Duffield in a vivid historical setting: the Great Depression, boom and bust in the pearl shell industry, the Japanese pearling fleet, dangers of diving, war on Australia’s doorstep, a disastrous oil spill in the straits, the build-up of tourism, a parallel story of advancement on the part of the Torres Strait Islander community – building to the successful Mabo case in Australia’s High Court. The narrative has space for many adventures involving crocodiles or sharks, narrow escapes on bush airstrips, and a high speed mercy dash across Torres Strait to save a downed pilot. Arnie: Pearls and Luggers … can be obtained on line from the publishers, Xlibris.com, or at selected bookshops in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Thursday Island. For information: lee.duffield2@bigpond.com

Read more in the attachment below.