John Aylmer

Staying Alive John Aylmer

How does a kid stay alive while danger lurks in the bush and the river? A memoir of growing up on a farm in the tropics of North Queensland, Australia in the 50s and 60s.

This heartfelt collection of illustrated short stories captures a series of incredible experiences, as seen through the eyes of a mischievous farm kid. Growing up on a farm presented many risks for an active child. Yet while his parents battle crop failures, cyclones and floods there is still time for childhood adventures, simple entertainment and humour.

This memoir records anecdotes from a time that has slipped into history.

Follow the farm lad as he dodges snakes, crocodiles, near drowning, the perils of the Australian bush and shares fun times with mates. As a teenager, he explores new fashion, music and the moral changes of the 1960s while coming to terms with the mysteries of adult behaviour.