Alan and Joy Johnstone - A Story of Love and Loyalty

Alan and Joy Johnstone’s journey of loyalty and love started with a cheeky wink and an impish grin from Alan to Joy at a Friday evening dance in the spring of 1958. Subsequently, they married and produced, nurtured and raised four fine sons, all of whom have raised their own families based on the values they saw so effectively modelled by Alan and Joy.

Alan has enjoyed much business success and his long and unique contribution to the Footscray/Western Bulldogs football club has seen his efforts being recognised first with a Life Membership in 2001, and being named as Number 1 Ticket holder in 2014.

In 2015 – after 55 years of marriage – they remain committed to their family, friends and each other. And they remain the forever young, energetic, loving and available ‘Millie and Lal’ to their 10 adoring grandchildren.

Alan and Joy’s story is set against a family background that contains a rich array of interesting and colourful characters who have included blacksmiths, bricklayers and butchers; housemaids, homemakers and horsemen; wool classers, wine growers and wine merchants, fruiterers, farmers and French polishers; public servants, publicans and prospectors and from within horse racing circles, owners, trainers, jockeys and gamblers!

This is a story worth telling. Enjoy the read!

Contact destobin@killaghy.com or call Des on 0417 510 211 for further information.

THE UNDERTAKERS' MOTHER

The Undertakers' Mother is a biographical novel about two people who were raised on opposite sides of the world and who were married because one of them was in great need. It is a story of love, loss and loyalty and a tribute to the indomitable spirit and endurance of people of their time in history.

Newly married Thomas and Maria Tobin arrive in Marvellous Melbourne from Ireland in 1889. They settle in South Melbourne among many of their own countrymen and faith and start a family. With the onset of Depression in the early 1890s and the discovery of gold in Western Australia, Thomas uproots his family and heads to the goldfields, but ultimately settles in Fremantle.

Melbourne born Alice O'Dowd is growing up in the love and security of her Irish-born parents and siblings when Thomas's wife dies in childbirth. Alice's life changes dramatically and unexpectedly when, in answer to Thomas's request for her 'hand', Alice's parents send her to Fremantle to marry him.

Their story is told lovingly by their granddaughter Denise Tobin Shine who has skilfully blended fictional characters, with the facts based on their lives. Finally, in their old age, Thomas and Alice are able take great pride in the success of the family business - Tobin Brothers Funerals - founded by four of their sons in 1934.

The Undertakers' Mother is available from selected booksellers or direct from the author Denise Tobin Shine by visiting www.theundertakersmother.com $35.00 + $8.50 postage and handling (within Australia)

MICHAEL TRICARICO - The Journey not the Destination

Michael Tricarico and his siblings are descended from southern Italian peasant farmers. Their father Giuseppe came to Australia in 1927. Their mother Angela and sister Lina followed in 1930.

The family lived in east Gippsland where Giuseppe worked as a farm labourer. In 1946 the family moved to Silvan in the foothills of the Dandenong ranges to share farm. The farm produced str awberries, beans and other fresh produce.

From the age of 15 Michael took produce to the Queen Victoria wholesale market in the family truck – driving without a license. He became a grower’s agent and later was a successful wholesale fruit and vegetable merchant.

In 1960 he commenced distributing sprayers and pumps on behalf of a Queensland manufacturer - Marino Products. This led to the establishment of Silvan Australia which has become one of Australia’s leading manufacturers and distributors of quality agricultural and horticultural machinery, equipment and accessories.

Now approaching his 80th year Tricarico is a modest, unpretentious, and successful self-made businessman. He describes his life as having been ‘a wonderful adventure with people’. His story is about the ‘journey’ rather than the ‘destination’.

This handsome (coffee table) volume of 210 pages is lavishly illustrated and has a RRP of $69.95. Killaghy Publishing website purchasers pay only $49.95 + $9.50 postage/handling.

To order your copy of Michael Tricarico - The Journey not the Destination please use the Contact Us form.

FRANK COSTA - Family, Faith and Footy

Second edition incorporating details of Geelong Football Club's historic 2007 AFL Premiership.

Des Tobin's critically acclaimed biography of prominent businessman and Geelong Football Club President FRANK COSTA, has been revised and updated to include the details of the 2007 AFL Football season and the Geelong Football Club's historic grand final victory.  

The book traces the history of the Costa family; Frank's childhood and teenage years in Geelong; the commencement and growth of the Costa family business; Costa's faith and family life; his work for the Geelong Community and his lifelong passion for the Geelong Football Club.

Two new chapters dealing with the 2007 AFL football season have been added.  Every Geelong 'home and away' and finals match has been covered and the new edition includes photographs of the AFL grand final which Geelong won for the first time since 1963.

To order your copy of FRANK COSTA - Family Faith and Footy, now priced at $30.00 plus $9.50 postage and handling, please use the Contact Us form.

SIMPLY TOOGOOD - Peter Toogood's Life in Golf