Blackjacks

About the Book

This book is based on our lives. It starts very briefly in the United Kingdom and quickly moves to the Eastern Highland of Rhodesia. It moves through our childhood while we’re living in the eastern border areas, Umtali, Sabi Tanganda, and Chipinga. As we pass through our teenage years and become adults, it travels with us to Western Australia and then back to Chipinga. We share the lives of others as the Rhodesian Bush War escalates in what was a quiet and idyllic country town to one of the most dangerous and deadly districts in Rhodesia. Then the books deals with our final move back to Western Australia and our struggle to once again build a life for our children and ourselves. To most people, this may seem to be an unusual life, but to a Rhodesian, it would be considered pretty much the same story as many other families. Although it is our story, there are many stories told by others who have shared our way of life. It is about love, hate, and humor. It is about determination and desperation. It is about life and death and friendship and community spirit. Most of all, I hope it is a monument to those who died or were seriously injured, physically or mentally, black or white. It is also a salute to those incredible farmers, the Rhodesian armed forces, and those who worked in the rural areas during those troubled times. For me personally, writing this book has been a huge emotional journey.

About the Author

Tony was born in the UK but the family moved to Rhodesia before he was a year old. Like many Rhodesian children he spent his childhood with the wonderful freedom of the African bush. As a young teenager the family moved to a small and quiet country town but his time was spent at boarding school with holidays at home. He was conscriped to the Rhodesian army at the age of eighteen and when his army training was complete he travelled and lived in South Africa and Australia and then returned home to the small country town. After just two years he once again trevelled to Australia where he married his childhood sweetheart Anne and they once again returned home. For the next ten years they lived through the Rhodesian Bush war in a district that was full of terror and death. With constant army call ups, the fight to keep businesses afloat and the death of friends they found friendships with people who had to face the same hardships in their daily life. When the war ended in 1980 a new battle began as they tried to rebuild their lives and businesses. Finally the last move back to Australia with their three children all born during the dark years and the challenge of business in another country and establishing a home where young children could grow with no fear or racism.