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Back on Track

Back on Track 1

How one man and his dogs are changing the lives of rural kids

by Bernie Shakeshaft and James Knight
Paperback
Publication Date: 09/07/2019
5/5 Rating 1 Review

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$33.25

A thought-provoking and heart-warming story of how one man (and his working dogs) is giving rural kids, on their last chance, a second chance.

As a kid, Bernie Shakeshaft's mischievous and reckless behaviour led him to became known as the wild one of his devout Catholic family. It isn't surprising that his path led him to the Northern Territory, a place where people often go to either lose themselves or find themselves. Bernie, a searcher for his purpose in life, found himself.

He had many jobs, firstly as a ringer on a cattle station owned by the Packer family, and later as a dingo trapper for the Parks and Wildlife Service. Throughout it all, he drank, he swore, he fought, and took chances with his own well-being. But, crucially, he also developed deep connections with the Indigenous people, and it was these connections that helped lay the foundations for what was to come. He worked for youth welfare organisations, and all the while he built up his knowledge about helping wayward youths, particularly those from Indigenous communities.

Years later, Bernie was living in Armidale. He'd been visiting too many kids in prison and going to too many funerals. The usual methods weren't working so that reckless, mischievous kid inside him decided he could do better. He started a youth program called BackTrack, with three aims: To keep them alive, out of jail and chasing their hopes and dreams.

For most, this was their last chance. Combining life skills, education, job preparedness with rural work, Bernie threw in one other factor: dogs! And it works. With the help of these working dogs, the lost boys (and girls) find their way back on track. These days, Backtrack youth tour the country competing in dog-jumping trials. Bernie and the BackTrack team are now supporting other communities in Dubbo, Condobolin and Bourke and have forged a new beginning for over 1000 young people. This one man is making a huge difference.

In Back on Track, bestselling author James Knight tells Bernie's story and the stories of those whose lives he has saved. It is a powerful reminder that we should never give up on our kids.

ISBN:
9780733642128
9780733642128
Category:
Memoirs
Format:
Paperback
Publication Date:
09-07-2019
Publisher:
Hachette Australia
Country of origin:
Australia
Pages:
336
Dimensions (mm):
234x154x26mm
Weight:
0.44kg
'This fella Bernie, he's a good fella, a bit of a genius really. What a great story.' - Russell Crowe
James Knight

James Knight has worked in network television, independent documentaries and is a bestselling author. He has written twelve non-fiction books, with topics including cricket, travel, mountaineering, and human-interest biographies.

He wrote The Dragon's Journey, an incredible story about Vietnamese boat person Duy Long Nguyen; The Man From Coolibah, the bestselling biography of outback legend Milton Jones; and most recently worked with Sally Faulkner on All for my Children. James lives in Sydney.

This title is in stock with our overseas supplier and should be sent from our Sydney warehouse within 3 - 4 weeks of you placing an order.    

Once received into our warehouse we will despatch it to you with a Shipping Notification which includes online tracking.

Please check the estimated delivery times below for your region, for after your order is despatched from our warehouse:

ACT Metro  2 working days

NSW Metro  2 working days

NSW Rural  2 - 3 working days

NSW Remote  2 - 5 working days

NT Metro  3 - 6 working days

NT Remote  4 - 10 working days

QLD Metro  2 - 4 working days

QLD Rural  2 - 5 working days

QLD Remote  2 - 7 working days

SA Metro  2 - 5 working days

SA Rural  3 - 6 working days

SA Remote  3 - 7 working days

TAS Metro  3 - 6 working days

TAS Rural  3 - 6 working days

VIC Metro  2 - 3 working days

VIC Rural  2 - 4 working days

VIC Remote  2 - 5 working days

WA Metro  3 - 6 working days

WA Rural  4 - 8 working days

WA Remote  4 - 12 working days

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Amazing what can be achieved when someone thinks outside the square and seeks diversion rather than incarceration for children who have kicked hurdles in their lives. What an uplifting and positive response to an increasing problem in our society. Would it not be advantageous if we could expand this wonderful intervention program to help turn around other troubled young people and, in doing so, enable them to become useful and productive citizens and gain respect for themselves.

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