In order to get more accurate results, our search has the following Google-Type search functionality:
If you use '+' in front of a word, then that word will be present in the search results.
ex: Harry +Potter will return results with the word 'Potter'.
If you use '-' in front of a word, then that word will be absent in the search results.
ex: Harry -Potter will return results without the word 'Potter'.
If you use 'AND' between two words, then both of those words will be present in the search results.
ex: Harry AND Potter will return results with both 'Harry' and 'Potter'.
If you use 'OR' between two words, then bth of those words may or may not be present in the search results.
ex: Harry OR Potter will return results with just 'Harry', results with just 'Potter' and results with both 'Harry' and 'Potter'.
If you use 'NOT' before a word, then that word will be absent in the search results.
ex: Harry NOT Potter will return results without the word 'Potter'.
Placing '""' around words will perform a phrase search. The search results will contain those words in that order.
ex: "Harry Potter" will return any results with 'Harry Potter' in them, but not 'Potter Harry'.
Using '*' in a word will perform a wildcard search. The '*' signifies any number of characters. Searches can not start with a wildcard.
ex: Pot*er will return results with words starting with 'Pot' and ending in 'er'. In this case, 'Potter' will be a match.
This true story of John, a young schizophrenic man, the eldest of four boys, who grew up in Canberra at the time Walter Burley Griffin was designing the lake, in a happy home where he had fun, got up to mischief with his brothers and was regarded as a promising student. A trip overseas as a young man when he had followed the 'love of his life' resulted in a bout of mental illness and the onset of schizophrenia. At the time he was physically unwell and emotionally devastated with a broken heart after their break-up and he was such a long way from home. This is as much a story about John's family as well as John and the setbacks and heartbreak they experienced when dealing with the mental health authorities. It also illustrates police brutality and general lack of understanding in the area of mental illness in the 1960s until John was a forty-year-old man. John's parents wrote fruitless letters to the authorities and were left with a situation where their son could not be guaranteed appropriate treatment and their minds could never be put at rest about his wellbeing. Despite the hopelessness and sadness there are glimmers of John's wry sense of humour in this book.
John had several daring adventures and escapes from mental institutions. His parents never knew what difficult and emotionally shattering situations would crop up next. John's parents are left wondering whether there has been any more progress in the treatment of the mentally ill, their experience having left them feeling helpless. John can no longer be helped and lives in a 'world of his own' and his parents are left bewildered by the attitudes of the authorities and doctors who do not seem to value the input of families into understanding mental illness. About the Author Frances was born in Canberra and she spent her early childhood in the country where her father was a farmer and grazier. They later settled in Canberra where Frances has continued to live. She is the third of four children. During her school years she studied pianoforte and has always loved music and later studied the guitar as well as dance. Married young, as was the fashion, and together she and her husband have raised four sons. When the youngest was settled at school Frances returned to study and found work in the arts which she continues today as a volunteer.
She has always enjoyed books and writing, seldom sends an email;, preferring to write long newsy letters to relatives and friends scattered around the world. Travelled widely throughout Australia as well as overseas adventures, visiting relatives and friends,sightseeing and further study for her interests in the arts. Loves food and enjoys cooking, especially teaching her grand daughters, and growing vegies with her husband for whom she is carer.