THE MAN NEXT DOOR and other true stories of war and peace
SERGEANT RAY McMILLAN WAS an aircraftman on the Hudson bomber that sunk the Awazisan Maru in 1941 — an episode captured in Frank Harding’s painting that adorns the cover of The Man Next Door, by Mike Colman. Years later, Mike read the war diaries of ‘Mr McMillan’, a next-door neighbour from his youth, and discovered an epic tale of heroism and survival that is the basis for the book’s opening chapter. It is the first of 14 stories — all true and featuring an extraordinary cast of characters — that provide rare insights into Australia’s war experience from Gallipoli to Vietnam.
Ray McMillan was a prisoner of war from 1942 to 1945. What he went through, and how he readjusted to ‘normal’ life after the war, make for a remarkable story. Mike Colman follows in the footsteps of his grandfather and great uncle, who landed at Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915. There are stories of Keith Payne, Australia’s most decorated soldier in Vietnam, war brides and the Rats of Tobruk, the quest for recognition for Indigenous Digger Charlie Blackman and the search for the ill-fated hospital ship AHS Centaur. In the final chapter we meet the children of Sutton Veny, a village in Wiltshire, England, who annually honour the 143 Anzacs buried in the local church cemetery.
‘No one is glorifying war, least of all people who have experienced it,’ writes Keith Payne in his foreword. ‘But it is still important to tell the human stories about those who have served, and those they left behind.’
Ray McMillan was a prisoner of war from 1942 to 1945. What he went through, and how he readjusted to ‘normal’ life after the war, make for a remarkable story. Mike Colman follows in the footsteps of his grandfather and great uncle, who landed at Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915. There are stories of Keith Payne, Australia’s most decorated soldier in Vietnam, war brides and the Rats of Tobruk, the quest for recognition for Indigenous Digger Charlie Blackman and the search for the ill-fated hospital ship AHS Centaur. In the final chapter we meet the children of Sutton Veny, a village in Wiltshire, England, who annually honour the 143 Anzacs buried in the local church cemetery.
‘No one is glorifying war, least of all people who have experienced it,’ writes Keith Payne in his foreword. ‘But it is still important to tell the human stories about those who have served, and those they left behind.’
MIKE COLMAN ON SPORT
MIKE COLMAN DIED IN JULY 2024. HE WAS LONG REGARDED as one of the best storytellers and most respected sports writers of recent times. A Walkley Award-winning journalist and author, Mike covered major sporting events across Australia and internationally, including seven Olympics, six Commonwealth Games, four Rugby World Cups and many Ashes, State of Origin and Bledisloe Cup series.
Mike Colman On Sport is, in the words of best-selling author Trent Dalton, a ‘soaring collection’ of Mike’s finest ‘longform’ work.
The book covers a broad range of sports, from the football codes and cricket to billiards and indigenous marathon running. The chapters on State of Origin rugby league are a feature, which is not surprising given Mike’s back story: as a reporter working in Sydney and then Brisbane, he has lived both sides of the rivalry. This rare perspective shines through in his tale of the very first Origin (played in 1945) and in chapters on Darren Lockyer, the men who have played just one Origin game and the history of the iconic ‘Queenslander!’ chant.
These stories sit alongside revealing profiles of some of Australia’s greatest sporting heroes, such as Makybe Diva, Jason Day, Anna Meares and Cate Campbell. Four Olympic silver medallists explain why their medals were as good as gold. The chapter on former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans reminds us that we shouldn’t judge current Wallabies coach Dave Rennie on a couple of games. Mike’s award-winning writing from the Rio Olympics, when he describes the feats of Kyle Chalmers, Usain Bolt and Neymar, is superb. His tributes to two giants of Australian sports journalism, Richie Benaud and Mike Gibson, might be even better.
This is one of those books where if you ask ten different people for their favourite chapter, you’ll get ten different responses. As you read each story, it’s hard not to think: How does Colman do it?
Another feature of the book is Trent Dalton’s introduction, which captures Mike’s passion for longform sports writing. Trent’s admiration for Mike’s work goes back to the days when they shared a desk at the Courier-Mail. He has written one of the all-time great book intros.
Longform sports journalism might be a writing style from another era, but with all the chapters self-contained and Mike’s love of sport shining through, this is unquestionably a sports book for today.
Mike Colman On Sport is, in the words of best-selling author Trent Dalton, a ‘soaring collection’ of Mike’s finest ‘longform’ work.
The book covers a broad range of sports, from the football codes and cricket to billiards and indigenous marathon running. The chapters on State of Origin rugby league are a feature, which is not surprising given Mike’s back story: as a reporter working in Sydney and then Brisbane, he has lived both sides of the rivalry. This rare perspective shines through in his tale of the very first Origin (played in 1945) and in chapters on Darren Lockyer, the men who have played just one Origin game and the history of the iconic ‘Queenslander!’ chant.
These stories sit alongside revealing profiles of some of Australia’s greatest sporting heroes, such as Makybe Diva, Jason Day, Anna Meares and Cate Campbell. Four Olympic silver medallists explain why their medals were as good as gold. The chapter on former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans reminds us that we shouldn’t judge current Wallabies coach Dave Rennie on a couple of games. Mike’s award-winning writing from the Rio Olympics, when he describes the feats of Kyle Chalmers, Usain Bolt and Neymar, is superb. His tributes to two giants of Australian sports journalism, Richie Benaud and Mike Gibson, might be even better.
This is one of those books where if you ask ten different people for their favourite chapter, you’ll get ten different responses. As you read each story, it’s hard not to think: How does Colman do it?
Another feature of the book is Trent Dalton’s introduction, which captures Mike’s passion for longform sports writing. Trent’s admiration for Mike’s work goes back to the days when they shared a desk at the Courier-Mail. He has written one of the all-time great book intros.
Longform sports journalism might be a writing style from another era, but with all the chapters self-contained and Mike’s love of sport shining through, this is unquestionably a sports book for today.