Wakefield Press, 2023
Mallee Boys is set in the Mallee and tells the story of two brothers, Red and Sandy, the year after tragically losing their mum. They live with their father, Tom.
Sandy
Sandy, 15, is shy, accident-prone, introspective and loves reading. He's smart, does well at school and has good friends although his mum’s loss is always on his mind. Sandy’s goal is to get a scholarship to a private school in Adelaide, complete his senior years there and become an engineer.
Red
Red is 18 and prone to bursts of anger, unresolved issues and guilt festering since his mother’s death. He’s left school and works hard on the farm. Needing to escape constant reminders of his mum, he starts hanging out with Ryan, a shady character, and everything Red knows is insidiously threatened.
Tom
Tom, is a blokey, affable and loving dad. He’s doing his best to run the farm and support his boys – even if he cooks the same meals most nights. Tom tries to communicate and show his sons he loves them, but most of the time he doesn’t know what they’re up to. They don’t open up much, but have each other’s back when it counts.
Kids' Book Review, 2023
Sandy Douglas knows that life at fifteen is hard, but it's even harder when your mother died a year ago and nothing's gone right since. His brother Red, on the other hand, is eighteen now and working the farm. He's amped up on rage and always looking for a fight. And then there's their dad Tom. He does his best, but - really - he doesn't have a clue.
As Sandy and Red deal with girls, dirt biking, footy and friendship, both boys have to work out who they want to be, without their mum around. The Mallee, where they live, may seem like the middle of nowhere, but it turns out this is going to be one hell of a year.
Wakefield Press, 2023
On average, Australians living in rural and remote areas have shorter lives, higher levels of disease and injury and poorer access to and use of health services, compared with people living in metropolitan areas. Poorer health outcomes in rural and remote areas may be due to multiple factors including lifestyle differences and a level of disadvantage related to education and employment opportunities, as well as access to health services.
Men have learned over generations to keep things to themselves and try to hide their true feelings.
As the stress of grief takes hold, some men isolate themselves even more and struggle alone. Stress has recognised adverse impacts on our health including our physical and mental health. Stress can be managed and addressed, including the stress of grief.
Resilience is defined as the ability to bounce back from adversity. It is a necessary skill for coping with the ups and downs of life and one of the key ingredients of success. A number of things impact on a person’s resilience, including their previous experiences, their sense of self, the coping strategies they have developed over time and their mindset.
A helpful way to cope with things that are out of our control is to practise acceptance. Instead of seeing ourselves as victims or our situation as negative, acceptance makes us feel empowered about the things we can do.
It is normal for teenagers to push boundaries and increasingly start taking risks. Teenage risk-taking is an important part of their journey in finding their identities and becoming independent young adults.
During adolescence there are changes in the brain that make teenagers more focused on the reward they feel when they are admired by their friends, and the positive reinforcement they get by being included. This is why friends and peers become incredibly important during the teenage years, and why they feel real distress if they don’t have friends or are socially rejected.
Wanting to feel part of something can put pressure on you to act in certain ways. You could be experiencing peer pressure if you’re acting in certain ways because you want to be accepted by the people you hang out with. You might be doing something you wouldn’t normally do, or aren’t doing something you want to do.
While the traditional family structure is no longer a realistic social standard, the family remains fundamentally important to people throughout their life. Individualism is highly valued and Australians usually encourage their family members' to be independent and follow their personal aspirations. Children are often taught to subconsciously think of themselves as ‘special’ or ‘unique’ as they grow up. The cultural idea pervades: you are what you make of yourself and who you choose to be. People are expected to be self-reliant, self-determining and responsible for their choices.
Good mates are there for you in good times and bad, and are often useful when you’re bored on a Sunday. It’s a good thing to remember, though, that not every friend is the right friend for you.
Defined by the mighty Murray River to the north, the Mallee is renowned for its vast spaces, clear blue skies, unique landscape and strong local communities.
The name Mallee is said to be derived from an Aboriginal term denoting species of eucalyptus.
Charlie is a writer and educator. She has worked in Australia, the UK, and in Indonesia. Charlie was born in London and grew up in the UK before settling in Australia.
Charlie Archbold, 2023