Edward Alfred Dickinson was born in 1917 in a remote region of N.W. Victoria, Australia, known as the Mallee and had five older sisters. He grew up very fit, a hard worker, capable farmer and a consummate sportsman. Ed was well schooled locally and won a 3 year scholarship to Melbourne Technical School but, when needed back on the farm during the ‘Great Depression’, had to sacrifice his desire to be an engineer. Despite loving farm life, things didn’t work out for long so Ed left for Melbourne, later becoming a plumber and husband until WW2 needed tradesmen. He served over 3 years in Darwin and New Guinea. Post war, he and his wife, Violet, had three children. He helped many apprentices become good plumbers, was Managing director of his plumbing and hardware supplies business, oversaw four town’s sewerage installations, built six houses and a boat. At 70 years old Ed learned to play the organ. Not just a Mallee boy.
This autobiography tells of a pioneer family settling and farming south eastern Australia with lots of interesting, heartwarming and funny stories. Edward Dickinson's grandfather, Francis, came from an old English farming family. In 1873, with the colonies offering new opportunities, he sailed t...