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Tales of the South Island's West Coast.
Hemmed in between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea, lies the South Island’s West Coast. Exposed to tempest westerly storms and accompanying ocean swells this elongated strip of forested slopes and terraces are dissected by a network of pure and wild rivers. The 'Coast,' while small in population, is renowned internationally as an unspoilt paradise and the 'outdoors' destination for a growing number of tourists.
Conquering Cascade
From beyond the Denniston Plateau - the birthplace of New Zealand unionism - comes the remarkable story of the Cascade Westport Coal Company.
Founded on limited resources and iron will, the Company was a courageous player in the volatile post-WW1 coal trade. Despite woeful finances, high-level political and union engagement, the Company operated New Zealand’s longest coal flume through dire economic times. Compounding the Company’s struggle was the isolation, rugged topography and notorious climate of Cascade Creek, where—at every opportunity—nature conspired to sabotage the flume.
Conquering Cascade: An epic saga of Denniston coal chronicles the troubles and triumphs of the coal company and the 30-year alliance with its contracted workforce: the Cascade Westport Cooperative Coal Party, an association culminating in a powerful legal showdown.
Following a decade of research, interviews, and the sourcing of rare material, Walsh has documented a truly epic saga in New Zealand’s industrial coal mining heritage.
Typical Coaster
Written with the aim of being intentionally light-hearted and entertaining, Typical Coaster is a story about one boy’s aspirations, accomplishments, disasters, and emerging maturity. Uniquely New Zealand in character, the narrative centres on sibling dynamics, dramas, the often comical side of family life, and the author’s developing awareness of changes within his world.
Woven into the latter part of this saga, is a peek into Buller’s past. Interrelationships with—and the rise and fall of—the Westport Abattoir are explored. This is where Phil enters the world of the working man. Learn what motivates the man within the boy and the free spirit that has the power to draw him away from his beloved West Coast.
Chapters in both books are beautifully illustrated by Shevaun Walsh. Each depicts an aspect of iconic West Coast culture.
Fur, Fish and Phantom Reds
Set in the rural heart of New Zealand's South Island West Coast, Fur, Fish and Phantom Reds is a true story about one boy's quest to become a real man. Enticed by the lifestyle of his master-bushman brother, and encouraged by his father, Phil signs up to an extensive training regime that is set to instil a life-altering association with the outdoors. Horror, hard graft and humour lurk at every bend on this twisted path to manhood and a couple of hard-case mates ensure the merriment never wanes as the boys go about cultivating their own brand of bush doctrine.
Iconic West Coast settings are beautifully illustrated by Shevaun Walsh throughout the book
Reviews of Fur, Fish, and Phantom Reds
"Recommend these two great reads for the Xmas break, Fur, Fish and Phantom Reds and Injun Joe – Smoking Joe Collins… awesome reads, couldn’t put them down…"
‘…as he settles into the role of raconteur and spins lively yarns about simple childhood rural adventures, such as eeling with mum’s pantyhose, tussles with “giant killer coons” and a decrepit old three-oh-three that has magical powers. He displays wonderful word power and some of his descriptions are a pure delight – “the shot rang out, concussing the tranquillity of the morning”…’
‘Here is a great book on New Zealand Culture. The culture of the West Coast to be exact. Written by someone who grew up on the coast and who experienced all the facets of sport available…’