The 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 to Australia on the Agamannon landing in St.Kilda, Victoria where he purchased 40 acres of prime land and developed a lucrative pig and dairy farm which helped feed the fast growing city of Melbourne. Edward's father was born there, but eventually left with his own growing family enticed by government promises of good cheap farmland opening up in north west Victoria. The intrepid couple travelled 340 miles in a covered wagon with 5 young girls to find it hot, dry and sandy. In 1917 they had Ed, who grew up fast and strong in the area known as the Mallee. He loved country life but while still in his teens was city bound where he learned a trade, learned to box, found a wife, joined a war and always tried to demonstrate the qualities learned in his youth but nearly always missed the country. His observations and descriptive expression make for an entertaining and informative read set in a time and place seldom seen from this perspective.

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.