Destination Darwin
My current work in progress is titled,
“Destination Darwin”
An action story of determination, endurance and loyalty that begins in the outback of the Northern Territory. It is about local lad Terrence McAuliffe, who’s family property Dungarven Station lies approximately six hours outside Darwin. While working and helping to run the property, Terry falls deeply in love with a local Aboriginal girl Molly, who impresses him not only with her flashing smile and beauty, but her ability as a rider and all-around stock hand. He proposes to Molly who accepts, and they become engaged planning a life together. But fate steps in as the threat of WWII looms on the horizon.
Always fascinated by planes Terry decides to train as a pilot with the Empire Air Training Scheme. Completing his course and graduating as an Ace pilot with the RAAF, he returns home to Dungarven Station for a two-week sojourn before flying to London to become a Royal Air Force pilot. Terry is able to spend time with his beloved Molly and his parents who travel to Darwin to spend time with family members before he flies out.
During their stay, Darwin is attacked and bombed by the Japanese. Terrence takes command of a plane and goes to the defence of the city and his country, shooting down one of the Japanese fighter aircraft.
Parts of Darwin lay in tatters, 243 people were killed, but the City survived. Terry then leaves for England where he joins the RAF and flies with the English Air Force. On a mission over Singapore his plane is shot down. Surviving the crash and several days in the mangrove swamps, he is captured by the Japanese. Taken hostage Terry is then imprisoned in the notorious Changi Prison. Many POWs did not survive the horrors of Changi, many were executed, especially officers and numerous soldiers were starved, dying of malnutrition and disease.
After spending several years in Changi, the war ends, and the prison is overtaken and shut down. Survivors are released. A skeletal but elated Terrence McAuliffe is free to make his way home, his destination – Darwin.
“Destination Darwin”
An action story of determination, endurance and loyalty that begins in the outback of the Northern Territory. It is about local lad Terrence McAuliffe, who’s family property Dungarven Station lies approximately six hours outside Darwin. While working and helping to run the property, Terry falls deeply in love with a local Aboriginal girl Molly, who impresses him not only with her flashing smile and beauty, but her ability as a rider and all-around stock hand. He proposes to Molly who accepts, and they become engaged planning a life together. But fate steps in as the threat of WWII looms on the horizon.
Always fascinated by planes Terry decides to train as a pilot with the Empire Air Training Scheme. Completing his course and graduating as an Ace pilot with the RAAF, he returns home to Dungarven Station for a two-week sojourn before flying to London to become a Royal Air Force pilot. Terry is able to spend time with his beloved Molly and his parents who travel to Darwin to spend time with family members before he flies out.
During their stay, Darwin is attacked and bombed by the Japanese. Terrence takes command of a plane and goes to the defence of the city and his country, shooting down one of the Japanese fighter aircraft.
Parts of Darwin lay in tatters, 243 people were killed, but the City survived. Terry then leaves for England where he joins the RAF and flies with the English Air Force. On a mission over Singapore his plane is shot down. Surviving the crash and several days in the mangrove swamps, he is captured by the Japanese. Taken hostage Terry is then imprisoned in the notorious Changi Prison. Many POWs did not survive the horrors of Changi, many were executed, especially officers and numerous soldiers were starved, dying of malnutrition and disease.
After spending several years in Changi, the war ends, and the prison is overtaken and shut down. Survivors are released. A skeletal but elated Terrence McAuliffe is free to make his way home, his destination – Darwin.
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