The Griffith Wars: The Powerful True Story of Donald Mackay's Murder and the Town That Stood Up to the Mafia

by Tom Gilling, Terry Jones

'Donald Mackay was not just an innocent victim tragically struck down by a criminal act. He was a casualty of the actual fight against organised crime ... killed on active service, as it were ... His name should never be forgotten, his passing must not be allowed to be in vain.'

The assassination of Donald Mackay was meant to solve a problem for the mafia. Instead it roused the law-abiding citizens of Griffith to fight against the powerful criminal elements who had made their town synonymous with drugs and murder.

Drawing on the personal diaries and memories of Terry Jones - who, as the editor of the local newspaper, knew everyone and heard everything - The Griffith Wars reveals startling new evidence about one of Australia's most notorious unsolved murders. It also powerfully recounts the struggle for the soul of a country town still battling to shake off its criminal past.

Genres: History, True Crime, Nonfiction

312 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2019

Reviews

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first rate book about crime and its effect on a community. Learned about this book from the t.v. news program Under Investigation.

[Cyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartbreaking account of my beautiful home town. It's hard not to be angry with the selfishness and greed that has tainted it's reputation.

[David Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you wanted to know about growing marijuana in Griffith, lots of dirt on Al Grassby and the murder of Don Mackay amongst others thrown in for good measure. This is a very interesting read. I grew up with much of this and I can remember watching dope fields on TDT. By 1975 everyone in Sydney knew what a dope plant looked like. This book goes into detail about the Calabrian families that ran/run the drug business in Griffith. It also exposes corrupt police and puts the spot light on Al Grassby the former Whitlam Minister who, it turns out, was not such a nice bloke. If you can remember the 70's then this boo should be on your reading list.

[David Allwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Griffith is a small town in the irrigated agricultural southern area of New South Wales. Unfortunately this rural town has been tainted by the smear of mafia, drugs, and murder, culminating in the disappearance of Donald Mackay, a local campaigner against organised crime. ‘The Griffith Wars’ traces the criminal activity in Griffith from the 1970’s up to modern day, highlighting the work, demise, and legacy of Donald Mackay and the criminality and plight of crime boss Robert Trimboli. It is a fascinating and fast-paced story which occasionally becomes murky due to a confusing plethora of Italian names and families and properties. So much detail is essential but it also muddies the story, especially that of the central characters. Regardless, this book is an important record of an significant period of Australian criminal history.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pretty fair and interesting overview of the 'drug wars' of the established Italian and British/colonial community of Griffith when 'soft drugs' began to be the profitable farming of the district. mid-60s-later 70s. The Mackay abduction/murder, of course, the days of Al Grassby as Minister for cultural harmony, migrant settlement, and $ backhanders in the name of multi-culturalism.
A great reprise for those who can recall the headlines of the time, even lived there...a -s-in-law taught Mackay's daughter! and a perspective for those younger.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably doesn't cover much new ground in terms of the well documented disappearance and murder of Donald Mackay in 1977, but - that said - the book has been co-authored by a man on the ground in Terry Jones who lived in Griffith and is familiar with the majority of players. Indeed, while many will buy the book in the hope of gleaning something new from the Mackay 'mystery' its scope is far greater and, somewhat tellingly, finishes with the line "Has Griffith's past becomes its future?"

[AC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Terry Jones' diaries shine a light on a fascinating and disturbing part of Griffith's history and the amazing citizens who stood up to demand for justice. Tom Gilling's writing is clear and has an excellent flow to it. If you're interested in local history, mafia stories or true crime, this is a superb read.

[Julieanne Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at Auckland airport on my way to Griffith Base Hospital to fulfil an agency nursing contract. It seemed serendipitous to find it. The authors have been scrupulous in providing a chronological narrative of the events regarding mafia, money, murder and Mackay. Griffith is a delightful town on the edge of the outback with fertile soils, guaranteed water from the mighty Murrumbigee and her manmade irrigation channels and the ever present sunshine. Italian migrants arrived from southern Italy in the 1920s and took these fertile ingredients to create a bountiful region, future proofing the Riverina as Australia's food basket forever after. On the face of it the Italian influence is one of hard work, earnest effort, family bonds and wealth creation in a rich agricultural setting. The underbelly that has scarred the town has been underemphasised and is a shadow that stains its history. The reluctance of current city fathers to publicly acknowledge mafia influence is because of the inherent conservatism of country New South Wales. Visitors will be able to rely on Gilling and Jone's book to get the real story. The memorial statue of victim and conservative anti drugs campaigner Don Mackay on Banna Street is the only nod to Griffith's notorious dark past and the reader is left wondering if it is really over at all. It isnt. The book alludes to a morphing mafia that exist not only as legend but as a present day 'alternative universe' deep in Griffith's horticultural heart. Once in Griffith the visitor is treated with all the culinary delights of this Italian food basket and mafia linked surnames such as Sergi, Trimbole and Agresta that may come up in day to day activities supply intrigue, fascination and curiosity. A visit to Griffith for work or leisure should not be without a read of this essential book. It will complement your experience and leave you hoping for your own encounter with a mafia mob big name. A story you can take home.