Walking Between Two Worlds

by Rob McLaren

As a child, Rob McLaren listened, fascinated, to stories about the adventures of his grandfather, Jack McLaren, in Australia. Jack had run away from home at the age of just 16, and spent many years wandering and trying out a range of exciting occupations. These culminated in the establishment of Utingu, a plantation in a remote location on the Cape York peninsula, where he built up strong and respectful relationships with the indigenous population. Rob dreamed of visiting Utingu, where the tree on which his grandfather carved his initials still stood. He dreamed of meeting his Australian family. This book tells two stories. It tells the story of how that dream came true, and how Rob met family he had no idea existed. But first it recounts Jack’s travels and how Utingu was formed. Jack became a very successful author when his travels ended, and many of his books draw on his experiences. Rob has used these books and other sources to recreate Jack McLaren’s remarkable journey.

200 pages, Paperback

Published February 26, 2021