Growing Up, Rocky

Written by Patty Beecham

Narrated by Viv Marena

Written over 51 chapters, we follow the unusual family upbringing on an Aboriginal mission on Cape York. The family live apart for a year in three locations in Queensland as the father trains to become an Anglican priest at 44 years of age, and then they have to re-learn who to live again as a family under the one roof in Rockhampton.
This is the true story of the youngest daughter of a Sydney couple living at Lockhart River Mission for 9 years, raising their children within an Aboriginal village of five tribes.
Conceived on Cape York, and finally moving to Rockhampton as a young child. A family tragedy in 1971 with the shocking death of brother Chris, two days before a family wedding, sees the upheaval of family life.
Patty feels abandoned and has to educate and raise herself as well as learn to iron a cassock!
Patty brings herself up with her distracted parents, marries young and then flees a violent marriage. Patty dreamed of a bigger life than what was offered in her sleepy country town. Life became a series of ground-breaking adventures, and we follow her turbulent relationships and jobs, learning how to survive.
Share her adventures in this gentle, humorous and insightful early memoir.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ocean Reeve Publishing
• Release date: Jan 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798823439763