'Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves in Two Generations' Memoir is Released

Author Gerard Leahy provides readers with a rare and candid account of one such unraveling, at the same time filling an important gap in the recording of the Australia's pastoral history. "Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves in Two Generations: First Generation" (published by Xlibris AU) is an account of the life of a pastoral family important to the rural history of the Land Down Under. First published in 2015, this book receives a new marketing campaign.

An Irish convict was sent to Australia in 1827. His grandson J.J. Leahy left home aged 14 with a limited education and no money, then went on to build a huge rural empire. He owned or leased over 100 large properties, was the biggest Australian wool grower and controlled 100,000 sheep walking the stock routes besides those run on his large properties, as well as running 60,000 head of cattle. He was said to be the third richest man in Australia at one time and was offered but refused a knighthood.

The author believes that "to have an idea of how we can handle the future we need to know what has happened in the past." He achieves this by sharing the life and achievements of his father, John Jeremiah (more commonly known as J.J. Leahy) to aid readers in knowing more of Australia - its pastoral and cultural history. What separates this book from others like it is that its early part has been researched by the author but he personally lived through the rest.

According to one review: "These books are a must read for anyone interested in rural social history, it is an antidote for those pushing social policy based on financial outcomes. Most importantly it could fill the role of a handbook for a new generation of community leaders."

"Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves in Two Generations: First Generation"
By Gerard Leahy
Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 244 pages | ISBN 9781503506169
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 244 pages | ISBN 9781503506152
E-Book | 244 pages | ISBN 9781503506176
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author
Gerard Leahy is the youngest of J.J. Leahy's nine children. He was born in 1930 and was educated at St. Ignatius College, Riverview, in Sydney. He worked for a year in the International Harvester tractor factory at Geelong, Victoria. After a year's jackerooing on his father's property Oban in western Queensland, out from Mt. Isa, he spent all his working and family life on Burra Station near Tumbarumba, on the western slopes of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales. He was involved in many sporting and community activities in the Tumbarumba district. After selling his property, he moved to the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.

Xlibris Publishing Australia, an Author Solutions, LLC imprint, is a self-publishing services provider dedicated to serving Australian authors. By focusing on the needs of creative writers and artists and adopting the latest print-on-demand publishing technology and strategies, we provide expert publishing services with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound and full-color formats. To date, Xlibris has helped to publish more than 60,000 titles.For more information, visit xlibrispublishing.com.au or call 1800 455 039 to receive a free publishing guide. Follow us @XlibrisAus on Twitter for the latest news.

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