Bill 'Swampy' Marsh: Books

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More Great Australian
Outback Towns & Pubs Stories

Cover More Great Australian Outback Towns and Pub Stories

Bill 'Swampy' Marsh has been on yet another adventure, this time gathering more stories from outback towns and pubs; from the green fields of Tasmania to the vast red sands of Simpson Desert.

The unique characters of the outback will touch your heart as Swampy presents all the drama and delight of life in remote Australia. There are tales of all-night revelry, the pub that became a refuge during a bushfire, the thirteen-year-old sent from the city to work on a remote sheep station, the priest with a sideline in illegal poker games, a sighting of the elusive yowie, a murder or two and a few ghosts thrown in for good measure. And, yes, the saddest story of all - the pub with no beer. If there's a good story out there, Swampy has captured it in this book.

Bill 'Swampy' Marsh is an award-winning writer and performer of stories, songs and plays. He spent most of his youth in rural south-western NSW and now lives on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsular. Swampy is one of ABC Books' bestselling authors of Australian stories; this is his twenty-third book.

Channel 9 - Today Extra - 28 Aug 2023—Celebrated author Bill 'Swampy' Marsh talking about his new book 'More Great Australian Outback Towns & Pubs Stories'. (Facebook)

Celebrated author Bill 'Swampy' Marsh talking about his new book 'More Great Australian Outback Towns & Pubs Stories'.

2GB Sydney interview

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HarperCollins Publishers (AU) (Pbk/ Ebk)
Booktopia (Pbk/ Ebk)
Dymocks (Pbk)
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More Great Australian Outback Towns and Pubs Stories

Sample audio

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Great Australian Ambos Stories

Yeah, while some of my stories are quite gory, others can be very enlightening. Though, in hindsight, the best outcomes are when the patient pulls through. It's then that you know you've done your job, and you get a bit of a buzz out of that.

Put the sirens on and get ready to hit the road, because fact is stranger than fiction in this fabulous Australia-wide collection of ambos stories from bestselling author Bill 'Swampy' Marsh.

Rural and remote ambulance drivers and paramedics are a dedicated and gutsy bunch who work tirelessly to care for their communities, often in isolated and inhospitable conditions, with few resources but plenty of experience, courage and care. Ambos deal with it all: car crashes, delivering babies, snake bites, heart attacks, lost bushwalkers, drug overdoses - even the occasional crook camel. One thing they are never short of is a story or two to tell.

This memorable and eye-opening collection of real-life accounts of professionals and volunteers alike racing by road, air and water to save people in strife is by turns, poignant, bizarre, heartbreaking and hilarious.

Sun Herald-Advertiser—'A home-grown non-fiction collection that delivers exactly what it says on the tin. Best selling author Bill 'Swampy' Marsh has collected brave, inspiring, enlightening, hilarious and sometimes downright weird tales from rural and remote ambulance drivers and paramedics.'

Channel 9 - Today Extra - 6 Sept 2022—Celebrated author Bill 'Swampy' Marsh is honouring outback heroes in his new book 'Great Australian Ambo Stories'.

TV interview Great Australian Ambos Stories

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HarperCollins Publishers (AU) (Pbk/ Ebk)
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Sample audio

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More Great Australian Outback Yarns

The term 'Bible bashing' took on new meaning in our household. Not so much for its reading, though God certainly remained high on Mum's spiritual priorities, but more for its treatment of bunions, chilblains, corns, etc. Mum suffered from bunions until she started bashing them with the heavy family Bible, believing the Lord's weight behind the Lord's word could move anything from mountains to bunions.

Bill 'Swampy' Marsh has spent more than twenty years travelling to every corner of Australia, talking to people from all walks of life, collecting their wild, wonderful and whacky stories.

More Great Australian Outback Yarns includes many of the most memorable tales from Swampy's collections. The colourful characters in these pages capture the generosity, humour and laconic quality that bring to life the heart and soul of outback Australia.

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Sample audio

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Great Australian Outback Yarns Volume 1

A collection of the funniest yarns and most colourful characters from the bestselling 'Great Australian Stories' series from beloved storyteller Bill 'Swampy' Marsh.

When he'd finished playing, a solemn silence fell as Brian and the gravediggers stared down into that three-quarter-filled hole. 'I must apologise,' Brian said to the two men, 'this's the first time I've played at a pauper's funeral, and I'm a bit emotional.'

'Well,' said one of the diggers, sniffling back the tears, 'it's the first time we've ever had a piper play at one of our septic tank installations.'

The Australian Outback can be harsh, but it's the kind of place where you either learn to laugh off your troubles or fold under the pressure.

Bill 'Swampy' Marsh has a deep affection and respect for people living in the Australian Bush, and he's spent more than twenty years travelling to every corner of our wide brown land, talking to people from all walks of life, collecting their memories and stories.

Great Australian Outback Yarns captures the funniest tales from Swampy's many books in one volume. The colourful characters in these pages are full of generosity, humour and a larrikin Aussie spirit. These true stories of life in remote and regional Australia from Australia's master storyteller will leave you grinning from ear to ear.

Victor Times—'Bill is one of the literary geniuses on the Fleurieu Peninsula and captures the heart and meaning of the bush with every stroke of his pen. These true stories of life in remote and regional Australia, from Australia's master storyteller, will leave you grinning from ear to ear.'—Michael Simmons

2GB 873AM—'It's a collection of great Aussie tales. Some of them are tall, well they're meant to be all true stories, but you never know with great Aussie storytellers! Full of characters who are colourful, and they do capture the Aussie spirit...It's a wonderful book!'—Deborah Knight

2GB Sydney interview

Order from
HarperCollins Publishers (AU) (Pbk/ Ebk)
Booktopia (Pbk/ Ebk)
Dymocks (Pbk)
Collins Booksellers (Pbk)

Audiobook
Bolinda
Google Play
Amazon/Audible

Great Australian Volunteer Firies Stories

The devastating 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires threw the importance of our volunteer firefighters into sharp focus. But these brave men and women don't just step up to protect life and property in fires; they are also there to help in road accidents, plane crashes, natural disasters like cyclones and floods - and, yes, they even rescue pets that have got themselves into strife.

In this collection of first-hand stories, ranging from the 1880s to 2020, our courageous volunteer firies take us right up to the frontlines and reveal the stark realities of the dangers they face to keep our communities safe.

This book serves as a tribute to the thousands of volunteer firies across Australia who roll up their sleeves and selflessly put their lives on the line to assist their fellow human beings.

'Dear Bill, I am really enjoying the Firies anecdotes. I thought you did a really good job with my story considering all the bullsh*t you were presented with in the first place.'

Great Australian Volunteer Firies Stories was released in 2021.

Order from
HarperCollins Publishers (AU) (Pbk/ Ebk)
Booktopia (Pbk/ Ebk)
Dymocks (Pbk/ Ebk)
Collins Booksellers (Pbk)