This heart-warming and inspiring story follows the journey of David, a working-class lad from Lakemba who, despite getting into mischief and facing life’s many challenges, emerged on the other side stronger than ever.

From moments like coaching an under-nines soccer team alongside his manager Jack – who told concerned parents, “If you have any complaints, come to me, not David. I’ve had injuries to my spine, and my surgeon warned me, ‘Operating on you could make you a quadriplegic, David.’ Yet his prediction that the pain would ease every ten years has been spot on. Today, it’s nothing” – to dealing with setbacks like buying a courier run from Nu Way Transport Newcastle, only to return from Christmas holidays to find the factory burned down by an arsonist, David’s life has been a rollercoaster.

After starting his own courier business, sometimes earning as little as five dollars a day, and navigating the ups and downs of the Australian mining boom, David spent 14 years travelling for months at a time before retiring at fifty-nine to Atlantis on the Gold Coast.

However, retirement brought a new challenge: bowel cancer. After being 21 months cancer-free, the disease returned and spread to his lungs – stage four. Yet, through it all, David’s resilience has never wavered. This is more than just his story; it’s an inspiration to cancer sufferers and a testament to the power of perseverance in the face of life’s toughest battles.

The story is about David’s life in general. It is also about his travels as for fourteen years, he took two to three months off and explored the world. He has had his moments—back injuries and two years under pain management after a drugged-out driver hit him head-on, trapping him in his Nissan Urvan. David failed his school certificate yet made a success of his life through the mining boom in Australia as a courier, driving all over the countryside. In retirement, nine years later, he had Secondary Cancer Stage Four. This is the story of David’s resilience as he fights for his life.

Customer Reviews

4.7

9 reviews

Kerry

Knowing David made it an interesting read. Its an hobest record of an incredible journey through cancer. Its also interesting reading Davids travel experiences and the events that shaped his life.
Kimberly

Fantastic book... easy to read and relate to. A candid account of going through cancer treatments, world travels and all the adventures throughout life. A great read!
Kathy Derwent

This autobiography can only be described as absolutely brilliant. It will bring laughter and it will make you cry. There is so much to this book the Tow Truck drivers in the Northern Territory and Gold Coast City Council and the Mayor and seven Councillors who voted for the rotten View Tax read it you won't believe it, but it's true.
Carolyn Groves

A wonderful read; particularly liked the attack on Tom Tate's unique view tax
Jim Groves

An amazing journey through what appears on the surface to be an ordinary life but is really quite fascinating.
Alan Roussell

We all love a good read, especially when one so captures your interest, that you keep turning the pages until the final page is turned. This is a true story of a young man, whose life story you will take to your heart. A book that you will want to read more than once. Read it and find out. A true Aussie legend.
Yvonne Bentley

This autobiography is certainly worth a read. What an interesting journey, through life experiences, challengers, travelling, and his life in Australia.
Keith Gilbert

A very interesting read, a warts and all description of the life of David, growing up in Sydney, Australia. His highly successful early teenage years of sport, set his attitude for coping with his lifes challenges. His determination to fight the threat of Cancer, the succes of Remission and with his ever supportive wife Sandy beside him, their travel adventures. A true reflection of a true Australian. Honest insights.
Steve Brooks

This story is so much more than about David, it evolves from Australia to his travels in five continents, around the World. It is inspiring as to what is possible in a country like Australia, it can also be harsh, as events in the book prove. This Autobiography will be a memorable experience forever more.