AustLit

'Merv Lilley born Rockhampton, Qld. talks about his family background and ancestry; the Murphy Murders in Gatton, Qld.; reading the book "Gatton Man"; the book "The Channels"; his father and his relationship with his two sons; his father teaching his sons to fight; living on the farm while his father was away working as a commercial traveller; suffering a "rupture" from heavy lifting, his work and relatives; Charles "Bluey" Bostock; dairy work in Mackay; the possum season, skinning of possums; the shooting of koalas; working on Cleve Station, out from Marlborough; an operation for his "rupture"; joining the army following an argument with his father; his mother and her relationship with father; his writing beginnings, a teacher's encouragement for writing and recitation; leaving school and his first jobs; the reality of life in the bush; his interest in the Communist Party; smoking.

'Lilley speaks about working for Brett's sawmills for 12 months (1944) after leaving the Army; training for boxing at "Snowy Smith's" Gymnasium; a bike accident; George McKinnon; Army life and being on Goods Island when John Gorton was shot down; the army refusing to recognise the men of island service; a post-war battle for recognition; the bombing on Horne Island; a court marshal; his decision to leave the army; being unable to box due to injury, his regrets about this; talks of fighting techniques; his fitness; the last fight; "Bronco Johnson" and his troupe; Cassius Clay; Tom O'Flynn; Alex Hood talks about Merv's songs, published by the Bush Music Club; a misunderstanding with John Meredith; how he met Dorothy Hewitt; meeting Zoe O'Leary from "Realist Writers"; advice given about how to write; meeting Dorothy in Melbourne when she wrote "Bobbin Up"; being regarded as a "Revisionist"; the Australasian Book Society; being asked by Dorothy to go to Perth to learn to write poetry; communicating through John Meredith.' (Trove)