Australian Gospel cover art

Australian Gospel

A Family Saga

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Australian Gospel

By: Lech Blaine
Narrated by: Adam Fitzgerald
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About this listen

Michael and Mary Shelley are Christian fanatics who loathe their fellow Australians - especially their foul language, reckless indulgence in alcohol, and obsession with idiotic ball sports. Lenore and Tom Blaine are working-class Queensland publicans raising a large family in a raucous, loving, rugby-league-obsessed home.

There's just one problem.

The Blaines are foster parents to three of the Shelleys' children, who were removed from Michael and Mary as infants. And the Shelleys are prepared to do anything to get them back. Anything.

©2024 Lech Blaine (P)2024 Ulverscroft Ltd Cultural & Regional Sports
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Really enjoyed this book, a fascinating story and tribute to the author’s parents and siblings. Highly recommend!

Astonishing and beautifully written story

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It’s incredible that this is a true story. It’s even more incredible the way Lech brings it to life. Featuring famous characters and awful villains I couldn’t put it down. The story is told so well it’s compelling listening. The performance is quite good with a few mispronunciations but overall adds to the experience. Don’t miss it!

Couldn’t put it down! Fantastic tale

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Full of wisdom and insight into an Australian family and its contact with insanity.
Delivered in a way that made you laugh and feel sad at the same time.
I was moved in a way that very few authors can express. It was hopeful, respectfully told, reminded me of how trauma and mental health impact lives, and healed my compassion fatigue as a front line health provider in a busy Australian Emergency Department. Everyone has a story. Thank you for sharing your family’s story with me.

Beautifully told story

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Great true story really well told and performed. Heartfelt, warm and inspiring. I’m buying this book!

Inspiring

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mental health / nature-nurture?
foster care / a good news story gives relief to the sensationalised / real or unreal reports on the dark side of fostering.
the bizarre of neurological genetics, inheritance of traits, gifts of preordained, base human nature

Australian Gospel -

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Incredible and fascinating, this memoir is riveting from first to last page. The Blaine family are a testament to the power of love to overcome even the most traumatic starts to life. All respect to them and the wonderful kids they have raised.

Extraordinary story!!

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An amazing story about a very special Aussie family led by Tom and Lenore who used love and acceptance to help heal intergenerational trauma and protect their kids from damaging biological parents while showing some understanding of the impacts of mental health. If only all foster parents could be like them.

A great Australian Story

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This was such a perfect capture of imperfect lives... made me want to sing I'm still standing...I wish all kids who grew up in this space were confident their carers had their backs

Brutal honesty

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Captivating story, which was beautifully told with compassion and understanding. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Really loved this book

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Such a fascinating story. But the narrator and producer need to up their game. All the following words were mispronounced: wrath, poinsettia, Indooropilly, caveat, chagrin, Joop, hostel, Aloysius, DFAT, chutzpah

Excellent story

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