By Aaron Cordy
A TROOP of friends, family, history buffs and book lovers gathered at the Shepparton RSL on Sunday, October 15, to witness the birth of One Hell at a Time, the brilliant new book by Tracee Spiby.
One Hell at a Time is Tracee’s first book and tells the incredible story of her grandfather Albert Henry Spiby’s harrowing experience during World War 1.
Despite works on Knight Street causing lighting and microphone issues, the event was a triumph for the Murchison local. Hosted by Tracee’s daughter Laura Spiby-Jones, with guest speakers Lieutenant Colonel Neil C. Smith AM Rtd and renowned author Hazel Edwards OAM, who is famed for There’s A Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake.
After her guests of honour spoke, Tracee stole the show with an incredible reading from the book, capturing the hell our servicemen face in war and why their stories must be told.
“Never before have I read such a truthful, detailed and graphic account of life in and out of the trenches for Australian infantrymen to read it is to feel the freezing cold of a Flanders winter or suffer the pain of wrenching free from jagged barbed wire and the sucking, blood-soaked mud which enveloped all living, dying and dead creatures,” said Lieutenant Colonel Neil C Smith.
Tracee will hold an author talk at the Numurkah Library Friday, November 10 at 2pm.
You can purchase a copy of One Hell at a Time from Collins bookstore in Shepparton, or for a signed copy email tracee@traceespiby.com.au.
