Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop

Hazel Edwards (author)

Pat Reynolds (illustrator)

New Frontier Press, Australia: March 2011; 88pp

ISBN: 9781921042706; 88pp

Genres: biography, factual text, non-fiction

Issues: courage, gifted, resilience, war

Born in rural Victoria and raised to work hard at all times but especially on the farm, Ernie Dunlop was regarded as a 'bit wild' by his family and friends although he also had a reputation for patience when helping others.

He had an endless curiosity in all things mechanical and scientific, great physical strength and sporting aptitude. Good with his hands, he could cobble together useful equipment from bits and pieces around the farm – and he liked to operate on frogs and sew them back together using horsehair. These diverse abilities would later be refined until Ernie became a skilled surgeon – one who saved many lives during WWII.

A prolific writer, Hazel Edwards can turn her hand to almost any genre and in this title from the Aussie Heroes series she has created a very readable account of the life of one of Australia's greatest military heroes. It is often difficult for younger readers to accept the less dramatic, narrative-driven style of biographies. Edwards has tried to provide personal information and stories that will make it possible for readers to relate to Dunlop as person, reminding them that heroes, too, were children once.