A passion for family history led to the self-publishing of seven SA-based books for a Ceduna-born author.
After serving in the SA police force for 41 years and running a hobby farm for 35 years in the Adelaide Hills, Neville Collins recently released his latest book on a little-known Australian explorer of the 1900s, William Harry Tietkens.
Described as the last of the Australian ‘old school explorers’, Mr Tietkens undertook expeditions throughout central Australia, drilling wells on the Nullabor Plain to set it up for pastoral use, and worked as a surveyor, prospector, station hand, lecturer and author.
Mr Tietkens was second-in-command of two of the expeditions led by the well-known explorer Ernest Giles through Central Australia and from Beltana to WA.
Later he was in command of an expedition of his own in Central Australia.
Mr Collins has been writing since 2001 as a hobby in retirement, which has further developed into the publishing of his popular books.
“There is always explorer books, but never ones on little-known explorers,” he said.
“People just don’t know about Tietkens.
“When I was writing the Nullabor Plain book, his name kept coming up, as did Richard Thelwall Maurice, so I decided when I finished I must do a book on each of them.
“They were little-known explorers, but in actual fact they are very important to our history.”
Mr Collins said he had a keen interest in explorers.
He said his main influence was Geoff Manning, author of Manning’s place names of South Australia.
“He assisted me with my first book, The Jetties of SA, which sold out within six weeks,” he said.
“From then on I have furthered my writing skills.”
The book took two years to write and Mr Collins spent a week in Sydney at the Mitchell Library, as well as many hours at the State Library of SA, which supplied pictures for the book.
Mr Collins’ previous book – titled The Unknown Explorer – follows the travels of another explorer Thelwall Maurice.
He has also published The Nullabor Plain – A history, The Jetties of SA – past and present, The Adelaide Hills – A history, The Fleurieu and Southern Coasts, and The Unknown Explorer – the life, times and travels of Richard Thelwall Maurice.
When asked what his next book would be, Mr Collins said he didn’t know but thought it would probably have something to do with the history of SA.
All books are available in book stores across the state or by contacting Mr Collins directly.
- Details: nevillecollins@adelaide.on.net
