Blokes on the homefront

Blurb for Blokes on the Homefront by Tessa Murphy

In the sun-scorched summer of 1942, the tiny outback town of Wattle Creek is about to discover that heroism doesn't always arrive in polished boots and crisp uniforms.

When retired bank manager Captain Arthur "Captain" Higgins pins up a notice calling for volunteers to defend their patch of dirt against a possible Japanese invasion, a gloriously ragtag crew answers the call: easy-going farmer Bluey Thompson, jittery postman Nev Carter, muddled war veteran Stanley Briggs, over-eager teenager Dougie Pike Jr., and the sharp-tongued pub owner Mrs. Mabel Jenkins, who runs the show whether the men like it or not.

What follows is a hilarious cascade of bungled drills, mismatched uniforms, blackout fiascos, frantic radio static, and one very confused kangaroo mistaken for an enemy scout. Yet beneath the laughter and the stumbles lies something deeper-mateship forged in dust and determination, ordinary people refusing to sit idle while the world tilts toward disaster.

Warm, witty, and quintessentially Australian, Blokes on the Homefront celebrates the imperfect heroes who stayed behind: the blokes (and the formidable woman) who proved that courage can wear a crooked hat, trip over its own boots, and still stand tall when it matters most.

Perfect for fans of dry Aussie humour, small-town stories, and heartwarming tales like Dad's Army with a distinctly outback twist.