ARNIE

New Book: Arnie – Pearls and Luggers in the Torres Strait, by Arnie Duffield and Lee Duffield

Buy tickets to the book launch at Queensland Maritime Museum online from Eventbrite, via our web shop:

Tickets include admission to book launch, exhibition opening and the museum.

Arnie Duffield, the “last man standing” from the halcyon days of the sailing luggers in Torres Strait has published his memoirs at 95. The master mariner and pioneer of the pearl culture industry arrived at Thursday Island in 1936, staying on for over 70 years.

It is an authentic story from an adventurous life during tumultuous times, about pearls from the sea, the boats, dangers of deep-sea diving, war on Australia’s doorstep, threats to the environment, the diverse people of the region. A yarn spinner, Arnie Duffield has filled it also with tales about crocodiles or sharks, drunks, bad weather at sea, a near-drowning and a few close shaves on bush air-strips. His book has a parallel story of change achieved by the Torres Strait Islander community, from ‘colonial’ times during his childhood to the moment of the Mabo decision on native title in 1992. His co-writer for the project is a younger cousin, Lee Duffield, a journalist. Find Arnie – Pearls and Luggers in the Torres Strait at Xlibris.com, through other major online vendors, and selected bookshops (including Cairns Books, Mary Who? Townsville, Queensland State Library Shop, Queensland Maritime Museum, Peddells’ Jetty Shop TI).