CQU graduate Neville Tickner has contributed to the history of Australian droving by working on a series of three books called 'Last of the Packhorse Stockmen'.

The books tell the story of Warwick Edwards, who spent a life-time droving after heading for the Kimberley as a 14-year-old.

They are based on transcriptions of 17 ninety-minute audio tapes. Warwick and Neville have now travelled more than 5000km to promote the books on the eastern site of Australia.

The first book - 'Last of the Packhorse Stockmen, The City Kid Goes Bush' is already available at select bookstores and autographed copies can be purchased by phoning Neville via 07 4922 1287 or emailing tickners@bigpond.net.au .

The second installment - 'Last of the Packhorse Stockmen, Warwick Edwards: the man emerges - will be launched from 7pm on Friday, October 10, at Lee Kernaghan's Great Western Hotel in Rockhampton.

Meanwhile, one of Neville's former lecturers, Dr Jeanette Delamoir, has published a feature on Warwick and Neville in Outback Magazine.

The Outback feature reveals that Neville left home at the same age as Warwick and also worked on cattle stations, so their experiences were similar.

Neville is an Arts graduate (BA 1998, (Hon) 1999) and completed three years towards a PhD in cultural studies, all at CQU. His daughter Chelsi (CQU, Bachelor of Business degree with Distinction, 1990) is a chartered accountant from Sydney who plays an honorary role as Tax accountant. She will be at the launch, as will Neville's son Rolley who designs/creates the book covers, all associated brochures and posters and does all the computer work in regard to preparing the books for the printer. Rolley is due to graduate on October 11 with a Bachelor of Multimedia Studies (with Distinction) from the Faculty of Informatics and Communication. Book Two of the Trilogy was printed at the CQU Printery.