Media: BOOK - paperback, 256 pages
Author: R. Brown & P. Studdy-Clift
Year: 1990
ISBN: 0859051463
Other: b&w photos, appendixes
Publisher: Hesperian Press

Ron Brown is a man with a tale to tell. Fortunately, he shared an interest in Australian history with Pat Stuffy-Clift. Together they spent many happy days in collaboration, when Ron told her his experiences in the red heart of Australia as well as the well-known and loved identity "Brownie of the Finke".

His stories cover a transition period from 1945 to 1952, when he was the last of the Central Australian Police Camel Patrolmen emerging into a new mechanical age. As a lone representative of the white man's law and mediator in many a tribal feud, he patrolled a police district larger than the state of Victoria.

"Brownie" tells of the time he was almost speared to death, he featured his strong bond with his loyal blacktracker Mick and freely discusses relationships amongst Aborigines and Whites or between them, he honours the bushmen and their women and records with respect the Aborigines and their folklore, remembers the missionaries, prospectors, contractors and drovers, recollects the fear of sudden death, whether from thirst, snakebite accidents, murder or suicide. "Brownie" combines all this with real Australian humour born out of adversity. His early days confirm "that to live fully is to live dangerously".

In 1952, "Brownie" returned to the family cane farm on the Tweed in northern New South Wales, where he now resides in active retirement. A gregarious fellow, his many interest include history, rural pursuits, maritime museums, preservation of ancient artifacts, reading, writing, classical music and opera.