Category: Autobiography, Australian History
Publication: 23 April 2026 
ISBN: 978-0-6489071-6-9 (paperback), 978-0-6489071-7-6 (e-book)
Format: Paperback [400 pages]
Publisher: Imprimatur Books
RRP: $55 AUD

Hail Mary, the Creek's Up: From the Banks of the Castlereagh to the SAS (2026)

Before he became a respected soldier and leader of men, Mick Malone was an inquisitive, active child with a knack for finding trouble. His hard-scrabble, resilient childhood was one of simplicity borne of the time and place, as a third-generation Australian of strong Irish stock. Hail Mary, the Creek’s Up begins with an account of the Malones of Limerick who were forced to leave Ireland on account of “the Blight”–the Irish Potato Famine–and tried their luck in Australia growing tobacco, raising cattle, and searching for gold. Amidst all of this, the Malones maintained a sense of humour and strong loyalty to Ireland, traits carefully passed on from generation to generation. As Mick grew and learned at the knee of his idolised father, Ned–a gun shearer, war veteran, and pillar of the community–he pieced together his perspective on the world. Most important, as the family moved towns and schools, was the enveloping presence of the women in his life (especially his beloved mother, Joyce Malone), stretching back three generations, who were fundamental to Mick’s security and sense of self. The book takes us away to the challenges of a far-off boarding school, St. Stanislaus’ College for Boys, where Mick learned to harden himself and understand the nature of discipline: two assets that would mean his later service in the Australian Army was easier to manage. 

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Rich in humour, insight, and hard-won wisdom, Hail Mary, the Creek’s Up offers a vivid portrait of Australian country life and the formative experiences that forged a soldier, leader, and devoted family man.