All About Lester

Lester, in the early days, at his workplace (seated)

More of the library

Even more of the library

Lester in Tallygaroopna

Lester in Shepparton

Lester in Melbourne

Lester After WW2

The Secret of the Tower Room

Just Me and the Kids

Volunteering

Mackay's Little Green Book which I self published in the 1980's. People found this very useful at the time, especially those who were new to Mackay. Reading it these days reminds me how much Mackay has changed

Lester Dudley and his papers

When my mother's brother, Lester Dudley, died, I was named as his literary executor and also the keeper of his books. Lester died in Melbourne and his library was sorted and packed into 60 large cardboard boxes and suitcases by my brother, Dale Mann, his wife, Heather, and by my cousin, Ivan Carnegy.

In addition to his books, the boxes contained 47 diaries, notes, play scripts, short stories, and reams of poetry. They were freighted to Mackay where two very fit men carted the very heavy boxes upstairs to my high set Queenslander house.

Lester's books in their new home at my house

During the past three years I have edited 4000 pages of diaries. I have another 8000 pages to do, which cover 18 years of his life. When I received the boxes and found the diaries I simply wanted to read them but as I read more and more I realised the diary entries, in an edited form, would be enjoyed by many people.

There are numerous fragments written by Lester when he was in his late teenage years. These are very solemn entries, probably written with an eye to future publication. As he grew older and began work the entries became far more relaxed and his personality shone through. Return to Top

When I first read the diaries, and began thinking of turning them into a manuscript, I came up with a name for them - "The Gentleman of Chadstone". Lester lived in Chadstone, he was very much a gentle man, as well as a gentleman, and he loved Shakespeare and I was trying to allude to the "Two Gentlemen of Verona". A few hours later, on returning to my reading, I came across an entry where Lester described a woman calling out to him and calling him "The Gentleman of Chadstone".

Lots more books

Lester's dream was to be published. This never happened during his life time but when I edit his diaries, and type up the entries, I see them as his book. Maybe they have not been published, but many people have read them and have been deeply touched.

The diary entries on this site are in depth yet I have edited heavily. During the past few years I have rewritten the original manuscript so there is not such a plethora of straight entries and have made it more a story about Lester with occasional diary entries to illustrate a point. The manuscript may be tighter but I don't think it has the same effect as the straight diary entries.

However I have put the rewritten Lester Dudley's Story here if you wish to read it. The links below each include a pdf of edited diary entries.