Come meet Michelle Bourke, author and storyteller, the only widow that has travelled around the world
with a cardboard cut-out of her late husband.
This story is a journey of love, laughter, tears and friendship whilst keeping promises moving forward.
Coming Book Launch “The Last of the Bush Balladist”
Michelle is launching her new book “The Last of the Bush Balladist”
Ivanhoe Uniting Church Community Centre
Saturday 25th April 2026
Edward (Ted) Phillip Harrington lived the majority of his life in the place he loved, the land. A talented prolific writer in his own right, began writing as early as nine years of age.
It is only fitting to continue his legacy by reproducing his works.
With his books; Songs of War and Peace, Boundary Bend, Kerrigan Boys and The Swagless Swaggie no longer in print and rare to acquire, his great niece Michelle has bought together all his published works in this one volume. Michelle discovered along the journey, rare poems, ballads, and articles that seemed lost forever.
This book covers Ted’s life from being born in Shepparton to the battlefields of Beersheba and along the way, the works that Ted produced whilst battling health issues, scars from fighting in the first world war.
Throughout his works, Ted weaves stories from his observations of life, his love of the land and honouring mateship and his love of the pen. Ted had a lot of joy and satisfaction in what he did in his lifetime.
Ted’s work will endure for centuries and even more so with this reference guide to his works, bringing his bush balladry home to the ordinary person.