Ettalong author’s latest tale in print

Life, Luck and Lessons Learned is a poignant and humorous tale starting against the backdrop of rural New Zealand, written by Ettalong author John Burgess.

It’s his fifth book and third published; his first being Life, Luck and Liaisons and the second What’s the Story?

His latest offering tells the tale of a determined father who buys a farm in the heart of Northland, little knowing where that will lead.

In time the son becomes disillusioned with life on the farm and in 1965 he leaves the family farm to gain experience in international meat trading.

He goes to work first in Liverpool, and then in London.

In 1970 he emigrates to Montreal, Canada, where he becomes familiar with the intricacies of the North American meat trade.

Those experiences lead to the establishment of his own meat trading company in Sydney in 1971.

Eventually his company becomes one of the largest meat exporters in Australia.

The narrative weaves a tapestry of life’s trials and triumphs, highlighting the bonds forged through hard work and shared experiences.

Burgess, 88, was born in New Zealand at the outbreak of WWII.

Upon leaving boarding school he undertook farming apprenticeships.

Later, he made his way to London, where he discovered he had a talent for international trading.

The meat industry gave him a new career in an office environment.

While in London, he married Jenny, a fellow Kiwi.

After a few years in England and Canada, they moved to Australia, where John established his own meat trading enterprise, which required extensive travel at home and abroad.

Through a series of autobiographies Burgess has shared his life experiences offering insight into a time of immense change and freedom following WWII and well into the early 2000s.

Starting in rural New Zealand and following Burgess’ travels through the Pacific, Asia, Europe, Canada and eventually settling in Australia, his experiences capture the wonders of a bygone era as well as the trials and tribulations of a career in the meat and livestock industry and their characters – the good, the great and those from which a lesson or two could be learned.