Buckley Saves Christmas

By TONY SQUIRE

It's Christmas 1902 and the town of Kilcoy has been enduring a serious drought all year. Buckley the Yowie cannot stop the drought but he and his animal friends can lend a hand preparing for the coming rains. But it is not just Kilcoy that is need of help, for a certain magical figure and his exhausted and thirsty reindeer have lost much time due

• Language: English
• Publisher: S.A.Squire & T.Squire
• Release date: Nov 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9780648913894

TONY SQUIRE

Tony Squire, originally from England, is now an Australian citizen and resides there with his wife Sheila. Following in his father's footsteps, he pursued a career as a professional soldier and dedicated a total of 21 years to his service. Throughout his life, he has held a deep passion for history, particularly military history, and from a young age, he aspired to craft a historical novel that would intertwine his characters with real life historical events. This dream has come to fruition multiple times through his books aimed at younger readers, featuring his beloved character Buckley the Yowie, as well as with his historical fiction novel for adults "...until you are safe". However, in his latest endeavour, a novel intended for readers of all ages, Tony has constructed a novel based on the true story of Ned Kelly, but with the addition of a fictional companion who attempts to save Ned from his fiery destiny.

Book preview

Buckley Saves Christmas

Buckley Saves Christmas

Buckley Saves Christmas

Tony Squire

Illustrated by Tony Squire

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S.A.Squire & T.Squire

Contents

Dedication

1 Christmas Present

2 The Drought

3 Friends, Neighbours and Family

4 The Magic of Christmas

5 The Christmas Flight

6 Home For Christmas

About The Author

More Books By This Author

Copyright © 2021 by Tony Squire

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First Printing, 2021

Some of the characters and events portrayed in this book are based on real people and events from history, whilst others, including spoken word, are fictitious.  Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

I dedicate this book to my beautiful wife Sheila for bringing the love and magic to Christmas, and my life, every year, and in fact every day.

I also dedicate this book to all children, who, for some reason were not fortunate to grow up in a household with either parents or siblings.  I cannot begin to imagine the pain that you experienced.  It brings a lump to my throat just thinking about it.  I only hope that you have found true peace, love and happiness now.  Bless you all.

1

Christmas Present

Christmas Day was only a few weeks away and excitement was growing at Doriray Station. Having learned about Buckley’s adventures with Ned Kelly, Bluey, and his sister Mack, were eager to hear the story of the most wonderful person ever....... Santa Claus.

It was Saturday morning and the brother and sister arrived early at Doriray, making their way straight to Buckley’s barn. Buckley was sat on a bale of hay carving a Christmas tree bauble from a piece of blue gum he had cut from a fallen branch. Both children were full of beans and did not really pay attention to what Buckley was doing. Hey Buckas! said Mack excitedly, tell us about your mate Santa Claus. Yeah, what was Christmas like all those years ago? asked Bluey. So many questions, said Buckley the Yowie, shaking his head, as he carried on carving, why don’t you start off by telling me what is special for you two at Christmas?

Presents!! Mack and Bluey blurted out in unison. Presents eh? asked Buckley, anything else? I love to receive gifts, but I also love to give them too, just to see the look on people’s faces when they open them, said Mack, it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. I think that is partly what Christmas is all about. Me too, replied Bluey, we always save our pocket money all year so we can buy nice things. That is very thoughtful of you both, but do you not ever buy yourselves anything? asked Buckley. Nope, came an immediate response from Bluey, followed by a thud and an Ow! as Mack elbowed Bluey and gave him quite a stern look. "Well, I do buy myself some lollies occasionally, especially those coconut mushrooms, they are yum, said Bluey, feeling slightly guilty for some reason. Buckley reassured him, saying there’s nothing to feel bad about, for isn’t that what pocket money is for, treating yourself? Everyone deserves a treat some time, don’t they?" Both Bluey and Mack nodded and smiled, feeling somewhat relieved.

Well kids, said Buckley, You’ve got the general idea, but Christmas is about love, peace, family and all of the good things. Like the spirit of giving? asked Mack. Exactly, replied a smiling Buckley.

Some people get a bit greedy though don’t they? Bluey pointed out. Yeah, there’s a girl in my class who says she is getting the latest smart phone from her parents, and it costs over a thousand dollars. Her Dad has to work extra hours to be able to afford it, explained Mack. What do you mean when you say that her parents are buying it? I’m a bit confused, asked a shocked Bluey, doesn’t Santa Claus buy all of the Christmas pressies? "Well, there is the thing, said Buckley, Santa doesn’t buy the presents, he makes them, and he always ensures that every child has one gift; all of the others are provided by parents and family. There just aren’t enough hours in the day for Santa and his elves to make everything that each child wants. Not so long ago children were grateful for one gift, for it was special and meant something to them. Yeah we should be happy and grateful for what we are given, replied Mack. Well, all I want is a skateboard. That’ll do me," said Bluey, thoughtfully.

What did you get for Christmas when you were a boy Buckas? asked an inquisitive Mack. I was never a boy, replied Buckley. Never a boy? asked a surprised Bluey, you mean you were always that big? Buckley nodded. I have no parents or family, and never had a Christmas as such until I became a Taylor, but I have seen it begin and evolve over thousands of years in to what it is today, and...... Buckley paused, I’m not very pleased. Not pleased about Christmas? That’s a shame. Why not? asked Mack. Because people seem to have forgotten what the true spirit and meaning of Christmas is all about, for it is a time for everyone, not just a select few, replied Buckley, feeling a little disappointed. It’s the birthday of Jesus isn’t it? asked Bluey. Well, yes and no, replied the big Yowie. Buckley went on to explain how his friend Klaus had told him that since time began there have been celebrations and festivals all over the world where gifts were exchanged, and this is why Klaus began his magical journey of toy making and distribution. As for the date, Klaus tells me that the exact day that Jesus was born is not really known, so the church borrowed it from the celebration of the Winter Solstice, which is an event that used to happen far away in the northern lands. It has several names like Yule and the Festival of Light, explained Buckley. Wow! Is Christmas celebrated everywhere? asked Bluey. No it isn’t, but each country has some sort of similar festival. A different name and date, but the same thing, so that the happiness and love is all over the world at different times of the year, and Klaus, or Santa as you call him, still delivers gifts to all on this one special night. Hey, that would be a bonus wouldn’t it, waking up and receiving a present when it isn’t Christmas where you live, said a happy Mack. It would indeed, replied Buckley with an approving nod of the head.

What did Archie and Percy used to get for Christmas in the olden days? enquired Bluey. Well, times were much simpler back then, and no-one expected anything from anyone, replied Buckley, but the spirit of giving was there and most received something. What sort of something Buckas? asked Mack. Usually the boys got an apple, an orange, a pair of slippers, or the like, and half a crown, Buckley replied, "these were given by their parents but if they wrote to Klaus he would bring a special present such as a hat, boots, pen knife or a fishing