Ryan Butta Author Talk

The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli, is a fascinating and immersive investigation into what has been described as a grievous historical wrong. Harry Freame was the first Australian soldier to win the Distinguished Conduct Medal at Gallipoli. In the lead up to WWII, Harry, who was half-Japanese, was recruited into Australian intelligence. His true identity was leaked by the Australian press, leading to an assassination attempt by the Japanese secret police.

Copies of the book will be available for sale and signed by the author.


TICKETS WILL OPEN FOR BOOKING ON 30 DECEMBER.

MEET RYAN

After starting out life on the opal fields of western NSW, Ryan was raised among the vineyards and horse studs of the Hunter Valley. His first work of historical non-fiction, The Ballad of Abdul Wade, recounted the previously untold story of the Afghan men that came to Australia in the 1800s to work in the mining and wool industries. The Ballad of Abdul Wade was shortlisted for the South Australian Literary Awards non fiction book of the year and longlisted for the Indie Book Awards non-fiction book of the year for 2023. Ryan's latest work, The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli, retells the remarkable life story of Harry Freame, a Japanese-Australian adventurer, soldier of fortune, Anzac, orchardist and spy.

Ryan's feature writing has appeared in the Good Weekend Magazine and he is a regular contributor to Galah Press, writing about the people and places of regional Australia. Ryan’s works of historical non-fiction look to reveal and understand the hidden and forgotten stories of Australia and the Australians who, like his own family, came across the seas to make their home here. Ryan believes that only by dismantling the myths of the past can we build the country of the future. Ryan now lives on Dharawal country on the NSW South Coast.