A review by long term resident, Herman Kreller
This is a most incredible book, yet it was written by a most credible person. The author, Gan Bruce, is hard to describe, as the opinions of his peers vary starkly. Many claim that he is an absolute genius, while others feel that the dividing line between brilliance, and slightly mad simply got blurred.
He was born in Lightning Ridge and proudly can trace his local connection back to about 1880. As a child he must have been a dreadful pain to his parents and his teachers. His thirst for knowledge was never satisfied and his inability to accept as factual anything he could not verify himself, was frustrating. To everybody else, anyway.
Still, all agree that Gan Bruce is the only genuine eccentric left in Lightning Ridge. His trademark speedwalk along the streets of the town, with his skinny legs propelling him along at an astonishing rate, and with his turquoise coloured terry towelling cap pulled down low and supported only by his ears, make him instantly recognizeable.
Gan talks exactly the way he walks. It is just not possible to keep up with him. His mind is constantly roaming all over the place, telling astonishing stories from the past, or lashing out at the so-called boneheads on the 'evil' Walgett Shire Council for desecrating the maiden opal bearing ridges and financially mismanaging the rate payers' hard earned money.
Sadly, he knows no fear. His lampooning of government ministers, shire councillors, Dept. of Mineral Resources, and many others, all mentioned by name, perhaps helped torpedo his very strenuous efforts to seceed Walgett Shire.
Life at 'the Ridge' was at its most fascinating during Gan's terms as Walgett Shire councillor and president of the Lightning Ridge Miners' Association. Gan gave weekly floggings to anything and everything that seemed unfair and unjust. Unfortunately, he found far too many instances which needed rectifying. Due to his inability to 'let sleeping dogs well alone', he simply exhausted himself...
butting his hard head against too many brick walls. Lack of support, due largely to the lethargy of his fellow locals, had him retire, seemingly badly hurt, to his corner.
We didn't see him for some time and felt that he had given up. Yeah, right! We should have known better. During this time he wrote his first book which now sells second-hand for $500 in a local book store. He also studied medical science at Sydney University and Aboriginal Health and Culture at Newcastle University.
He was obviously afraid that most of the turbulent history of this opal mining town would be lost, forgotten, or recalled incorrectly by pseudo historical experts. His only way out was to put pen to paper, literally, and take the time to write this astonishing 417 page book. He did so without computer, spell checker, cut and paste facility, and all the other comforting aides required by the rest of us.
The book is printed on quality paper, hard cover, with outstanding photos of the present and featuring the rarest photos from the past. His photographic memory recalls facts and happenings with astonishing clarity, and the book provided many hours of nostalgic reminiscing for this reviewer.
Gan told me that the lawyers spent as much time worrying about the legal ramifications as it took him to write the book. He finally had it printed anyway, regardless of the consequences. "It is all the truth", Gan states.
In the opinion of this reviewer, this book will sell for anything up to $1000 in due time, considering the amount of current and historical facts and knowledge it contains, the controversy it is causing, and that Gan's previous book sells for up to $500 second hand.
Reviewed by long term resident,
Herman Kreller