The Glass Soldier Nelson Ferguson

Don Farrands will tell us the true story of a young Australian soldier whose life of opportunity was challenged by trauma and salvaged by strength. Nelson Ferguson, from Ballarat, was a stretcher-bearer on the Western Front in France in World War I. He survived the dangers of stretcher-bearing in some of Australia's most horrific battles: the Somme, Bullecourt, Ypres and Villers-Bretonneux. In April 1918, at Villers-Bretonneux, he was severely gassed. His eyes were traumatised, his lungs damaged.

COURAGE AND COMPASSION – THE STORY OF A STRETCHER BEARER

Introduction and Bio for Don Farrands

Don will talk about his new book Courage and Compassion – from no man’s land and beyond. The story of a stretcher bearer in WW1. 

This story will stir your soul. It is a story of trauma, hope, miracles and triumph. 

Don will speak on the topics of the Great, war, Australia’s involvement, disability, and recovery, through the lens of one of the countless great veterans of World War 1 who was his grandfather.

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Don is a commercial lawyer, chartered accountant and director.  He has qualifications in law, economics, accounting and finance. When at university he served five years in the Canberra Symphony Orchestra as trombonist. Don was a solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills, then CFO for Comalco Smelting, an aluminium producer. Don is currently at the Melbourne bar specialising in energy and commercial law.  He has been a co-founder of a renewable energy company which ultimately listed on the London Stock Exchange. He has written a leading text, The Law of Options and Other Pre-emptive Rights.

Don has chaired Women’s Housing, a major NFP organisation dedicated to facilitating better housing options for disadvantaged women. Don as also worked extensively in the disability sector, as a director of Wallara Australia, a major disability organisation, assisting some 600 disabled persons across Victoria. 

Don’s abiding passions are his family, rugby, and classical music.

Book Royalties to the Fred Hollows Foundation

Royalties from the sale of the book go to the Fred Hollows Foundation in aide of eye treatments to restore sight. Last year, the Fred Hollows Foundation performed more than 1 million eye operations. It is an incredible organisation and deserves strong support.