Des Foley’s book The Glory Days, published in 2022, traces his ancestors’ history in Australia following their emigration from Ireland and Britain.

The family’s history intersects with that of the Forests Commission in the forests above Erica where they lived and worked in sawmill settlements. The book provides insight into family and social life in these settlements and describes logging operations, sawmills and timber tramlines. Not only did Des’ father, Adrian (Ade), work for the Forests Commission, Ade’s niece, Barbara Tucker, married forester Jack Gillespie who was posted to Erica between 1946 and 1953.

Des has generously permitted the Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association to extract and publish on the website those parts from his book that are relevant to forestry.