Below is a list of the books that Max Jones has written and published:

 

 

This is the fascinating and true story of a bush legend of the twentieth century. Known only from fleeting glimpses to the people of Australia's Riverland region who gave him his name, the Possum deliberately turned his back on society to live almost entirely off the land as a recluse along the banks of the Murray River between Wentworth, N.S.W. and Renmark, S.A.

 

It took Max Jones, country detective, almost thirty years to solve the mystery behind the man called Possum. From chance encounters, brief meetings and full-scale conversations with the man himself, and from the testimony of others, the author pieced together Possum's extraordinary life story, this book reveals yet another remarkable character - the author himself. For, after patient investigation and finally forging a friendship with the Possum, Max Jones also had the wisdom and humanity to respect his fierce independence. A Man Called Possum stands as a fine memorial to a man willing to forgo modern comforts and human relations for a life alone in the harshness and freedom of the bush.

 

Click here, to read questions put to Max by Dean Semler (Academy Award Winner) and his wife Annie, after they acquired the Film Rights to the book 'A Man Called Possum' .

 

Postscript to A Man Called Possum.

 

The book is about some famous Aboriginal trackers who for a number of years worked with the South Australian Police Department in the Riverland and elsewhere involving Jimmy James, Albert Anunga, Daniel Moodoo and others with remarkable success. It contains some fascinating stories depicting their wonderful talents, compiled by retired Detective Sergeant Max Jones, of the Riverland Criminal Investigation Branch, from his 23 years of personal diaries.

 

Max showed wisdom and initiative in using their skills in a number of famous cases. He and his staff developed a special rapport with them, commanding their respect and trust, and together built them into a formidable team of 'professionals'.

The art of tracking is disappearing fast with the last of Max's great trackers Jimmy James having suffered several stokes. It is hoped that someone will carry on this gifted art.

 

The stories contained in this book include War Time Pilot - Howard Hendrick.  This story is about his war time experiences as a Civil Pilot 50 years ago.   His wife Winifred tells her story about her six years service in the W.A.A.F. 

Max Jones, having been brought up during the Depression years, lost at sea at the age of 9, ship wrecked at 14, being out of work at 15, carrying his swag and looking for work in Northern N.S.W. and southern Queensland at 16 are just a few things that happened in his life before most people started theirs.

Six years in the A.I.F. in World War 2, serving in a dozen different countries, 38 years in the S.A. Police Force, 23 years of it as Detective Sergeant in charge of the Riverland Criminal Investigation Branch.

Max would say he is probably in a good position to identify characters - which he tries to do in the stories contained in this book.

 

This book is about the life of Max Jones.  Max was appointed Detective-in-Charge of the Riverland Criminal Investigation Branch based in Renmark in 1954, a few years after his discharge from the army in which he served for six years in World War 2, and attained the rank of Captain.

Renmark was a comparatively remote centre and at times, with little or no assistance, he was forced to act on his own initiative, probably fortified by the knowledge that a famous English judge once remarked, "When all else fails let common-sense prevail."

With a remarkable capacity for working long hours and an astonishing memory for details, he earned a reputation as a most courageous and efficient detective, not only in this state, but also with police in New South Wales and Victoria with whom he worked in close liaison.  At the same time he earned the respect of local citizens, and became widely known as Uncle Max because of his sympathetic understanding of human nature, and his willingness to listen to people who may have personal problems.

This style of policing was accepted and practised by his staff and other officers in the district.

When officiating as a Justice of Peace in the local court, I could not fail to be impressed with the courtesy Max showed towards the defendant whilst he was prosecuting and also his frequent appeals for leniency for those whom he thought may respond to such treatment.  To ease his work load, he adopted a system best described as 'commonsense law enforcement' which, together with a visible police presence in the streets, led to a period when the district was comparatively free from serious crime, whilst it was known that this also prompted some people, with a less than desirable record, who thought it was advisable to keep away from the Riverland.

Following his untimely retirement due to failing health, Detective-Sergeant Jones turned his talents towards writing and in 1984 published his first book, A Man Called Possum, which became a best seller.  This was followed by another book, Tracks, and how his third book The Bush Detective, contains a series of stories about investigations and incidents in which he was involved whilst stationed in the Riverland.

 

Spencer Ogilvy M.B.E.
'Tannadice'
Renmark. 

 

This story is based on a similar case which I was called on to investigate in my role as Detective Sergeant of the Riverland Criminal Investigation Branch of South Australia.  Names, circumstances, localities have been altered and fictionalised so as to protect the innocent.

The story is based on the life and work of Tom and Helen Logan and their family, especially young Jim. Tom handed down his secret about breaking horses with a 'lollypop'.  A down to earth, true life, emotional story which will delight all.