Stepping out: Rhys Thurston and John Olsen.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A NEW book reveals a 20-year battle with alcoholism for a Geelong man who walked across Australia twice for charity.
The book, From Point AA to Point B, also recounts John Olsen’s encounters with lightning strikes, dust storms and outback sand dunes that nearly broke him.
Author and Rollins Primary School teacher Rhys Thurston said the book detailed Mr Olsen’s struggle as a “dependent alcoholic” before his long walks north to south and east to west.
“It candidly reveals the depths and misgivings of being controlled by the bottle,” Mr Thurston said.
The grandfather of nine’s unaided walks raised more than $125,000 for cerebral palsy and leukodystrophy sufferers.
“I thought it was a great story that should be told, so I knocked on his door and we sat down every week to have a chat,” Mr Thurston said.
The book was available at Geelong’s Dymocks and Paton Books stores or by emailing frompointaatopointb@yahoo.com.au.
Part of the proceeds would go to Lions Club of Geelong’s cerebral palsy project and to Australian Leukodystrophy Support.
