Helping kids stay on the rails

By Melissa Meehan
The author, who has already published two books in the name of charity, has used his experiences on the railway line as a model for his new book The Adventures of One on the Railways.
“My hope is that the character can be anyone, that everyone can relate,” he said.
“It’s about life and a man who sees no bad in anyone – but also looks at how the things people do can affect others.”
Mr Ashley said he hoped the book would help young people make the right choices in their lives, rather than telling them what they must do.
The proceeds of the book will go to the White Lions, an organisation which helps juvenile delinquents who have left the Parkville Juvenile Justice Centre make the right choices once on the outside.
“I first became involved with the White Lions as a representative for Connex in 2006,” he said.
“And we were trying to think of ideas to raise funds – I’m not a rich man so I looked at what I could do, and that was to write a story integrating my own life experiences.”
Mr Ashley said he wrote the book in line with the Maslow Theory, something similar to the ‘Boy Who Cried Wolf’.
“I am not trying to dictate what is right and wrong, but laying a foundation of moral choices,” he said.
“Hopefully it can do that and raise some money too.”
His last book, The Gathering of the Fairy Horses, raised over $8000 for the organisation.
To purchase the book go to www.lulu.com and search under humor.