It had been almost 40 years since Mr Johnston, now 85, had put pen to paper and become lost in the world of writing.

He now proudly wears the hat of a self-taught author with three published titles.

After turning the pages of his third book Tales from Down Under, he said the journey up to this point had not been an easy one.

“When I was a kid I used to write composition, but because I couldn’t spell the teachers wouldn’t read my composition; they would just mark it with a big red fail,” he said.

“At school people would tell me that I was never going to get anywhere.

‘‘So when I left I went into the mines for 40 years.

‘‘It wasn’t until I was in hospital a long time after when the nurse gave me a pen and some paper to give me something to do.

“I didn’t have much of an education, so I tried to educate myself by reading books.”

Born in Wombara, at just 16 Mr Johnston turned to the harsh profession of an underground coal miner at Scarborough Pit.

While there he moved more than 10 tons of a coal a day, earning 28 cents a ton.

Hailing from a long bloodline of coal miners in his family, Mr Johnston said it was a normal step.

However, he said the written word had always been his passion and his “inquiring mind” became the driving force behind his writing. “When I was at school I asked the minister during scripture what A.D meant and everyone laughed, so I went off and found out myself,’’ he said.

‘‘From that day I have always searched for the meaning on my own.

“It was a gift I had that I didn’t realise until later in life, and to have them published is a big leap forward.”

Mr Johnston first published Short Stories and Poetry, and most recently published Tales from Down Under.

The latest book comprises of a selection of stories that flow from Australian history, Aborigines, farm life, war, immigration and even Poland and New Guinea.

The books can be purchased by calling 4294 8452.