Former Mallacoota policeman Mark Tregellas has an interesting story to tell.
In fact, his story of policing in remote East Gippsland had captured such significant attention his first book, Back Up Is Three Hours Away, flew off the shelves, selling out on Amazon in just three days and totally in three weeks.
The book details Tregellas’s incredible working history in the police force with tales only his eyes can tell.
The idea came from his daughter, but never did Tregellas think his story would become quite the phenomenon.
“I was not expecting it to sell out in three weeks, I thought I’d be giving them to my family at the end of the year,” he said.”
I never thought anyone would be so interested in what goes on at a rural police station.”
The second printing of the book is expected to hit the shelves soon, but Tregellas is till trying to wrap his head around his newfound fame and the opportunities the book has presented.
“It was selected by the Melbourne Film Festival for possible adaptation into a TV series,” Tregellas said. “Since publishing I have been doing interviews and podcasts around the world. The Blue Ribbon Foundation has asked me to go onto their Insider Story team and I’m doing talks at Scotch College in August and Mildura in October.
“I wrote my book for my daughters who asked that I record all my crazy stories that they grew up with.
“I started martial arts doing Go-Jo-Kai under Tino Ceberano in 1974 (I was mentioned in his biography). I then learnt Hontai-Joshin-Ryu under David Montebello.
Then Brazillian JuJutsu under John Wills and also Doce Pares Filipino Stick and knife fighting under Vince Palumbo and Cacoy Canete.”
Back Up Is Three Hours Away earned high praise from Crime Reads Bookshop’s Kimberley Phillips.
She said it was “an enthralling read that captures the essence of remote policing with raw, unfiltered emotion”.
“The book offers a gripping account of his experiences in the field, and I found myself unable to put it down, finishing it in just six hours,” she said.
“From the very beginning, the narrative pulls you in with its authenticity and intensity. Tregellas masterfully conveys the harsh realities of policing in remote areas, where backup is a distant luxury and every decision carries immense weight. The emotional rollercoaster is palpable — I found myself in tears at the heartwrenching moments, only to burst into laughter at the unexpectedly humorous incidents.
“This balance of emotions is a testament to Tregellas’s storytelling prowess, making you feel deeply connected to his journey.”
Ms Phillips said the book is “about the human spirit, resilience and finding joy in the midst of chaos”.
“You can almost feel the pressure, the danger, and then, suddenly, the happiness that punctuates the most intense times,” she said.
IMAGE: Former Mallacoota policeman Mark Tregellas’s book Backup is Three Hours Away (inset) has literally flown off the shelves. (PS)
