‘Bill Haydon, The Cedar King, the man behind the legend’, is the culmination of years of research and hard work.

The book was researched and written by two North Coast women, one of whom is Bill’s granddaughter Geraldine Yabsley.

It has been a legacy of love to say the least.

This book is a result of her passion for her grandfather and his work and for the people who lived and worked on the Carrai Plateau.

People who knew or were involved in some way with Bill Haydon will also have the opportunity to meet up at a special event, which includes the book launch, to be held at the Kempsey Showground from 9.30am.

Interested history buffs will have a chance to meet the authors and purchase signed and discounted copies of the book hot off the press.

Displays, video footage and historic artefacts will set the stage for an interesting day.

A new website detailing the history of Bill Haydon and the recent publication has also been launched.

The site contains snippets of information from the book, and records some of the memories of the people who have lived and worked in the forests and timber mill communities of the Mid and North Coast regions of NSW.

Authors Geraldine, and Kathleen Davies first met in 2004 in Kempsey, and started working together in their spare time, putting the story of Bill’s disappearance together to dispel rumours that have persisted since 1965, when he disappeared in the wilderness of the rugged Washpool forest west of Grafton.

Bill Haydon was a man who had an impact on many people and communities from all over NSW and southern Queensland.

Hundreds of people from communities across the north of NSW assisted in the search for him, a search that almost resulted in the loss of more family members.

The army was also involved in a search that lasted several weeks.

His story has been a hot topic of discussion over the years and it was only in 2008 that a coronial inquest was held and findings revealed into his disappearance.