YOU can take the boy out of Casino but you can't take Casino out of the boy.

Ray Cross boasts that he is born and bred in Casino and despite living at South Tweed Heads, his voice swells with pride when he talks about Casino.

At 64 years of age, he launched his first book, the self-published Ladies and Gentlemen Where Do We Start, a book about growing up in Casino and his career as an auctioneer.

At the launch at Tweed Heads, two-thirds of the audience was from Casino, he said, including childhood friend, Mayor Robert Mustow.

"It's all about the bond between auctioneers," Cross said.

"I went to Graham Smith's funeral 18 months ago and everywhere I looked were auctioneers."

Graham Smith was somewhat of a legend in the cattle industry, Cross said.

It was that bond not only between auctioneers but also his footy mates that he wanted to put onto the page.

"You're out there battling away, as an auctioneer and a footballer, that's a real bond," he said.

His first boss in his auctioneering career 48 years ago was Bonalbo's Fraser Ramsey.

When he saw Mr Ramsey at the funeral ("he was sitting three seats away from me"), Cross was inspired to write.

Here's an extract from his book:

"My first day's work for Fraser involved an early start and comprehensive muster of Alex Armstrong's bullocks at Disputed Plains, Bentley which was halfway between Kyogle , Lismore and Casino. Alex was a long term client and Fraser would buy steers and store bullocks on his behalf and sell them when they were ready for the 'fat market.'"

His book is not only the story of his life and career but at the end of each chapter there is an auctioneering tip.

The book is available at Evans Head newsagent, run by Cross' niece. Alternatively it can be purchased online at www.findanauctioneer

.com.au.