Passions of Youth The Passions of War Hawkesbury River explodes onto the Allied beachhead of Port Moresby, New Guinea during a Japanese air raid at the height of the second world war. Following the chaos, wounded troops ship to Sydney, Australia for recovery. Lieutenant Richard Grey lay amongst the American GI's. Half a century later, the aging soldier's grandson, David, travels to the island continent to fulfill one last mission Richard never forgot. Hawkesbury River defines the parallels of life and of love that span generations through a boy's journey discovering his grandfather's hidden ties to the Australian central coast.