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Beyond the Outback: Gulf Women of Remote North West Queensland
Twenty women share their incredible stories of surviving and thriving in the remote Australian 'Gulf Country', near the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Gulf women are self-sufficient, generous, and can cope with almost anything that life and the environment throws at floods, drought, sickness, emergencies. Whether they are graziers, fisherwomen, ringers, women in tourism, aviation and education, Indigenous women or descendants from early women settlers, this powerful book gives these women a voice to tell their own stories.
There are stories of new mothers on properties isolated and inaccessible for months in the wet season; women giving birth at home with only neighbours to assist; reminiscences from last century and World War II, and accounts of fishing in the Gulf in sometimes unimaginable conditions.
From the kids wanting a baby croc for a pet to the terror of a snake bite with a flooded airstrip and impassable roads, these women treat the extraordinary events in their lives as just part of their remote way of life.
Set in a world of vast landscapes, distance and merciless climate, Beyond the Outback contains riveting tales of the lives of the women who live, work and raise families in one of Australia's most isolated regions. It will be loved by readers of Sara Henderson, Toni Tapp Coutts and Terry Underwood.
Gulf women are self-sufficient, generous, and can cope with almost anything that life and the environment throws at floods, drought, sickness, emergencies. Whether they are graziers, fisherwomen, ringers, women in tourism, aviation and education, Indigenous women or descendants from early women settlers, this powerful book gives these women a voice to tell their own stories.
There are stories of new mothers on properties isolated and inaccessible for months in the wet season; women giving birth at home with only neighbours to assist; reminiscences from last century and World War II, and accounts of fishing in the Gulf in sometimes unimaginable conditions.
From the kids wanting a baby croc for a pet to the terror of a snake bite with a flooded airstrip and impassable roads, these women treat the extraordinary events in their lives as just part of their remote way of life.
Set in a world of vast landscapes, distance and merciless climate, Beyond the Outback contains riveting tales of the lives of the women who live, work and raise families in one of Australia's most isolated regions. It will be loved by readers of Sara Henderson, Toni Tapp Coutts and Terry Underwood.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
368 pages, Paperback
Published August 11, 2020
15 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Bronwyn Blake
19 books1 followerWhere do you live?
In Gippsland, Victoria, in a conservation area near Inverloch, which is a small seaside town, very popular in the holidays. We overlook Bass Strait, we’re close to Wilsons Prom National Park, and within a few hours of the Gippsland Lakes and the High Country... so you can see where a lot of background for the books began!
Where did you grow up and go to school?
In an old house in Brown St. Heidelberg, Melbourne. The description of it can be found in the opening of "Rock Dancer'. I went to Ivanhoe Girls Grammar, Heidelberg State School, Eltham High and PLC, East Melbourne.
How long have you been writing?
In my head since I was a small child, about three, and began remembering my environment. If you write, as I do, from a strong visual perspective, it's really important to develop a keen recording eye and an excellent visual memory.
I've been writing full time since 2000. New millennium, new life.
I had a great start because in 2000, I was awarded the first May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust Mentorship for a new writer. It was a wonderful help for someone coming late into a field about which I knew virtually nothing! I had two weeks of visiting, learning and asking dumb questions,(really, really dumb questions!) as well as having the manuscripts of my first two books assessed and commented upon.
What did you do before you became a writer?
I worked as a teacher (my first real job), then in the community in a variety of jobs to do with children, families, communities and health, here and overseas.
My first ever job was collecting eggs on our chook farm for pocket money, but I've also taught sculpture and life drawing, sold shoes, waitressed, done housekeeping and nannying. When we lived in Alaska I worked in remote area television as a general all-around-do-everything from artist to teacher. That was great experience!
Why do you write for Young Adults?
It's challenging to present difficult, "adult" ideas to people whose life experience is usually more limited simply because of their age...not their intelligence or understanding. Teenagers are open to new ideas and I'd like to think I had some part in introducing readers to new ways of looking at issues, people or experiencing an environment.
I like to explore the ways in which people handle new and difficult situations, and how they change in dealing with them. I love writing about the courage and determination I see in young adults.Snorkelling
Do you have kids?
Yes, three. One born in Alaska, the other two were born in Australia. They're all grown up and now very useful. They fix things and dig drains.
In Gippsland, Victoria, in a conservation area near Inverloch, which is a small seaside town, very popular in the holidays. We overlook Bass Strait, we’re close to Wilsons Prom National Park, and within a few hours of the Gippsland Lakes and the High Country... so you can see where a lot of background for the books began!
Where did you grow up and go to school?
In an old house in Brown St. Heidelberg, Melbourne. The description of it can be found in the opening of "Rock Dancer'. I went to Ivanhoe Girls Grammar, Heidelberg State School, Eltham High and PLC, East Melbourne.
How long have you been writing?
In my head since I was a small child, about three, and began remembering my environment. If you write, as I do, from a strong visual perspective, it's really important to develop a keen recording eye and an excellent visual memory.
I've been writing full time since 2000. New millennium, new life.
I had a great start because in 2000, I was awarded the first May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust Mentorship for a new writer. It was a wonderful help for someone coming late into a field about which I knew virtually nothing! I had two weeks of visiting, learning and asking dumb questions,(really, really dumb questions!) as well as having the manuscripts of my first two books assessed and commented upon.
What did you do before you became a writer?
I worked as a teacher (my first real job), then in the community in a variety of jobs to do with children, families, communities and health, here and overseas.
My first ever job was collecting eggs on our chook farm for pocket money, but I've also taught sculpture and life drawing, sold shoes, waitressed, done housekeeping and nannying. When we lived in Alaska I worked in remote area television as a general all-around-do-everything from artist to teacher. That was great experience!
Why do you write for Young Adults?
It's challenging to present difficult, "adult" ideas to people whose life experience is usually more limited simply because of their age...not their intelligence or understanding. Teenagers are open to new ideas and I'd like to think I had some part in introducing readers to new ways of looking at issues, people or experiencing an environment.
I like to explore the ways in which people handle new and difficult situations, and how they change in dealing with them. I love writing about the courage and determination I see in young adults.Snorkelling
Do you have kids?
Yes, three. One born in Alaska, the other two were born in Australia. They're all grown up and now very useful. They fix things and dig drains.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 15, 2020
An interesting read in the lives of women living in outback/rural regions with their families.
December 12, 2020
Gread to read of such strong women living an interesting and fulfilling life in parts of Australia we know very little about. Fabulous read.
April 30, 2024
Great book! Having to of traveled out there on holidays it was amazing to hear these stories!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews