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Not Just the Wife of the General Manager
Not Just the Wife of the General Manager is a rollicking memoir of one woman’s life on outback cattle stations, and an homage to the many unsung women like her.
It was the 1980s and Sally was in her early 20s when she returned from a backpacking sojourn and hitchhiked to Australia’s far north. But instead of moving back to Canberra as planned, she stayed. After marrying a cattle station manager, Sally lived and worked with him on various stations until she was 50, ingraining herself into the lives of the characters who inhabited these isolated places.
With wit and sass, Sally tells the story of how she was so much more than just a wife of a station manager (despite what some of the top end blokes thought). Among other things, she was a nurse (dealing with local accidents, assisting the Flying Doctor service and making emergency 400 km round trips through the outback with sick children), a mother (bringing up several children, not all her own), a travel agent, a social secretary, a host and an organiser (including of Kerry Packer’s New Year’s Eve parties).
This is a story about adventure, resilience, the unexpected journeys we need to go on to find ourselves, and having the courage to do something for yourself. In Sally's words: 'Life’s like that, fellas. You may spend a lifetime trying to find yourself but, at the end of the day, you've been there all along.'
It was the 1980s and Sally was in her early 20s when she returned from a backpacking sojourn and hitchhiked to Australia’s far north. But instead of moving back to Canberra as planned, she stayed. After marrying a cattle station manager, Sally lived and worked with him on various stations until she was 50, ingraining herself into the lives of the characters who inhabited these isolated places.
With wit and sass, Sally tells the story of how she was so much more than just a wife of a station manager (despite what some of the top end blokes thought). Among other things, she was a nurse (dealing with local accidents, assisting the Flying Doctor service and making emergency 400 km round trips through the outback with sick children), a mother (bringing up several children, not all her own), a travel agent, a social secretary, a host and an organiser (including of Kerry Packer’s New Year’s Eve parties).
This is a story about adventure, resilience, the unexpected journeys we need to go on to find ourselves, and having the courage to do something for yourself. In Sally's words: 'Life’s like that, fellas. You may spend a lifetime trying to find yourself but, at the end of the day, you've been there all along.'
- GenresBiography
304 pages, Paperback
Published March 30, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 23, 2022
When the prologue of the book includes a description of someone as 'anal retentive', you know that it is going to be an interesting read .... and I was not disappointed. Funny, shocking, frank ... loved it. The author signed this book when I bought it and it was the only time that I had met her. It is weird to think that having only spent 5 minutes with this person and 5 days reading her book, I feel as though I know more about her than many people I have known for decades/a lifetime.
July 5, 2022
This is the best book I have read this year. True Rural Northern Territory Life. Sally slaps you in the face from page one with her Honesty and never backs down from the truth. What a life. I would like to give 10 stars.
July 6, 2023
Great book about a Great life full of Great adventures of a Great woman with a Great future. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 25, 2022
A fascinating story well told
Really enjoyed reading about life on a large cattle property and the exciting situations she experienced. Found the whole story to be real and very well written. Definitely worth reading.
Really enjoyed reading about life on a large cattle property and the exciting situations she experienced. Found the whole story to be real and very well written. Definitely worth reading.
May 16, 2022
Really enjoyed reading about life on a large cattle property and the exciting situations she experienced. Found the whole story to be real and very well written. Definitely worth reading.
June 24, 2022
A great read! Loved every chapter, such a great insight and Sally was definitely not Just the WoGM!!
May 7, 2025
Interesting memoir of a woman who married into the cattle ranching lifestyle of the Australian Outback in the 1970's & 1980's- an update on The Thorn Birds. Life is still challenging for a woman, despite the addition of airplanes, helicopters and roads, and access to hospitals. Not that well written, but frank, funny and heartfelt- a real life full of joy, pain and guilt. The portrait of a marriage, motherhood, and her roles working on the cattle stations (as nurse, hostess/entertainer/manager, mother, wife, etc.). Intriguing to compare her feelings and interactions with the Aboriginal people (many, but not deep) with characters in The Thorn Birds (hardly mentioned).
November 24, 2025
The entertaining story of a young girl (hitch hiker) who married the station manager of a cattle ranch in the Australian outback and stayed at the Top End for nearly 25 years. A trained nurse, she recounts her experiences treating all manner of accidents and emergencies in remote conditions. Raising five boys and organising accommodation, food, drink and entertainment for not just everyone on the ranch but for visits from its owner, Kerry Packer, and all his guests. I look forward to hearing about her experiences with MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) around the world.
July 4, 2026
This is an extraordinary account of an accomplished woman, enduring hardships and feeling elation, with brutal honesty, heartfelt and sincere. The writing style is good. I liked it more as the book progressed.
I particularly enjoyed the fax messages exchanged during the European adventure in the later chapters.
It is a real shame that the contribution of women on the land was so overlooked, hopefully this is better understood today. A powerful memoir and a family keepsake for future generations.
I particularly enjoyed the fax messages exchanged during the European adventure in the later chapters.
It is a real shame that the contribution of women on the land was so overlooked, hopefully this is better understood today. A powerful memoir and a family keepsake for future generations.
September 22, 2022
I’d be less than honest if I didn’t say that my expectations weren’t quite met when I read Sally’s book. I love a good biography and she certainly gives a good account of her life before, during and after her time as many things including being the station managers wife. I heard Sally interviewed on ABC Conversations and thoroughly enjoyed the interview and maybe I expected the book to take me to another level?
May 4, 2023
A good read, entertaining and so demonstrative of the misogynistic attitudes that used to be in rural Australia but the the unmistakable glue that women were/are. Inspirational and such a great story as we have progressive to admire and see female leaders in modern day agricultural endeavor. Loved this. Loved Sally.
April 4, 2024
I finished Sally's book a week ago and this evening I had the privilege to interview her at Tamworth Library. What a fabulous life story so far and such an enthusiastic speaker, I could have talked to Sally for hours! Best part of my job, if you want to hear the interview, the podcast should be added next week, I'll put the link here once it's posted!
January 20, 2025
Audiobook. A true and detailed account of life in the outback of northern Australia on a number of large cattle stations. Interesting. The author is the “wife” and this probably amounts to a kind of family chronicle for posterity! A few too many details sometimes but well written and enjoyable.
November 27, 2023
not just the wife
Most certainly not just the wife
This author is so much more than a wife and mother she makes the average woman feel inadequate even unfortunate
A story that needed to be told and needs a wide reading audience
Start reading now…..
Most certainly not just the wife
This author is so much more than a wife and mother she makes the average woman feel inadequate even unfortunate
A story that needed to be told and needs a wide reading audience
Start reading now…..
April 11, 2024
As someone who knew of Sally Warriner and her life style from the rumour mill I admire her honesty and frankness in this tell it like it was book. I also inspired by her resilience to start again after her divorce and do good in this world as well as write a warts and all autobiography
December 18, 2024
Sally is an extraordinary storyteller. She instantly transported me to the Australian bush and cured my homesickness for Australia with her imagery and witty dialogue. What an incredible life she has led.
An absolute must read!!
An absolute must read!!
Read
August 14, 2022Divibe
December 17, 2022
Could not finish this book. Did not like it at all.
February 2, 2024
Excellent Read.
A heartfelt description of life on the land as told by the lady of the manor. So often forgotten as to what goes on in the background.
A heartfelt description of life on the land as told by the lady of the manor. So often forgotten as to what goes on in the background.
May 25, 2024
4.5 stars .. absolutely loved it!
October 12, 2024
An interesting and honest life story. Gave a good insight into the life on remote stations and the toughness needed to survive.
January 18, 2025
Lost me in the middle with all the Kerry Packer stuff. I enjoyed Sally’s story and how sad is the broken relationship with her son.
July 5, 2025
An entertaining read about life on various cattle stations in the NT.
August 14, 2025
A great book to learn the journey of Sally.
June 20, 2026
Loved the content, hated the narrator’s voice.
July 5, 2026
What a life!!!
June 24, 2026
I give this read 3.5 stars out of 5. Sally certainly has had a very interesting life full of adventures and experiences many Aussies would never experience in a lifetime.
It follows her journey of growing up, her childhood, becoming an RN, meeting the GM and raising her children in the remote outback of Australia. As well as many other fascinating stories of Sally’s life.
This book really has shown that these women of the outback are the heart and soul of the place and keep people patched up, fed, the house running, the kids schooled and educated, and normally help in running of the business(s) as well. I have nothing but respect for these women and how they manage all their hats in such harsh, remote environments.
Pick this book up if you enjoy a good Aussie read to get some insight into the lives of rural/remote Australians and how different their lives are.
It follows her journey of growing up, her childhood, becoming an RN, meeting the GM and raising her children in the remote outback of Australia. As well as many other fascinating stories of Sally’s life.
This book really has shown that these women of the outback are the heart and soul of the place and keep people patched up, fed, the house running, the kids schooled and educated, and normally help in running of the business(s) as well. I have nothing but respect for these women and how they manage all their hats in such harsh, remote environments.
Pick this book up if you enjoy a good Aussie read to get some insight into the lives of rural/remote Australians and how different their lives are.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews