Description
Book SynopsisNot 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 Warriner 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, injecting 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 the blokes of the top end 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, it’s there all along.'
Trade Review'Shining a light on the unique and often bonkers world of the Australian cattle station, this is an engrossing, funny and poignant memoir about one woman's resilience and positivity...' –
Hugh Bonneville, actor and star of Downtown Abbey 'A bold and honest writer with a ton of cheek and charm. And a story as refreshing as a plunge into an outback waterhole.' –
Robert Drewe, author. 'It's all about Australia – the Kimberley and the Territory... But the real focus is on the people... Sally is a natural storyteller. –
Kerry Lonergan, former producer of ABC's Landline 'A riveting and personal memoir filled with poignancy, love and humour...' –
Susan Bradley OAM JP CMC '...unputdownable. A strong woman’s memoir full of hilarious, sometimes frightening, anecdotes . It provides an insight into a life most of us will never experience, or could even imagine. I highly recommend it.' –
Colleen Ryan, former editor of Australian Financial Review 'A story for suburban Australians-of a life fully lived (to date) with a wicked sense of humour and insights into a life about which most people have no experience. A great read.' –
Peter Dowding, former Premier of Western Australia ‘a fitting homage to the unsung women of the Aussie outback, and a cracking read, too!’ –
Take 5
