This story was close to my heart, because my community lost our small primary school in 1998. Soon after that, the nearby school of Karlgarin where I was working as a teacher’s aid closed. Thanks to Jim Stewart and Rosie Argent for sharing the nitty gritty part of what they went through then. Also, thanks to the Honourable Terry ‘Tuck’ Waldron MLA for the chat. All those little details you supplied help. Writing this brought back memories of Aunty Kate (Kath White) and her work at our little school over many years. And thanks, Aunty Lorna, for the poem, it is one of my favourites.
To Ali Watts and Jo Rosenberg, where would I be without you both? Thanks for polishing this so it could shine. Thank you, Maria Matina, for being a wonderful publicist who always seems to make the time. Also thanks to Louise, Fay, Clem, Julia, Kym and the many other Penguins who have helped me out. You are all invaluable.
Thanks to my friends and family for the support, help, guidance, coffee, stories, laughs . . . all of it is needed and greatly appreciated. Tooey, I just had to put your ute in there! It was gold, as were all the other little stories that make it into the book from real life. (Karl and Nic, your dog with the chooks – classic.) And if you’re wondering, yes: people probably are too afraid to talk to me. Who knows what could end up in my next book?
A big thank you to the readers who make this possible. You guys are fantastic. Please feel free to follow my author page on Facebook, my many sunset photos on Instagram or my random Tweets.