If Yvonne’s work is long and hard, if there are problems at home and heaviness weighs inside her, still she has the satisfaction of work well done and the consolation of friends. Women who know her and love her, who would understand and forgive, if that was needed, the things she cannot understand or forgive about herself. Evelyn – though she is married now and out of reach on a vast cattle property in western Queensland – has always known her best. But their friends Shirley and Valerie now see and hear what Evelyn doesn’t. It was Shirley, now Evelyn’s high-spirited, indomitable sister-in-law, who introduced Yvonne to Clinton. And it is Val, whose own spirit is barely diminished by an alcoholic husband who disappears with the food money, who steps in to help with Sharon.

If there is trouble at Cannon Hill or emergencies at Clinton, Val takes Sharon off to play with her own two, perhaps to stay a few nights. Sometimes, when Yvonne arrives to collect her, Val is heating soup for dinner on the flame of the kerosene heater because the gas has been cut off. Bloody Charlie, Val will say, and then cheer them both up with a joke.