This book would not have been possible without the support and patience of Paul Bertoncello, and his colleagues at Victoria Police. I’d also particularly like to thank Selena McCrickard for her trust, and her colleagues at Victoria Legal Aid, including Dierdre McCann, for their time and candour. I’m truly grateful to Ray Elston, and, of course, to Shirley Gibson. Thank you to everyone else who generously spoke to me about Black Saturday on and off the record.

For their help and advice, my thanks to Jaye Kranz, Tracy Bohan, Andrew Wylie, Paul Read, Janet Stanley, Amit Lotan, Patrick Kennedy, Rachel Nolan, Simon Gatt, Paul Reynolds, Brett Kahan, Patrick and Anne Morgan, David Sexton, Julian McMahon, Tom Gyorffy, Louisa Maggio, Jovelyn Barrion, Lucy Kostos, and especially the T and J Hooper Child Diversion Services. I also gratefully acknowledge the very generous support of a Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship.

Working with Ben Ball and Meredith Rose has been a gift of immeasurable value, and their talent, dedication and judgement truly inspiring. Thank you to Rachel Scully for graciously stepping in and giving support in this book’s last stages.

Finally, my love and thanks to Don Watson.