On Our Selection

A vivid portrait of a family carving a life out of the unforgiving Australian bush, this story opens with the arrival of a pioneer clan at a remote creek twenty years ago. The narrator recounts the cramped dray, the makeshift slab house, and the raw excitement of turning untouched timber and rocky ridges into a homestead. Through the eyes of the children, the daily grind of clearing land, hauling water, and enduring scorching heat feels both comic and heartbreaking. The narrative captures the loneliness of the early settlers, especially the women, who sit on logs and watch the endless horizon.

Father, a relentless planner, measures every scrape of soil and dreams of corn yields, while his stubborn optimism fuels the family's perseverance. The children, Joe and his sibling, turn the harsh chores into games—counting stars through roof cracks and hunting imagined gold on a ridge. As the land slowly yields to their labor, the story balances humor with the stark reality of isolation, drought, and the ever‑present threat of fire. Listeners will feel the grit and hope that defined the early days of settlement.