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Sheryl McCorry #1
Diamonds and Dust
Sheryl McCorry grew up in the outback carrying crocodiles to school for show and tell. When she was 18 her family moved to Broome, and it was the first time she'd ever used a telephone or seen a television.A year later, only hours after being railroaded into marriage by a fast-talking Yank, Sheryl locked eyes with Bob McCorry, a drover and buffalo shooter. When her marriage ended after only a few months, they began a love affair that would last a lifetime and take them to the Kimberley's harshest frontiers.Sheryl became the only woman in a team of stockmen. She soon learned how to run rogue bulls and to outsmart the neighbours in the toughest game of all – mustering cattle. The playing field was a million acres of unfenced, unmarked boundaries.Sheryl went on to become the first woman in the Kimberley to run two million-acre cattle stations, but her life was not without its share of tragedy. Her story is an epic saga of life in one of the toughest and most beautiful terrains in Australia – a story of hardship, drought, joy and triumph.
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2008
11 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 18, 2018
I have read quote a few books set in outback oz (Sara Henderson and the like) so know what a mickey, a jump-up and damper are...Sheryl did a generally good job describing these to people not so versed.
An interesting read of a love story with a man and with a region of Australia.
An interesting read of a love story with a man and with a region of Australia.
October 9, 2018
I Haven't read it yet, that's what I'm trying to do. My school library said they don't have it, so that's why I'm trying to found the whole book online so I could save it and read it at home, seen I haven't got the internet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2021
Fantastic read, very admirable.
September 21, 2022
Makes me want to chuck my jeans, boots and Akubra on and jump into the Toyota and head off on a road trip!
June 29, 2024
Couldn't leave this book down.
June 12, 2025
Bloody great!!
June 19, 2025
A brilliant memoir of a life led on cattle stations in the Kimberley. At times extraordinarily sad and tragic, but fascinating as well. Extremely enjoyable.
May 21, 2013
Sheryl McCorry is a fairly amazing woman. I haven't read many autobiographies so i guess i am not used to reading about how interesting a real person can be (haha).
The book follows her life from a small child up until around 1998 when she was 49. Her writing style is easy and laid back. With many stories to tell, it is an interesting and inspiring book on living in the Australian outback, especially as a woman. And she is one tough woman.
Unlike a work of fiction, you can't really judge the plot or storyline of an autobiography. However the characters, even though real, you can still love or hate. I truly admire Sheryl however there were instances throughout the book where i was frustrated or disappointed with either the choices she made or the way she reacted/handled a situation. This is generally to be expected as no one is perfect nor not everyone shares your values and expectations.
The book has a sequel to it - Stars Over Shiralee, which i will be reading next.
This is a great autobiography and i would highly recommend it.
www.readingforthemasses.wordpress.com
The book follows her life from a small child up until around 1998 when she was 49. Her writing style is easy and laid back. With many stories to tell, it is an interesting and inspiring book on living in the Australian outback, especially as a woman. And she is one tough woman.
Unlike a work of fiction, you can't really judge the plot or storyline of an autobiography. However the characters, even though real, you can still love or hate. I truly admire Sheryl however there were instances throughout the book where i was frustrated or disappointed with either the choices she made or the way she reacted/handled a situation. This is generally to be expected as no one is perfect nor not everyone shares your values and expectations.
The book has a sequel to it - Stars Over Shiralee, which i will be reading next.
This is a great autobiography and i would highly recommend it.
www.readingforthemasses.wordpress.com
Read
July 20, 2016Sheryl McCorry grew up in the outback carrying crocodiles to school for show and tell. When she was 18 her family moved to Broome, and it was the first time she'd ever used a telephone or seen a television. A year later, only hours after being railroaded into marriage by a fast-talking Yank, Sheryl locked eyes with Bob McCorry, a drover and buffalo shooter. When her marriage ended after only a few months, they began a love affair that would last a lifetime and take them to the Kimberley's harshest frontiers. Sheryl became the only woman in a team of stockmen. She soon learned how to run rogue bulls and to outsmart the neighbours in the toughest game of all - mustering cattle. The playing field was a million acres of unfenced, unmarked boundaries. Sheryl went on to become the first woman in the Kimberley to run two million-acre cattle stations, but her life was not without its share of tragedy. Her story is an epic saga of life in one of the toughest and most beautiful terrains in Australia - a story of hardship, drought, joy and triumph.
December 30, 2013
I tried hard to get into this book and get a visual of life as an outback country girl but I just couldn't get Sheryl's understanding. She assumes you know what the outback is like visually and uses terms which I struggled to gain an understanding on what she actually meant (coming from an Australian who has spent a lot of time in the country). She assumes a lot about the reader's understanding which makes it difficult to connect with her story. She tells stories of cattle droving but doesn't explain what this means in lamens terms so I got lost in what she was actually saying.
I couldn't connect with her being a young city slicker falling for a senior country man and changing her entire lifestyle somehow, it just didn't make sense to me.
This book is more suited to those that live the outback lifestyle and can truly understand what Sheryl is portraying. If you have little understanding of Australia and the outback cattle droving life, you will gain little from this book.
I couldn't connect with her being a young city slicker falling for a senior country man and changing her entire lifestyle somehow, it just didn't make sense to me.
This book is more suited to those that live the outback lifestyle and can truly understand what Sheryl is portraying. If you have little understanding of Australia and the outback cattle droving life, you will gain little from this book.
September 14, 2015
I found this book on the bookshelf and started reading to get to know more about living in station and about life in Kimberly. I have to say it was amazing adventure with Sheryl what I really enjoyed.
I loved these little stories about her life. Even little bit jealous.. I'm not Australian, so for me I have always found living in outback thrilling!
To read about Sheryl ups and downs, her sunny days and her blue days, it was something different. Memoir was written really simply what made it to easy to read.
Night before I finished the book I felt really connected with the story. Next morning I was determined to finish this book. To read what happens in the end is sad and heart-breaking. How Sheryl and Bob were still good friend and eventhough this grumpy old man was hard to stand, he still said these three word on deathbed afterall. I really don't remember any other book what had made to share some tears.
Thank you Sheryl McCorry for wonderful memoir!
I loved these little stories about her life. Even little bit jealous.. I'm not Australian, so for me I have always found living in outback thrilling!
To read about Sheryl ups and downs, her sunny days and her blue days, it was something different. Memoir was written really simply what made it to easy to read.
Night before I finished the book I felt really connected with the story. Next morning I was determined to finish this book. To read what happens in the end is sad and heart-breaking. How Sheryl and Bob were still good friend and eventhough this grumpy old man was hard to stand, he still said these three word on deathbed afterall. I really don't remember any other book what had made to share some tears.
Thank you Sheryl McCorry for wonderful memoir!
January 20, 2011
My Mother In-law said, “You should read this." I did... and you should read it too.
Sheryl McCorry grew up in the dust and dirt of the Kimberley. She took crocodiles to school, learnt to muster cattle and lived in a world with no television or phones. At 18 she married Bob McCorry a drover and buffalo shooter. Sheryl soon became the only woman in a team of stockmen. She learned how to run rogue bulls and to outsmart the neighbours in the toughest game of all – mustering cattle. Her play ground was a million acres of unfenced, unmarked boundaries. She tells her story with it’s tragedies and joys
with honesty and passion.
Come and visit Sheryl’s world and read her story.
Sheryl McCorry grew up in the dust and dirt of the Kimberley. She took crocodiles to school, learnt to muster cattle and lived in a world with no television or phones. At 18 she married Bob McCorry a drover and buffalo shooter. Sheryl soon became the only woman in a team of stockmen. She learned how to run rogue bulls and to outsmart the neighbours in the toughest game of all – mustering cattle. Her play ground was a million acres of unfenced, unmarked boundaries. She tells her story with it’s tragedies and joys
with honesty and passion.
Come and visit Sheryl’s world and read her story.
August 12, 2013
Sheryl McCorry weaves magic with her stunning narrative and all pervasive fun. The author is honest to the core when she describes life in the outback.
I kept laughing for the whole day reading" mum, is this Jesus fella like that father Christmas fella?' and the camel bell tied to the mattress springs story.
She kept her intuitive sense of human psychology all through her narrative.
March 30, 2010
Nothing thrilling about this book. No shared insights, weaving of a tale, development of any of her characters. It was simply a woman telling her story about managing a station. Although she tried to describe the beauty of the outback I personally feel she failed miserably
February 28, 2010
Great story of a gutsy and fabulous women and the life on the hot dusty land
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August 6, 2011I really enjoyed reading this book and loved learning more about outback life and challenges. It was very honest and I have great respect for Sheryl
June 7, 2012
another Australian outback tale
August 6, 2012
Awesome book
February 25, 2014
Drivel. Only interesting in the slightest because we were traveling through the Kimberley at the time.
February 16, 2015
I really enjoyed reading Sheryls book. A great true story of her life in the outback. What an incredible journey and an inspiring tough woman.
January 11, 2016
It was ok
December 25, 2009
This was a very well written story. It really opened my eyes to what it is like living outback.
October 28, 2011
Not bad.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews