Outback Heroines: True stories of hardship, heartbreak and resilience

by Sue Williams

Following the success of Women of the Outback, we now meet another set of amazing women, and hear their incredible stories. Outback Heroines tells some of the best yarns: some touching, some triumphant, but all compelling and tremendously inspiring.

Tragedy, tears, triumph and laughter . . . Australia's women of the land have seen, battled and overcome it all. They're all extraordinary women, experiencing extraordinary hardships and meeting extraordinary challenges to survive and thrive in an extraordinary part of Australia.

Across the harsh, dusty, drought-riven, fire-ravaged outback, women fight against the odds every day . . . and often emerge even stronger.

Genres: Nonfiction

283 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2013

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt that most of the stories were a bit soft to be giving their characters a heroine status. I also think that the stories were weak form the perspective that they weren't so much about the actual person but more about the various movements, backgrounds and environments that they found themselves in.

Sorry, it didn't do it for me.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest I didn't pay that much attention to this. I borrowed the audiobook from the library. Most of the time, I was running late for work and so was more busy swearing to myself about the existence of other drivers. There are, nonetheless, some very good stories here and some very inspiring women. I particularly liked the one about the lady who lives on the crocodile farm, the German woman whose husband inherited Australian land in the middle of nowhere and ended up killing himself. The woman who takes travellers on camel treks across the desert. And the one who started her own truckie business. Overall, I would have enjoyed this more if I'd paid more attention. I guess I'm just a sexist. Anyway, it seemed to be a good, well-natured book about women dealing with multiple hardships at once, like childrearing, homesickness, isolation, often little income, and always somehow defying the odds.

[Helen McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

When most people think of the outback the images that usually come to mind involve dust, heat, isolation and rugged stockmen carving out a life in one of the most unforgiving environments on earth. But the truth is that women do now and always have played an enormous role in outback life. As well as the more traditional roles of nurse, teacher, governess or shopkeeper - outback women have always been able to turn their hands to almost everything that men do.

For those of us who live in the city or even larger regional areas it is difficult to fathom the hardship outback life can bring. For a women, it is even more difficult as they still have to battle long-held sexist stereotypes as well as deal with the demands of raising children. Yet dotted in these tiny towns are inspirational women who refuse to be beaten by the hardships outback life can bring.

Outback Heroines celebrates the lives of just a handful of these remarkable women. From the vastness of the Western Australian desert, Northern Territory and Queensland they all possess unbelievable grit and determination and refuse to be defined or beaten by hardships. It is a humbling and inspirational book that makes you realise your own life is very tame in comparison.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic and inspirational read! Every woman in this book has an extraordinary story to tell.There are stories of hardship, heartbreak,back-breaking work and sheer determination.
Each and every one of these ladies is an inspiration!
I loved this book :D

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great stories told about some amazing women who did it hard. Very interesting and mind boggling.