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Outback Heart
Joanne van Os was just twenty-two when she met Rod Ansell. At twenty-three Rod was already a legend in Australia and around the world, having survived alone for two months without supplies in one of the harshest and most remote parts of northern Australia.
To Joanne, Rod was a a genuine hero who could do anything, could make anything out of nothing, told the funniest yarns, had a philosophy on everything. She married him, and they had two beautiful sons who idolised their father. Together they lived the tough life of outback bull catchers and cattle musterers.
But as time went on Joanne came to realise that Rod was both a complicated and deeply troubled man. For the sake of her sons she never gave up on Rod, even after their divorce, but just how far he'd gone only became apparent when his life ended in tragedy: out of his mind on drugs, Rod became involved in a shootout in which a young police office was killed. 'How does someone, whose extraordinary story of survival in the wild inspired so many Australians, become a psychotic, drug-crazed gunman?' Joanne asks.
OUTBACK HEART captures the Territory life on paper: the dust, the heat, the struggle and the larger-than-life characters. But it's also a deeply moving and powerful story of a love affair and a marriage, and the pain when it all falls apart. It's the story of Rod Ansell, but even more it is Joanne's story, of how a young, naive woman grows up the hard way, and has the most exhilarating and the most heartbreaking times doing it.
To Joanne, Rod was a a genuine hero who could do anything, could make anything out of nothing, told the funniest yarns, had a philosophy on everything. She married him, and they had two beautiful sons who idolised their father. Together they lived the tough life of outback bull catchers and cattle musterers.
But as time went on Joanne came to realise that Rod was both a complicated and deeply troubled man. For the sake of her sons she never gave up on Rod, even after their divorce, but just how far he'd gone only became apparent when his life ended in tragedy: out of his mind on drugs, Rod became involved in a shootout in which a young police office was killed. 'How does someone, whose extraordinary story of survival in the wild inspired so many Australians, become a psychotic, drug-crazed gunman?' Joanne asks.
OUTBACK HEART captures the Territory life on paper: the dust, the heat, the struggle and the larger-than-life characters. But it's also a deeply moving and powerful story of a love affair and a marriage, and the pain when it all falls apart. It's the story of Rod Ansell, but even more it is Joanne's story, of how a young, naive woman grows up the hard way, and has the most exhilarating and the most heartbreaking times doing it.
328 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2005
7 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Joanne van Os
7 books34 followersJoanne van Os grew up in Melbourne, and has been reading since before she can remember. She was lured to the Northern Territory in 1976 for a short term job, and stayed. Life in the NT's remote places meant jobs like bullcatching, buffalo and cattle mustering, station management and ownership, and tourism.
Life with her first husband, known as the "Real Crocodile Dundee", brought about her first book, best selling memoir "Outback Heart", in 2005. Three children's novels followed, all adventure mystery stories for 9 to 12 year olds, and set in the remote north of Australia. Her first general fiction novel, "Ronan's Echo", was published in March 2014.
After 8 years living aboard and sailing in SE Asia and Australia, Joanne and her husband Lex live in Darwin.
Website: Http://joannevanos.com
Facebook: Joanne van Os Australian Author
Life with her first husband, known as the "Real Crocodile Dundee", brought about her first book, best selling memoir "Outback Heart", in 2005. Three children's novels followed, all adventure mystery stories for 9 to 12 year olds, and set in the remote north of Australia. Her first general fiction novel, "Ronan's Echo", was published in March 2014.
After 8 years living aboard and sailing in SE Asia and Australia, Joanne and her husband Lex live in Darwin.
Website: Http://joannevanos.com
Facebook: Joanne van Os Australian Author
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 15, 2017
Aussie author Joanne van Os takes us on an astonishing journey in Outback Heart. This is a true story of Joanne's life of surviving in the outback. At the age of twenty two she meets Rod Ansell who is recognized as a legend in Australia. Working in the outback is not easy work, but together they tackle each day together. Working from early morning into the night, dealing with the high temperatures, dust, dirt and exhaustion is far from easy work.
In time Joanne and Rod marry, but has Joanne taken on more than she can manage. Dealing with her day-to-day work load and the hardships that came with it was one thing, but when Rod starts to change, Joanne doesn't know what to do. She not only has herself to worry about, but she also had her son to consider. Seeing Rod go off the rails in more ways than one is more than Joanne could bare at times.
Outback Heart is a brilliant and very moving book which I enjoyed. Highly recommended.
In time Joanne and Rod marry, but has Joanne taken on more than she can manage. Dealing with her day-to-day work load and the hardships that came with it was one thing, but when Rod starts to change, Joanne doesn't know what to do. She not only has herself to worry about, but she also had her son to consider. Seeing Rod go off the rails in more ways than one is more than Joanne could bare at times.
Outback Heart is a brilliant and very moving book which I enjoyed. Highly recommended.
January 8, 2012
This is an unbelievable tale...more so because it’s a true story, one of terrible hardship, mateship, love and inspiration. Joanne was just 22 years old when she met Rod Ansell. Even at the young age of 23, he was already a legend in the top end of Australia and around the world and as Joanne got to know him more, she realized he had an amazing philosophy on everything, he was able to charm everyone with his yarns, he was an incredibly hard worker and he loved the bush with a passion.
Joanne and Rod married, and had two beautiful sons, Callum and Shaun. They lived an incredible life, always moving from one camp site to the next, mostly bull catching, getting the uncontrolled scrub bulls to the meatworks, with Joanne learning very quickly to do all the things Rod did, while trying to make money to live. They worked extremely hard, with rarely a day off to themselves, most times working from before dawn to long after dark.
Along the way they made a very long list of friends, who would be there for them both always. But Rod was becoming a very troubled man, and along with his addiction to drugs came paranoia, and even when he and Joanne divorced, she didn’t give up on him. Her sons loved him, and as young adults, realized something was amiss with their Dad, and vowed to do everything they could to help him. The friends they all had could see the terrible change in Rod, and also tried to help him, but he was determined not to accept help, he told everyone he was fine, and could stop the drugs anytime he wanted.
Eventually, in August 1999, tragedy struck, and Rod was involved in a shoot-out where a young police officer was killed. He had become psychotic, believing he was being hunted, that he and his family and friends would be killed......
‘Outback Heart’ is a deeply moving story, and one I felt totally involved in...It tells of Joanne's life as a very young woman, and the exhilarating but heartbreaking time of growing up the hard way, the thrill of the bush and everything that went with it, and the final tragedy when her wonderful boys lost their father.
I recommend this to everyone.
Joanne and Rod married, and had two beautiful sons, Callum and Shaun. They lived an incredible life, always moving from one camp site to the next, mostly bull catching, getting the uncontrolled scrub bulls to the meatworks, with Joanne learning very quickly to do all the things Rod did, while trying to make money to live. They worked extremely hard, with rarely a day off to themselves, most times working from before dawn to long after dark.
Along the way they made a very long list of friends, who would be there for them both always. But Rod was becoming a very troubled man, and along with his addiction to drugs came paranoia, and even when he and Joanne divorced, she didn’t give up on him. Her sons loved him, and as young adults, realized something was amiss with their Dad, and vowed to do everything they could to help him. The friends they all had could see the terrible change in Rod, and also tried to help him, but he was determined not to accept help, he told everyone he was fine, and could stop the drugs anytime he wanted.
Eventually, in August 1999, tragedy struck, and Rod was involved in a shoot-out where a young police officer was killed. He had become psychotic, believing he was being hunted, that he and his family and friends would be killed......
‘Outback Heart’ is a deeply moving story, and one I felt totally involved in...It tells of Joanne's life as a very young woman, and the exhilarating but heartbreaking time of growing up the hard way, the thrill of the bush and everything that went with it, and the final tragedy when her wonderful boys lost their father.
I recommend this to everyone.
March 17, 2012
This is a wonderful memoir by a resourceful woman. The Australian Outback of the pre-1980s was a place of incredible physical hardship. Running water - even cold running water - would have been a luxury. But even more, it was its physical distance from supply centers and the lack of communication that magnified the difficulties. Still, that life provides rewards to the independent and self-reliant.
I could relate to this novel on a couple of levels. I haven't had to live in such a remote location, but that environment isn't very far from here. The outlook of the people here is similar and I've certainly encountered those who have endured the same sorts of obstacles.
Then, too, I could recognize in myself a similar youthful naivete. Reading this with the distance of life-experience allowed me to see what was coming for her in her relationship with a mercurial man. And it gave me more than one moment of reflection about my own younger relationships. Undoubtedly, we are different people now, and stronger, too.
I could relate to this novel on a couple of levels. I haven't had to live in such a remote location, but that environment isn't very far from here. The outlook of the people here is similar and I've certainly encountered those who have endured the same sorts of obstacles.
Then, too, I could recognize in myself a similar youthful naivete. Reading this with the distance of life-experience allowed me to see what was coming for her in her relationship with a mercurial man. And it gave me more than one moment of reflection about my own younger relationships. Undoubtedly, we are different people now, and stronger, too.
July 25, 2011
Outback Heart is many things. It's a fascinating look at outback life in the Northern Territory. It's a deeper story about a man whose life had so much promise yet ended so tragically causing ripples that are no doubt still felt today. It's a celebration of the tough men and women who pioneered the cattle industry in the NT. It's the story of a woman's ability to endure through a great deal of hardship and still emerge intact, and stronger for the experience.
Beautifully written with so many evocative images.
Beautifully written with so many evocative images.
May 31, 2018
This is a wonderful and deeply moving story - told with excruciating honesty. It covers both the broad sweep of the NT outback and its characters and the deeply personal space between two people when a relationship fall apart. It is also about courage in adversity.
I knew Joanne a little and at the time I was full of admiration for her, now having read how it really unfolded my admiration is doubled.
But as well as seeing it from a personal point of view I recognise this as a beautifully told story where words bring out their own special beauty.
I knew Joanne a little and at the time I was full of admiration for her, now having read how it really unfolded my admiration is doubled.
But as well as seeing it from a personal point of view I recognise this as a beautifully told story where words bring out their own special beauty.
January 16, 2012
An incredible story of a strong, courageous and resilient woman. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Thanks, Brenda, for recommending Outback Heart.
June 23, 2019
Joanne van Os shares the incredible story of her life with and love of Rod Ansell, known by many as the original 'Crocodile Dundee'.
So jam-packed with adventure, romance, heartbreak and misery is this story, it is at times hard to believe it is based on a true story.
To Joanne, Rod was a genuine hero who told the funniest yarns and had a philosophy on everything. She married him, and they had two beautiful sons who idolised their father. Together they lived the tough life of outback bull catchers and cattle musterers, but as time went on Joanne came to realise that Rod was both a complicated and deeply troubled man. For the sake of her sons she never gave up on Rod, even after their divorce, but just how far he'd gone only became apparent when his life finally ended in tragedy.
Outback Heart captures the toughness of living life on the land as well as the challenges and pitfalls of marriage and what happens when things don't work out. It's well written and well worth a read.
So jam-packed with adventure, romance, heartbreak and misery is this story, it is at times hard to believe it is based on a true story.
To Joanne, Rod was a genuine hero who told the funniest yarns and had a philosophy on everything. She married him, and they had two beautiful sons who idolised their father. Together they lived the tough life of outback bull catchers and cattle musterers, but as time went on Joanne came to realise that Rod was both a complicated and deeply troubled man. For the sake of her sons she never gave up on Rod, even after their divorce, but just how far he'd gone only became apparent when his life finally ended in tragedy.
Outback Heart captures the toughness of living life on the land as well as the challenges and pitfalls of marriage and what happens when things don't work out. It's well written and well worth a read.
March 3, 2021
2.5★
I can't believe I've managed to pick yet another book where a woman puts up with being badly treated by a man for years! I seem to be on a roll with choosing books where women are either mistreated by men and excuse their husband/partner's behaviour because they love him, or are pining after a man who doesn't notice them and I'm sick of it!
In this case, Rod Ansell belittled and intimidated his wife, didn't appear to lift a finger toward doing any of the domestic chores, told the author from the outset of their relationship that he couldn't be expected to remain faithful to her (and he kept his word to be unfaithful!) and did drugs. And even while the author here acknowledged in the writing of the book that her husband's behaviour was not acceptable, she was still seeking reasons to explain or justify his behaviour!
The story of their life in the NT was hard, although Rod did appear to be either accident prone, incompetent or extremely unlucky, or perhaps a combination, which made life harder again!
I can't believe I've managed to pick yet another book where a woman puts up with being badly treated by a man for years! I seem to be on a roll with choosing books where women are either mistreated by men and excuse their husband/partner's behaviour because they love him, or are pining after a man who doesn't notice them and I'm sick of it!
In this case, Rod Ansell belittled and intimidated his wife, didn't appear to lift a finger toward doing any of the domestic chores, told the author from the outset of their relationship that he couldn't be expected to remain faithful to her (and he kept his word to be unfaithful!) and did drugs. And even while the author here acknowledged in the writing of the book that her husband's behaviour was not acceptable, she was still seeking reasons to explain or justify his behaviour!
The story of their life in the NT was hard, although Rod did appear to be either accident prone, incompetent or extremely unlucky, or perhaps a combination, which made life harder again!
February 20, 2017
I loved this book! Couldn't put it down.
July 29, 2011
Found this book utterly facinating, I couldn't put it down, no matter how many times I walked away, I kept coming back to pick it up.
So sad how it all came apart at the end, the Rod Ansell seemed to have so much to live for, and would have had a life so many would have envied, but it just wasn't to be, all due to the use of drugs.
I doubt I would have been able to live with and marry Rod, but in doing so, Joanne had a chance to live a life that was if nothing else, quite a adventure.
A recommended read by me.
On a side note, Joanne often mentions a family called the Hemsworth's. Looking at the pictures, and reading the postscript of were are they now, it seems they are the same family that produced the 2 aussie actors, Luke and Chris Hemsworth. Intresting how small the world is at times.
So sad how it all came apart at the end, the Rod Ansell seemed to have so much to live for, and would have had a life so many would have envied, but it just wasn't to be, all due to the use of drugs.
I doubt I would have been able to live with and marry Rod, but in doing so, Joanne had a chance to live a life that was if nothing else, quite a adventure.
A recommended read by me.
On a side note, Joanne often mentions a family called the Hemsworth's. Looking at the pictures, and reading the postscript of were are they now, it seems they are the same family that produced the 2 aussie actors, Luke and Chris Hemsworth. Intresting how small the world is at times.
March 7, 2011
I found this book quite fascinating. The stories of life in the top end were an interesting update of "We of the Never Never". The descriptions of the author's failed marriage resonated with me. But the heart of the book is a portrait of a man who lived an unconventional life of risk-taking and adventure, and who was ultimately destroyed by drugs.
I received the book through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you, Joanne!
I received the book through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you, Joanne!
March 9, 2011
goodreads giveaway, singed by the author THANK YOU. I don,t usually enjoy australiana, but this was well written and really interesting! I knew a little of the background story through media ect,but this record of events was very thought provoking. I have already loaned it to a friend with a couple more waiting to read it. If I have one complaint it's that the author Jo is far too forgiving and makes a lot of excuses for her ex husband who is obviously mad and a mysoginist to boot.
October 14, 2016
Interesting story of Rod Ansell and his family's life in the Northern Territory. Joanne had a very challenging time working and bringing up her two boys in the outback but what I have taken from her story is that she is a very strong woman who dealth with more than her fair share of blows in life. Sometimes known as the inspiration for Crocodile Dundee, Rod lived a hard tough life which ended badly due to drug abuse.
February 22, 2017
Interesting story of life in the outback of Australia but also to read of the life of Rod Ansell the authors' first husband. Rod was the idea behind the character "Crocodile Dundee" but his life deteriorated after using drugs and was eventually shot in a stand off with police.
November 9, 2017
Great and Interesting Read. Difficult to start however I was soon hooked to the characters and the lifestyle. Reminiscent of my own child hood this was a pleasure to read. It also reminded me how blessed I am as I haven't suffered the hardships that so many Outback Australian Families have.
October 8, 2018
Raw and real, a great look at life in the outback. Posited as the story of Rod Ansell's life, it tells just as much about the life of the author. Very humbly written and a great Aussie read wherever you're from.
December 21, 2010
It was inspirational to see how Jo coped.
February 13, 2012
Have had a long weekend away and spent every spare moment glued to this story - I remember the events in the book and I confess to shedding a tear at the end.
April 21, 2012
Loved reading this book. My husband has read it twice.
June 21, 2012
This was interesting reading. I was in the NT at the beginning of Joanne's story but I was in Darwin and not out in the bush like she was.
July 13, 2012
A very interesting insight into outback life and the amazing life Joanne lived. As a bonus for fans of the Hemsworth boys there is some cute picks of the older two boys who are actually her nephews!
Read
January 26, 2016A story well written and read by the author. Audiobook.
March 2, 2017
Great book!
I vaguely remember the end story in the news, but getting to "know" the people involved was quite a roller coaster.
Well written and paced.
I vaguely remember the end story in the news, but getting to "know" the people involved was quite a roller coaster.
Well written and paced.
April 28, 2019
Anticipated getting back to this book after I'd put it down each time. Honest unfrilled writing about adaption to the raw Australian outback amidst an abusive marriage to an intriguing iconoclast.
August 22, 2022
What an amazing memoir. Hard to believe that it is not fiction. This is a good introduction to living in remote tropics in Australia. There were so many mixed emotions when reading this. There were laugh out loud moments and times when I had to reread parts because I could not believe it actually happened. Many times where I was impressed (and envious) by how friends and strangers came together to help out in extreme situations. In particular, the women (especially the writer) are so strong and inspirational. I felt angry and despair with the struggles with bureaucracy, which seemed unfair and so wrong and unfortunately so familiar. Throughout this book I had overwhelming sense of not wanting to watch but at the same time can't look away to see the change/demise of Rod through out the book, from hero to villain.
October 17, 2021
A story of life in the real outback, living rough a lot of the time, sleeping in swags and working all the hours of the day for little reward. Loving the land and the life and the man who seemed to know all about it. Being totally taken in by him, not realizing that he was emotionally abusing her until several years had passed. Watching as the marijuana smoking became addition to meth and speed, as he became paranoid and psychotic, eventually going on a shooting spree, killing a policeman and in turn being killed.
Quite well written although there were minor repetitions. Great descriptions of the country.
Quite well written although there were minor repetitions. Great descriptions of the country.
August 3, 2008
Started off good enough... the idea is a good one, the true story of the real crocodile dundee... but by halfway through I couldn't care less!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews