Outback Cop

by Neale McShane, Evan McHugh

Birdsville is one of the most remote police postings in Australia. It can be lonely and uneventful for weeks, then the dramas come thick and from desert rescues to rising floods, venomous vipers to visiting VIPs.Throw in heat, dust and flies and it’s not a job for the faint-hearted, unless you’re Senior Constable Neale McShane, who has single-handedly taken care of a beat the size of Victoria for the past ten years. Recently retired from this ‘hardship posting’, Neale and his family thrived on the adventures and colourful times that come with the territory in the furthest corner of our country.Yarning with friend and bestselling author Evan McHugh, Neale’s experiences are humorous and heartfelt. How do you feed 4000 unexpected dinner guests? Where do you find a Chinook helicopter when you need one? Who’s your backup when the population explodes for the famous Birdsville Races? And what do you do when you’re the person the Flying Doctor is flying out?Among these inspiring tales of danger and death, dreamers and ‘dumb tourists’, you’ll encounter a little community with a big heart that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with a larger-than-life policeman who’s become part of Australia’s outback legend.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, True Crime, Memoir

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2016

Reviews

[Cookie1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It may be a light read but there is a lot of emotion within the pages. Having been to Birdsville and some of the names mentioned (Haddon's Corner, Innaminka and many others) I was able to relate closely to it. When I was in Birdsville I was helped by a local lass. I knew that she had been killed in an accident, but it was the last motor vehicle accident Neale McShane attended before he left Birdsville. I found that quite emotional.
The book has it's humour as well.......Schoolie's for the over 55’s or the Birdsville Races.

Thanks for helping to write this book Evan McHugh, it's brilliant.

[marlin1]

Brilliant stories that had me shaking my head many times and retelling to my husband.
Loved it.

[Cartercorp1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story. cool, calm & collected. I met him at Birdsville races, such a lovely bloke to chat to. Then I read his book and now I feel honored to have spoken with him.

[Olwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this ease-ful book. The style of the narrative really matches well the style of life there - easy going. It also provides some valuable insight into what it's really like to live on the edge of a desert, the dangers for anyone considering travelling across it, and the dedication of the folk who spend much time heading out into the desert rescuing ill-prepared travellers.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this because I have visited the area and also had experience as a country cop's wife. It is an interesting story for those who would like to understand the life of an outback cop in Australia. Birdsville is a unique environment and policing such a remote area is a constant challenge. I really enjoyed the read.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully relaxed relating of some fun and some serious incidents confronting Neale McShane when he was the sole Police Officer of Birdsville for close to 10 years. I think you would need to have a special laid back nature to constantly deal with the situations he encountered. As well as admiring Neale's work, I think he was very ably supported by the townsfolk, the park ranger and the medical staff, all pitching in for search and rescue missions, and the notable 2010 flooding of the Birdsville races when around 4000 people were stranded in the town of only around 100 permanent residents.
Neale's wit and humour stood him in good stead, and made this a very enjoyable read.



'Birdsville, the land of plenty - plenty of heat, dust, flies, snakes, camels and salt of the earth outback folk'. Neale McShane The Birdsville police posting is one of the most remote in Australia. It can be extremely lonely and incredibly busy at the same time. Nothing might happen for weeks or months, then problems come crawling out of the woodwork. There aren't many who can handle the job for long - unless you're Senior Constable Neale McShane, who has single-handedly taken care of this beat the size of the UK for the past ten years. Recently retired from this 'hardship posting', Neale now has a stock of stories and adventures from his life and colourful times living with his family in Birdsville. In recounting these tales to his good friend and bestselling author Evan McHugh, Neale delights us with yarns that could only come from the furthest corner of our country. Here are stories of desert dangers, dead bodies, droughts and floods, drinkers and dreamers - and, of course the infamous Birdsville Races, when the town's population swells from 50 to 500.So if Birdsville has remained just a little too far off the beaten track for you, sit back and let Birdsville come to you.

[Angela Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok read.

A bit droll and dry for my taste - it felt like it should have been a bit more exciting a read than it actually was. Thinking back to it now, the content was interesting enough, so I'm wondering if the audio version of this book simply doesn't do it the justice it deserves. Perhaps if I'd read the words for myself from the page, it may have injected a little more enthusiasm into the story and taken it up a star.

I listened to the Boinda Audio version of this book and found the narrator suited to the story, if somewhat lacklustre in his presentation.

Am I glad I read it - yeah, it was ok
Was it a waste of my time - no, it was an ok read
Would I sit down and read it all over again - probably not
Would I read more by this author based on this book - not really applicable in this case as I'm pretty sure this is a 'one of' bit of content from the author.

[Wide Eyes, Big Ears! · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir of Senior Constable Neale McShane’s time as the outback police officer in the remote outback town of Birdsville, QLD is as laid back and entertaining as he is. While the population of Birdsville is usually 80-100 people, it swells to 4,000 each year for the Birdsville Races. Neale relates numerous desert rescues, flood and droughts, crimes - solve and unsolved - and the characters he met during his 10 years in the outback. Throughout all the adventures, Neale and the townsfolk of Birdsville show their experience, generosity, and their competence in dealing with all the things the desert throws at them. I really liked Neale’s policing philosophy, he knows when to go in hard, when to use his discretion and when to be supportive. Audio narrator David Tredinnick manages to capture the special combination of wisdom and humour that Neale has in spades.

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, especially as we have just been in Birdsville. Written in an Aussie vernacular style, and often with tongue firmly in cheek, it is an incredible insight into life in the far outback on the edge of the Simpson Desert. Neale McShane was the Birdsville Policeman for 9 years and the stories he tells are told chronologically. The people and the incidents he describes are vividly created and it is an altogether entertaining story. Highly recommended.

[David Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. Written in a formate like a couple of mates sitting back telling a few yarns it was very easy to read. Having visited this remote area of Australia several times myself I could relate to many of the stories being retold. Neale deserves all of the accolades that were bestowed on him for the job that he did and the duties he performed. Often our coppers get a bad rap but when the crap hits the fan they are the first ones we call. Enjoy your retirement.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great true-life autobiography of an outback police officer.

The officer, Neale McShane ran the Birdsville police station in the south-western corner of Queensland over a period of nine years. He organised and helped out with desert rescues. There's lots of hilarious true-life tales.

Really enjoyed this and makes you wanna go & visit Birdsville (even if it's just for the races!).

[Peter Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first thing you need to know is that this is a transcript of a series of conversations held between the author and the individual himself. In its entirety.

So, between the pages you will find the first hand experiences of the sole law enforcement officer stationed in Birdsville, Outback Queensland, Australia over a course of 9+ years.

Birdsville holds a mystique to many Australian's and foreigners alike, be it the Birdsville Hotel or the annual race meeting. ( I can't attest to the races, but the pub does a pretty good steak and accommodation). So if you have, or haven't, visited, you might find this an insight into the place as seen and experienced through the eyes of Neale in his time as the resident cop.

What came across to this reader however was the sense of both community and unspoken hierarchy of the town and the "neighbourhood". So too how they in the majority see those from outside.

It's a good, relaxing, interesting read for a lazy evening or weekend afternoon.

[Ystyn Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

While significantly repetitive because of the nature of the job and the tasks it demands, this is still a really interesting read about a fascinating and remote corner of Australia. It was also one of the key texts that Jane Harper utilised when writing the excellent “The Lost Man”.

[Alex Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lightweight fun entertainment. A good insight into soem aspects of tiny outback town life and what is is to police there. Mostly involving rescuing 4x4 drivers, and as one myself it was salutary information about how often and how seriously things can go wrong out there.

[Kerrie Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading all about Neales experiences. He is quite the character with a great sense of humour. It also highlights the dangers of the outback. Could relate to it easily after being there a few years back when Neale was stationed there, unfortunately I never got to meet him.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. This is unbelievably dull. Amazing how a journalist and someone who’s lived in an interesting place can collaborate to make a story come across as so mundane and … snore …. Couldn’t even give it 100 pages.

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story of the trials and tribulations of a police officer in on of Queensland's and Australia's most isolated postings.
I could not put this down, well written and well worth the read

[nique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories, loved it!

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

a Great Profile

I really enjoyed this book about the life of one of our Police Officers … their job, their experiences, their thoughts ….. would recommend this read to all

[Linda Kennelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting times of a cop in the outback & so many weird & wonderful stories of people who pass through.

[Kt · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

Imagine being the only Police Officer responsible for a beat the size of the State of Victoria. A beat where the temperature is regularly above 40°C; the land is remote; full of venomous animals and ignorant tourists; home to some of the wildest weather in Australia; and where the population can go from 100 people to 4000 people overnight. Welcome to Birdsville in outback Queensland, the place Neale McShane called home for nine of the forty years he was a police officer.

In Outback Cop, McShane recounts his times as a police officer in one of most remote postings in Australia to friend and journalist Ewan McHugh. Full of ripping yarns about life in the outback and the things he saw and did as an outback cop, McShane bares his sole as he recounts his memories in a way that makes it clear that he had a lot of love and respect for this very special part of Australia and it’s small population.

McHugh writes McShane’s yarns so well that you don’t feel like you’re reading a book; but rather that you’re sitting there listening to them reminiscing. You’ll be dazzled by the beauty of the outback, frustrated at the tourists that put other’s lives at danger because of their stupidity, amazed by the community spirit and keen to get out on the road and take a trip of a life time to a big empty place that’s chock full of surprises and wonder.

After reading McHugh’s book Birdsville a few months ago (the story of the year he spent living there), I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of Outback Cop; as I picked up on the admiration he had for McShane both as a police officer and as damn good bloke. I’m pleased to say Outback Cop didn’t disappoint and not only was it like catching up with old friends, it’s also a vicarious trip to a part of Australia that many will never see but which everyone should.

An absolute must read book, it’s a ripping biography that has wide appeal and which would make a great gift for anyone who likes to read, even if they aren’t a big non-fiction fan. A highly recommend read, Outback Cop is a five star read.

Outback Cop by Neale McShane with Evan McHugh is book 8 in #ktbookbingo. Category “First published before 2020”. To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo or @kt_elder on Instagram.

[Olwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this relaxed tale. It's written just as the author and his subject would have been talking, remembering that they knew each other well already. The author doesn't 'speak' but the subject often addresses him by name. A different style of writing I quite enjoyed.

It's a book about the realities of living as the resident police presence in a small (yet famous) outback town. What it's like to live in a small community that works together to get things done - mostly rescuing people from mishaps in the desert. Actually, if you're planning a drive through the Australian desert I suggest you read this text before getting behind the wheel. Otherwise, if you have a mishap because you're ill-prepared, you could find yourself in the pages of a book like this.

[CavyNomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

youtube video mentioned in book can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi_35...