Read Novels 01 Blue Skies Online
Authors: Fleur Mcdonald
Tags: #Self-Help, #Fiction, #Psychology, #Depression, #General
Novels 01 Blue Skies (23 page)
Epilogue
One year later
. . .
Amanda, Hannah and Jonno pushed their way through the bush leading to the hut. It was a cool August afternoon and the trees were still wet from the rain the previous night. Mingus followed the procession, chasing rabbits or birds, but came to heel when called.
Hannah carried a bunch of white roses and Amanda had candles and food in her backpack. Jonno lugged the sleeping bags and camping gear they would need for the night.
Today, they were going to say goodbye once and for all to Kathleen and the devastation that had happened a generation ago.
They found the paved gutter and followed it to the hut. Jonno put down his load and helped Amanda take off her backpack, smiling at her lovingly.
They talked softly as they set up their camp then, on dusk, they walked to the river, Amanda and Jonno holding hands. Amanda threw a couple of the white roses into the water and murmured, ‘Kathleen, I’m so sorry for your tragic life and death. Pop and Grandma, thank you for your gift of Kyleena. I promise to look after it well.’
Hannah lit a candle and then she too threw a rose into the river.
‘To Kathleen, Rose, Michael and Grace and the whole sorry mess – I hope you all can rest in peace. Brian and Helena – we miss you,’ she said.
Silently they stood and watched the roses float down the river until they were out of sight.
That night, Amanda slipped away from the fire and walked off a little way to stare into the night sky. So much had happened to her in recent years and she still found it amusing that she was the exact opposite to her parents. She was the farmer and Jonno the journalist, but she hoped that now they could work together, uneventfully.
Amanda still wished her dad were home, but he wasn’t, so she silently toasted a star and wondered if he could be looking at the same one. The important thing was that they were under the same blue skies.
Blue Skies
was a challenge for me to write. I started, stopped and started, came up against a brick wall, thought everything I was writing was rubbish, but I finally got my rhythm and kept going. My dearest girlfriend, Carolyn Middleton, was instrumental in keeping me on track, through endless phone calls, tough love and lunches. She also drew up a family tree for a family that didn’t exist! Cal, I love the fact you’re my mate!
Once again, to my mentor Jeff Toghill, your wisdom and emails have also kept me focused on the business of writing and
Blue Skies
wouldn’t have eventuated without you either.
To my wonderful husband Anthony and kids, Rochelle and Hayden, thank you for putting up with me when I’m in writing mode. I usually do make it through the washing in the end!
To the people who have helped me during the writing process:
Geoff Grewar, who supplied me with the ‘1917 Report on the Royal Commission on the Mallee Belt and Esperance Lands’ and a 1937 Agricultural Journal.
Don Voigt, who spent time in the Esperance museum with me, helping find the information I needed on the pioneering days. His book
Old Esperance – pictorial
history 1894 – 1947
was particularly helpful. It was wonderful see photos from earlier times and they helped give me a feel for that era.
Tom Riemers, who, with his wife Jean, is not only a surrogate grandparent to our children, but has a wealth of knowledge about pioneering times. (Although Tom did keep reminding me, that the time I was asking about, he was only two!)
Doctor David Swan from Swan’s Vet Services, who read pieces of the book for its authenticity, as well as Julia from Genstock, and Geoff Grewar, who did the same.
To my long-time friend Kate Biggins, who helped me with the paramedic knowledge.
To John Doyle, who was the winner of the
That’s
Life
competition. I used his entry ‘Paringa’ as Adrian’s farm name. I would also like to thank everyone who entered.
Thanks to Mum, Dad, Nicholas, Ellie, Suz, Nathan, Mrs McDonald, Sharon and Ron, for your love, support and interest. I couldn’t do what I do without you all.
To Gill: books, good food and wine – what more could a friend need?
To my amazing mates, who have hearts bigger than the Australian outback: Amanda, Carolyn, Gill, Marie, Robyn, sister Suz, Tiff and Victoria (alphabetical order, girls!). Your help, whether it was babysitting, plotthickening, reading the first draft, editing or just being there, is the reason this book has managed to make it this far. I couldn’t have done it without you.
To Mrs Mackay, you are always there and I can’t thank you enough. Thank you to the whole Mackay family for allowing Mr Mackay’s name to be used. He was so very precious, as you all are, to the Parnell family (and now the McDonalds). Thanks also for brainstorming for the ‘right’ word, around your dinner table, when I just can’t get it!
To Nyssa at Nixel Web Design, thanks for all your wonderful work.
Shelley, once again, thank you for spending your time to edit – it makes a difference.
To Ali Lavau, for editing
Blue Skies
. Thank you. I love learning from you and it’s only because of your input that
Blue Skies
became readable!
I have been so fortunate to meet three wonderful women: Louise Thurtell, Siobhán Cantrill and Kate Hyde, from Allen and Unwin, who have not only helped me in creating the best possible book, but who have become people whom I’m privileged to call friends.
Thanks be to God for giving me the gift of writing and for being my saviour.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
