My Writing Journey

My writing journey began far too late! I had always held a desire to write, from a very young age. Why did I leave it until I was in my 60’s to commence?

Sadly, it was because I didn’t prioritise my creative craving. I was ‘too busy’ being a wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, friend, committee member to good causes, and helping to run our businesses. A massive mistake. A wise man said to me recently,‘If you write only one page a day, by the end of the year you have 365 pages. That’s a book.’Simple!

Naturally, when you begin to write that one page, it grows. No-one can stop at one page!

My message is to START! I know a young mother with two small children. She is managing to prioritise her writing and producing beautiful poetry amidst the chaos of motherhood.

I knew that I had found my subject for the book I longed to write, when I arrived at ‘McAllister’ in 1968. A barren, unimproved block of land in the remote Gulf Country of North Queensland, which would be developed into a thriving cattle station in the following eighteen years.

Thankfully, memories were preserved by weekly letters to our parents, telling of the many ups and downs of life, far away from the softness and convenience of the Riverina where I had been raised.

I began to compile the letters, and the diaries ten years ago, when I ‘had the time’. Then I began to write. What a joy to find myself awakening my creative soul and feeling the reward of finally fulfilling my dream. I set goals and mostly, achieved them. Life did interrupt my flow, but I had made a start and nothing was going to stop me now.

I was going to leave a legacy for my family and friends.

I had no idea where this was going to lead……………