Not Just the Wife of the General Manager: Life in the Outback and a Whole Lot More

(Paperback)

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Not Just the Wife of the General Manageris a rollicking memoir of one womans life on outback cattle stations, and an homage to the many unsung women like her.

It was the 1980s and Sally was in her mid 20s when she returned from a backpacking sojourn and hitchhiked to Australias far north. But instead of moving back to Canberra as planned, she stayed. After marrying a cattle station manager, Sally lived and worked with him on various stations until she was 50, ingraining herself into the lives of the characters who inhabited these isolated places.

With wit and sass, Sally tells the story of how she was so much more than just a wife of a station manager (despite what some of the top end blokes thought). Among other things, she was a nurse (dealing with local accidents, assisting the Flying Doctor service and making emergency 400 km round trips through the outback with sick children), a mother (bringing up several children, not all her own), a travel agent, a social secretary, a host and an organiser (including of Kerry Packers New Years Eve parties).

This is a story about adventure, resilience, theunexpected journeys we need to go on to find ourselves, andhaving the courage to do something for yourself. In Sally's words:'Lifes like that, fellas. You may spend a lifetime trying to find yourself but, at the end of the day, you've been there all along.'

Reviews

'Shining a light on the unique and often bonkers world of the Australian cattle station, this is an engrossing, funny and poignant memoir about one woman's resilience and positivity...' Hugh Bonneville, actor and star of Downtown Abbey

'A bold and honest writer with a ton of cheek and charm. And a story as refreshing as a plunge into an outback waterhole.' Robert Drewe, author.

'It's all about Australia the Kimberley and the Territory... But the real focus is on the people... Sally is a natural storyteller. Kerry Lonergan, former producer of ABC'sLandline

'A riveting and personal memoir filled with poignancy, love and humour...' Susan Bradley OAM JP CMC

'...unputdownable. A strong womans memoir full of hilarious, sometimes frightening, anecdotes . It provides an insight into a life most of us will never experience, or could even imagine. I highly recommend it.' Colleen Ryan, former editor of Australian Financial Review

'A story for suburban Australians-of a life fully lived (to date) with a wicked sense of humour and insights into a life about which most people have no experience. A great read.' Peter Dowding, former Premier of Western Australia

a fitting homage to the unsung women of the Aussie outback, and a cracking read, too!Take 5

Author Bio

Sally Warriner spent nearly 25 years living in the outback on cattle stations with her former husband. She is a trained nurse who was able to use her skills to help the isolated communities she lived in. Sally left cattle station life when her children were in boarding school. Her sons are spread across the country and most are involved in agribusiness. Her former husband still runs cattle stations.