An Alice Girl
by
Tanya Heaslip
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication date: 19th May 2020
Genre: Non Fiction / Memoir
Pages: 344
RRP: $32.99 AUD
Format read: Paperback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
An extraordinary story of growing up in the late 1960s and early 70s on an outback cattle property
Whether working the mobs of cattle with the stockmen, playing cattleduffing on horseback or singing and doing lessons at their School of the Air desks, Tanya Heaslip and her siblings led a childhood unimaginable to many Australians. Growing up on a vast and isolated cattle property just north of Alice Springs, Tanya tells of wild rides, of making far-flung friends over the Air, of the dangers, the fun and the back-breaking work. As the eldest child, her added responsibility was to look after the littler ones, so she was by their sides dealing with snakes, the threat of bushfires and broken bones.
Tanya's parents, Janice and Grant 'the Boss' Heaslip, were pioneers. They developed Bond Springs Station where water was scarce, where power was dependent on generators and where a trip to town for supplies meant a full day's journey. Grant was determined to teach his children how to survive in this severe
environment and his lessons were often harsh. In a childhood that most would consider very tough, Tanya tells of this precious time with raw honesty, humour, love and kindness. This is the story of an Alice girl.
Whether working the mobs of cattle with the stockmen, playing cattleduffing on horseback or singing and doing lessons at their School of the Air desks, Tanya Heaslip and her siblings led a childhood unimaginable to many Australians. Growing up on a vast and isolated cattle property just north of Alice Springs, Tanya tells of wild rides, of making far-flung friends over the Air, of the dangers, the fun and the back-breaking work. As the eldest child, her added responsibility was to look after the littler ones, so she was by their sides dealing with snakes, the threat of bushfires and broken bones.
Tanya's parents, Janice and Grant 'the Boss' Heaslip, were pioneers. They developed Bond Springs Station where water was scarce, where power was dependent on generators and where a trip to town for supplies meant a full day's journey. Grant was determined to teach his children how to survive in this severe
environment and his lessons were often harsh. In a childhood that most would consider very tough, Tanya tells of this precious time with raw honesty, humour, love and kindness. This is the story of an Alice girl.
An Alice Girl is the memoir of Tanya
Heaslip’s life growing up on a remote cattle station just north of
Alice Springs. The story includes her parents early life. Tanya’s
memoir is a candid warts and all tale of growing up in this harsh
land. Their triumphs and struggles.
Life was hard and filled with
responsibility not only for the adults, the children were expected to
work as well. Tanya tells of long days helping her father with the
stock and the deep connection to the land that develops when it is
your life blood, your whole existence. I was actually a bit shocked
at how hard the children had to work.
“the land would soon shape the way I
felt and thought and lived. It was like an anchor deep inside,
holding me fast to the rocks and earth and hills around me.”
Governesses, school of the air, illness,
snakes, redbacks, accidents, lack of water, fire; life lessons were
hard in such an isolated place.
“We knew that death was ever present
in our world. Many things could kill us in the bush.”
Tanya’s life although remote was also
filled with friendship and community get togethers and I could just
picture the family squashed together in the Heaslip’s little plane,
hot and excited, off to visit friends and family.
Even though the Heaslip children’s
lives were busy they still did many things me and my siblings did as
children of the 70’s. Much the same games and activities, although
I must admit we had a lot more free time. Tanya’s most memorable
present of a typewriter when she was 10 brought back my own memories
of receiving a typewriter for Christmas when I was 11 and like Tanya
it was my most precious present ever.
The 24 pages of colour plate photographs
of the Heaslip family makes you feel like you are a treasured friend
sharing in their life.
Tanya’s memoir ends at the age of 12 as
she leaves to attend boarding school. A heart-wrenching scene. But we
all know Tanya goes on to great adventures in Alice in Prague.
However her love for the land never leaves her.
An Alice Girl is an awe inspiring story
of hardship, endurance, determination and ultimately triumph over the
elements to make a living in the harshest of conditions.
My rating 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tanya Heaslip was born on a cattle station in outback Australia at the height of the Cold War. She grew up to study and then practice Law. In 1989 she travelled to Europe for the first time and in 1994 she moved to the Czech Republic where she taught English for two and a half years. Tanya's first memoir, Alice to Prague, was published to acclaim in 2019.
Tanya now lives in the Northern Territory with her husband.
the Australian Women Writers challenge and the Non Fiction reader challenge
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