Love in the Age of Drought

by Fiona Higgins

  Acknowledgements

  My single largest debt of gratitude lies with my friend Virginia Lloyd, who first suggested I had a book in me. Beyond that initial prompting, she offered and delivered comprehensive editorial support with ceaseless good humour and uncompromising professionalism. Without her expert assistance at every stage of the process, Love in the Age of Drought simply wouldn’t be what it is today.

  I am grateful to Alexandra Craig and her team at Pan Macmillan, particularly Joel Naoum, for their steady guidance and timely intervention during the evolution of this book.

  Throughout my life, my family has believed in me; this book is no exception. I am thankful to my mother, Lesley Collins, and my sisters, Melissa Attia and Amanda Collins, for their ever-ready encouragement and candid feedback at important points in the process. Special thanks are due to Amanda for her editorial review of several drafts of this work and, in particular, for her forensic treatment of the final version.

  The final (final!) version of this book also underwent the expert review of my friend Jodie Thomson, with generous support from Peter Kerr. I am extremely grateful to them both.

  For their feedback on the cover artwork at various stages of its development thanks are due to Debra Reed, Genevieve Freeman, Georgia Hume, Duncan Trevor-Wilson, Alice Chen, Beverley Higgins, John Attia and Sarah Bramwell.

  I’d like to thank the people who appear in this book, many of whom are dear friends and all of whom are real. Some names have been changed for the usual reasons, some have not. But you know who you are and I feel fortunate to know you. In Jandowae and Sydney, I am indebted to you all for your friendship, trust and encouragement.

  Sincere thanks to Geoffrey White and the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, the extended Fairfax family and ‘Team Cambooya’ for supporting me professionally as I relocated to country Queensland. Early ‘Bush Telegraph’ exchanges with many of my Sydney-based colleagues, in particular Peter Roach and John Fairfax, served as inspiration for this book.

  Further thanks are due to Elaine and Michael Malouf, whose café – Fusion Point in Manly – functioned regularly as a surrogate writer’s retreat, particularly in the latter stages of this book’s compilation. In a similar vein, an honourable mention goes to Hotel Tjampuhan, Ubud.

  Finally, Love in the Age of Drought would not exist but for the generosity of my husband, Stuart, who agreed that I should write it. By consistently asking difficult questions, he helped me to create a public story from our intensely private journey. Stu, your unfailing love makes me strive to be a better person. This book is for you.

  And as a postscript … thank you, Oliver Charles, for being such a prodigious sleeper, thus enabling me to write. I love you with all of my heart and look forward to giving you this book one day, when you’re old enough. It will give you an insight into our lives, and particularly your father, before you were born.

  Author’s note

  I only spent three summers in Jandowae. Not a lifetime, but long enough to begin to understand the difficulties faced by farming families Australia-wide.

  Many rural Australians don’t have any other choice available to them apart from continuing to struggle against the difficulties of remote living in an age of drought, or flood, or fire.

  In my philanthropic career, I have encountered many charitable agencies doing excellent work in rural and regional Australia.

  One standout national organisation is the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, which assists individuals, families and communities in rural Australia through a range of grassroots initiatives that build capacity and resilience. For further information, see www.frrr.org.au or telephone 1800 170 020.