by Thea Hayes
To Kerrie Ross, my fabulous tutor at the ‘Writing for Pleasure’ course at Narrandera TAFE; Sharon Farlow for help with the poem; and my fellow students for help and encouragement. Thank you all.
To Claire Kingston, my publisher at Allen & Unwin, I am eternally grateful, and to the rest of the team there, thank you all. I am so lucky to have my story recognised and published by this great team of caring professional people.
To Freda Marnie Nichols, thank you for dragging out my thoughts, feelings and for expanding my book.
To my friends who had to put up with emails and telephone calls to confirm different aspects of my story—Tony Clark, Ces Watts, Len Hill, Robyn and Graham Fulcher, Jos Doran, Roger Steele, Gavin MacDonald, Mick Maloney, Madeline and Milton Hayes, Molly and Basil Courts, Tony Guerner, Jock Bremnar, Alan Johnson, Clive Ringler, Anna Underwood, Dorothy Sing and Terry Underwood.
To my three sons, Anthony, David (Harji), and Jason, star players in my book.
And to another star, my daughter, Penny, and to son-in-law, Patrick Joyce, for your support and legal advice.
And to Bob Black, my partner, who has had to make his own cuppa, make his own lunch, listen to the latest chapter, all while working hard on the property. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Thank you all.