by Sue Williams
‘Even when things go wrong, she’s never complained. She’s certainly enriched my life, and taught me to be more forgiving. She’s always determined to live life to the full. Once, she had a very large operation and was supposed to be resting but some of her family were going to WA and she decided she wanted to go too. Most people wouldn’t have done that, or they might have flown and taken it easy, but she had a bed put in the back of a truck by one of her sons, and travelled all that way!’
Construction of the Mary Valley line began in 1911 and it operated a full timetable until its closure in 1995. Three years later, the Mary Valley Heritage Railway came into being, with the old steam locomotive restored and refurbished to run twice a week along the line for both tourists and locals. Amamoor is the terminus for the Saturday trips. Lurlene, now a grandmother of 16 and great-grandmother to 21, is a regular volunteer, working with the refreshments, the arts and crafts and also talking to visitors, sharing the stories of her colourful past.
She’s also done the catering for special events of the railway, says another helper there, Marite Brieze-Stegeman. ‘She’s fabulous and is very lively and entertaining, and nothing fazes her,’ says Marite. ‘She’s a straight-talker too, and calls a spade a dirty great big shovel. She’s got a wicked sense of humour and is so energetic, doing so many things, I can’t keep up with her!’
Lurlene’s son Colin agrees. ‘She’s got so much get-up-and-go, and always did have,’ he says. ‘She’s always been a hard worker. She never stops.’
The president of the Mary Valley Heritage Railway, Tony Hallam, is another great fan. ‘She’s a great supporter of the railway, and of her local community,’ he says. She has a wonderful sense of history, too, and communicates that through her stories.’
Lurlene’s been living in Amamoor for around 18 years now. She and husband Edward, although still married, went their separate ways in the late 1980s, and he moved back to Alice Springs. Out of the blue one day, Lurlene had a call from their old mate Noel who’d been fencing with them, asking her to visit. In the interim, he’d become a dairy farmer and ran his own pineapple plantation, but had never married. The pair met up again, found they still had so much in common, and moved in together as best mates. ‘I’ve never liked living in cities, and it suited me living back in the bush,’ says Lurlene. ‘We get on very well.’
In late 2012, the locomotive had a minor derailment, and services were cancelled. The Queensland government, however, has now pledged $2 million towards getting it back up and running, and hopes are high that it’ll be running again in 2014. There are many who look forward to seeing Lurlene back, trackside.
Local Lynda Olsson, for instance, went down to the station one day and met Lurlene for the first time. ‘That day, I thought, What a nice old lady,’ she says. ‘But I had no idea of her background! And when I found out how much she’s been through, and listened to some of her fascinating stories, I realised what an amazing woman she is!’
Tony can’t wait for her to be back, either. He loves to hear the stories of her past and the stories her father used to tell her about working on the railway in its early days. ‘She’s a real, living social history of the railways,’ he says. ‘Often people get hung up on the mechanical or engineering side of railways, but bringing that social history alive is her gift. The railways were the real line of communication through the Outback at the time, and people relied on them for everything. She gives us a real sense of that connection and, while we can’t recreate history, Lurlene provides a very valuable window into it.’
As for the lady herself, her love for the railways after all this time remains undimmed. While she now spends a lot of time on the computer, and stays in touch with friends, she still treasures those reminders of the past. ‘I’ve always liked the railways,’ she says. ‘I used to love travelling on the train and I still do now. We’re hoping to get this train back as soon as we can. It’ll be great to see a bit of Outback history come back to life again.’
But it’s Lurlene herself who’s brought a real sense of the Outback to so many, believes Lynda. ‘She’s had an amazing life and, while it’s been hard, she’s never been bitter about any of it. She’s never felt sorry for herself.
‘Lurlene is a great ambassador for what is good about the Outback and makes it a great place to live. She works hard, she has fun and she is always optimistic and friendly.
‘She loves the Outback so much and has come to symbolise everything that’s wonderful about it. In so many ways, she embodies that bright, gutsy, never-say-die spirit the Outback is so well known for.’
Lurlene Ebborn. (Photo by Sue Williams)
Acknowledgements
First of all, a huge thank you to all the remarkable Outback women who appear in this book, and who welcomed me so warmly into their homes and their lives. Each one was astonishing in her own way. They live in some of the most remote spots on earth, have faced every challenge that distance and isolation can throw at them, yet remain resolute in their determination to continue on, upbeat in the face of enormous odds and absolutely passionate about the wild, raw beauty of their beloved Australian Outback. While each of the women is unique, they all have two things in common: being true Outback heroines, and being too humble to ever believe they are.
I’d also like to thank the women who provided some of the most valuable introductions, help and encouragement along the way – in particular, Nell Brook, Lynda Olsson and Deborah Leake.
A special thank you, as always, to my stalwart agent Selwa Anthony, cheering me on from the sidelines (albeit always comfortably ensconced in the city). Also, enormous gratitude to publisher Andrea McNamara, whose commitment to the project never waivered, despite the deadlines often doing so, and a herogram to editor Adrian Potts, extraordinarily cheerful, patient and kind about the use of semi-colons, all the way to the wire. Publicist Emma Noble was a joy, as were designers Marley Berger and Samantha Jayaweera. And a big thank you to James Vereker for his stunning cover photo. Thanks guys!
My mum Edna Williams was a fabulous ally too, painstakingly typing some of the transcripts of interviews for me with great fortitude and humour, while my partner Jimmy Thomson, as ever, was a great reader, incisive critic when necessary, willing photographer and driver, when required, and a treasured supporter all the way through, no matter what.
To all of you, especially my Outback heroines, any mistakes are mine. All the kudos belongs to you.
MICHAEL JOSEPH
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First published by Penguin Books Australia 2013
Copyright © Sue Williams 2013
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ISBN: 978-1-742-53555-5