A Coffee Table Book
This is a book of stories about Australian country people; stories about their lives, past and present, about their hopes and dreams, their joys and sorrows.
This is a book of stories about children, young people and families. It’s about older Australians who have stories and tales from days-gone-by. This is a book of stories about ordinary Australian country people who through their lives have brought encouragement and challenge, joy, hope and love to others.
This is a book of stories about the Australian landscape and the impact it has on the people who rely on it for life and a livelihood.
Hopefully some stories in this book will make you laugh and others will make you want to cry.
This is a book of stories about Australian country people who live mainly in small communities. Arising from a desire for a distinctive lifestyle and with mutual respect and friendship, these people are intrinsically connected throughout a big country.
by Helen Kent
Experience the uniqueness of outback life
Over 35 captivating stories, including...
Michael and Julie
"Still Smiling"
Yalleen Station, Western Australia
Steve and Bridget
"We've worked together - every day"
The Top End
Craig and Nikki
"A heart for the Channels"
Morney Plains Station, Windorah, Queensland
Mike and Jane
"The old-fashioned way"
Spring Creek Station, Western Australia
Merv Wortley Senior
"An Outback Life"
Ruby Plains Station, Western Australia
Ernie Draheim
"My earliest memories"
Stanthorpe, South East Queensland
Riley and Shayla
"Ginger Ninjas"
Thorntonia Station, Camooweal, Queensland
Ted Fogarty
"You do the work"
Lucy Creek Station, Northern Territory
Eddie Shadforth
"Still doin' it"
Mistake Creek Station, Northern Territory
Written by Helen Kent
An Australian Legacy
Going the extra mile... since 1988
Queensland’s family-owned business Kent Saddlery is the only saddlery in Australia that with their travelling shop covers huge distances across northern Australia, reaching Queensland’s Gulf and Channel Country, the Northern Territory and Western Australia’s Kimberley and Pilbara regions.
Every year since 1991, Lyle and Helen Kent have made this extensive trek, taking their travelling shop into the outback, visiting up to 140 cattle stations on each journey. Their annual trip has become more than a welcome tradition at every station they visit. Not only because no other saddlery companies or hawkers are prepared to commit to travelling the huge miles, but more so, because Lyle and Helen have established so many friendships with a vast number of station people right throughout Northern Australia.
Lyle and Helen have always had a genuine affinity for country people and the places in which they live and they admire their resilience and hardworking ways.
Lyle Kent
“People in the bush are different, unique; some who haven’t been educated have such amazing memories and are great story tellers. I always have and still today get a buzz when we drive down the station driveways.”
Big Country, Small Community
Stockman’s Hall of Fame
Great to see Helen’s Coffee Table Book “Stories of Australian Country People” on display at Longreach Stockman’s Hall of Fame,
Cathy’s water dragon enjoying a great read
Thanks to Cathy from Narrandera, NSW for sending in a photo of her water dragon checking out ‘Stories of Australian Country People’. “I didn’t think anyone would probably send you a photo of your book being read by a water dragon, so here’s one for you!” said Cathy.
‘Stories of Australian Country People’ being enjoyed from across the globe in Canada!
Julia Palmer said, “We love our copy of Kent Saddlery’s Stories of Australian Country People! It’s always fun to read about ranching in other parts of the world and this book combines the stories with beautiful photos of both the people and the land. It captures both hardships and joys of working and living on the land.”
Craig Lasker, Nikki Smith and kids, Morney Plains Station, QLD
At Morney Plains Station, Windorah, South West Queensland, Craig Lasker, Nikki Smith and kids gathered for a photo with Helen. Dusty was home from boarding school, and with siblings Ty and Casey, was looking forward to taking part in the Windorah Rodeo Club Campdraft and Rodeo. This family’s story “Heart for the Channels” as captured in “Stories of Australian Country People” continues to describe them well.
Daren and Dean Lorenz, Durrie Station, QLD
Darren and Dean Lorenz, with Helen Kent, walked a very short distance from the Durrie Station homestead for this photo. In the introduction to Darren and Dean’s story, “A Special Place” in “Stories of Australian Country People”, Helen has written, “The bright orange-red of lines of sandhills fight for attention… the vastness of the sight bombarding and delighting the senses. At times, it’s almost too much to take in.”
Marion Downs Station, Bedourie, QLD
Wow! At Marion Downs Station near Bedourie, South West Qld, numbers of people lined up to purchase a copy of the coffee table book “Stories of Australian Country People”. Such an enthusiastic response demanded a photo, so everybody gathered at the Kent Saddlery travelling shop with their copies of the book.
Printed and Published in Australia
A great gift for a loved one…
Or treat yourself by adding some memorable Australian country stories to your book collection!
Over 35 stories beautifully presented in full colour, hard cover, 220 pages.