‘THE SAWERS FROM PITCAIRN’
‘The Sawers from Pitcairn’ should be in libraries across Australia and held in archives for prosperity. This factual, historical account takes the reader back through generations into the lives and times of those who helped maintain the outback stations of Australia. Written ‘at the time by those who were there’, it is easy to read as it depicts the daily lives, toils, events and people throughout, and before, the Sawers family’s years on the station known as Pitcairn in the north of South Australia.
‘Nothing is missed as it describes all aspects of those living permanently on the station and the migratory workers such as shearers, well sinkers and many more. Clearly stations needed to be self-sufficient so employed a variety of hardy characters with various skills, all individually described and named here in detail with stories of events that build an authentic picture of life on an outback station.
‘It is highly educational and most enthralling – at times I found myself wishing I could have been there. Yet clearly one needed to be of a ‘special breed’ to survive for long. The Sawers leave a wonderful legacy and I highly recommend ‘The Sawers from Pitcairn’ as an extremely interesting read.
An easy five stars from me.’
A huge thanks to JOHN HUNTER
‘NO LOOKING BACK’
‘What can I say? I was absolutely spellbound and when finishing reading your story, I felt bereft that it had ended.
‘You have given your all in the storytelling and I must say it is a book I just could not put down. Congratulations!’
A huge thanks to ELISABETH HUNTER
‘RED DUST DREAMS’
‘What an amazing work, clearly researched and written with great care and dedication over a long period. Lannah Sawers-Diggins is to be highly complimented for this study of life in the Australian outback. It’s easy to see why this book was a finalist in the International Book Awards scheme. No light volume with over 500 pages packed with insight which captures the outback atmosphere. Of great appeal, making it so easy to read is that the author writes as though she is talking directly to the reader, casually over a coffee. However, with that said, great authenticity is obvious as the author allows the characters she meets to tell their own story, in their own words, often supported with photographs. Lannah is well qualified to produce such a work, being an ‘outback girl’ herself.
‘Anyone interested in outback life on isolated stations deep in the outback will love this book. To others will be an eye-opener. The trials, tribulations and joys of outback life are all here. Nothing is glamorized or condemned, just said like it is. Contributions come from generations of homesteaders and their families, migrating workers, casual workers and visitors, jackeroos and jillaroos, nurses, governesses, cooks, educators and of course, our First Australians. Collectively, they leave the reader with a wonderful insight into what a fantastic country Australia is and the amazing people who maintain and helped build it.
‘I can highly recommend ‘Red Dust Dreams’ for inspirational reading and education. Best described as ‘magnificent’, it should be on everyone’s ‘must read list’. A very well deserved five stars from me.’
A huge thanks to JOHN HUNTER.
