Bella's Run (50 page)
Appreciation also goes to Dr Jonathon Ruddle for his persistence and care, Michelle and Rob Bradshaw for the place of inspiration and Mark Coleman for his advice. Diana Hurley – your whip-cracking skills are legendary – thank you. And for a scene or two, I raise my glass to Kevin, Sallie and family and the Bald Hills.
For their love and support over the years, a huge thank you goes to Sue and Wayne; Linda; Kaylene and Gary; Ross and Miriam; Kylie; Helen and Paul; Karen and Richard; Leonne and John; Debbi; Carol (my reader) and Barrie; Coral; Erlina; Petra and Russell. Gratitude also to Heather and Sue for all things country; Clare for Queensland; Michelle for remembering what I forget; and Kenielle for her superb horsemanship and practicality. You are all the best mates.
Appreciation to the lovely Sara Storer, Carmel Iudica and Donna for your assistance; Rebecca Faltyn for my page in the
Gippsland
Country Life
; Chris Manning for your loving care; and our marvellous Helen for making sure the house stays in some sort of order.
While it was up to me to write the novel, it takes certain wonderful friends to help anchor you.
Bella’s Run
wouldn’t be here without Emma and Buck Williamson (and their ute!); Jenny and Dot Green; Sandra and Doug Dekkers; Carmel Kuizenga (and my beautiful Alice); the Killeen family - darling Andrea for sharing the rollercoaster ride, thanks girl; and the Beveridge family for Christmases at Nunniong; especially to Pam for her support and love, and Mal for answering
so
many questions, brumby hunting and taking us to ‘where no man has been before’.
I also offer thanks to the Victorian Writers Centre, in particular Sallie Muirden and Andrea Goldsmith for teaching me so much, and to the Little Lonsdale Writers Group – I am privileged to be among you. Credit to Kath Ledson – your passion abounds − and also to Sherree, Lisa and Jane: thank you for sharing the ride.
To my friend and critique partner Kate Rizzetti, your support in helping me get this novel over the line is much appreciated. Cheers to my long-time friend and road-trip partner Rachael Treasure, who encouraged me to ‘make and shake’ this dream alive. And to Fleur McDonald, who set down the challenge and held my hand while I completed it, I thank God for bringing you into my life. Credit also to Bronwyn Parry for her advice and Fiona Palmer for her enthusiasm.
For all things medical, thanks go to my talented sisters-in-law, Anne and Trish. To my other medico – you know who you are – I also offer my sincere appreciation. Any errors made are entirely mine.
Thanks to my great aunt, Margaret Caffrey, for her interest, friendship and love – you have taught me so much − and to my uncle, Graeme Osborn, for the serene peace of the homestead to write and for always being there.
To the rest of my family, immediate and extended, heartfelt gratitude for your love, support and for putting up with me. In particular, appreciation to Pat for helping with the children and to my sister, Kerry Wadey, for giving me feedback and advice when I needed it.
To my wonderful father, John, your love and support over the years has far exceeded anything a child should expect. Thanks, Dad, for
everything
– it’s incredible how such a simple word should be expected to convey so much.
To my beautiful children: Brent, one of my biggest supporters, thank you for being a great mate, for the drives in the ute (all thousands of miles of them) and the book covers, which helped make it so real. Callan – my farming inventor – your gentle love and hugs just thrum through my heart. And to Katie – my gorgeous little princess – you are the bright, shining light in all our lives.
To my darling husband, Hugh. You are the rock amid my ocean, the calm among the storm. I couldn’t have achieved this dream without your whole-hearted love and support. We’ve done this together. Thank you, hon.
Margareta Osborn is a fifth-generation farmer who has lived and worked on the land all her life. She also writes about it in the
Gippsland Country Life
magazine.
Home is the beautiful Macalister Valley of East Gippsland in Victoria, where, along with her husband and three children, she spends many hours in the mountains that form the backdrop for her novels.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, including internet search engines or retailers, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including printing, photocopying (except under the statutory exceptions provisions of the Australian
Copyright Act 1968
), recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of Random House Australia. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Version 1.0
Bella’s Run
9781864713145
Copyright © Margareta Osborn
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
Lyrics from ‘Tumbleweeds’ by Sara Storer and Carmel Iudica © ABC Music Publishing administered by Mushroom Music Pty Ltd and Carmel Iudica. All print rights for Mushroom Music Pty Ltd administered in Australia and New Zealand by Sasha Music Publishing, a division of All Music Publishing & Distribution Pty Ltd. ACN 147 390 814. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction is illegal.
A Bantam book
Published by Random House Australia Pty Ltd
Level 3, 100 Pacific Highway, North Sydney NSW 2060
Addresses for companies within the Random House Group can be found at
www.randomhouse.com.au/offices
First published by Bantam in 2012
National Library of Australia
Cataloguing-in-Publication Entry
Osborn, Margareta
Bella’s run [electronic resource] / Margareta Osborn
ISBN 978 1 86471 314 5 (ebook: epub)
A823.4
Cover photographs: cowgirl © Stockbyte/Getty Images; cowboy © Henry Arden/
Getty Images
Cover design by Christabella Designs
Typeset and ebook production by Midland Typesetters, Australia
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