Outback Vets

Description

An in-depth look at the challenging lives of Australia's gutsy rural vets--smart, spirited men and women who care for animals, big and small, in remote communities all over the country. The stakes are high for the vets charged with caring for Australia's rural livestock, wildlife, and beloved family pets. Those who call the outback home often depend on animals for their wellbeing--and, in many cases, their livelihood. In far southwest Queensland, Rachel Wilson and Will Nason vet all the horses at the famous Birdsville Races; in the Victorian High Country, Dave Hall's own life-threatening car accident fired his ambition to make a difference; and in her mixed practice in northwest New South Wales, lone vet Mary-Jane Stutsel has had seven days off-call in 20 years. Among others, we also meet Jan Allen, who works with camp dogs in remote Indigenous communities in the Top End, and adventurous Rick Fenny in the vast Pilbara, who cared for the region's beloved nomad kelpie, Red Dog.Outback Vets is a walk on Australia's wild side, from the glistening coast to the dusty desert. Get to know these hard-working animal lovers as they ride, drive, and fly across some of the most remote regions of Australia, rescuing and treating creatures great and small.

Author description

Annabelle Brayley trained as a registered nurse. When she married her husband, Ian, she went on to live on an isolated sheep and cattle station in south-west Queensland. Relocating in 2001 to the small rural community where they now live, Annabelle resumed employment in rural and remote health before retiring to pursue her passion for storytelling. As a regular contributor to R.M. Williams OUTBACK magazine, Annabelle frequently tells the stories of people who live and work in the bush. She has developed a reputation for accuracy, honesty and sensitivity that enables people to tell their stories without fear of prejudice or sensationalism.