Cirrus@Austlit

'Imagine yourself critically injured or seriously ill in the middle of nowhere. You'd be hoping like hell there was a doctor nearby to take charge; someone resourceful, who'd think quickly and stay calm under pressure; someone who could, if necessary, take charge from a distance. 

'You'd want to be in the safe and sure hands of one of these amazing bush doctors. They might work in some of the most spectacular locations in Australia - from the splendid isolation of the Kimberley and the wide open spaces of outback Queensland to the freezing icecaps of Antarctica - but their profession demands long hours, extensive medical knowledge and, sometimes, courage beyond their experience. 

'Meet some of the extraordinary medicos who save lives everyday beyond the great divide including Jenny Wilson, the locum with itchy feet who roams Australia and beyond to help people; Rolf Gomes, who built a 'heart truck' to take life-saving medical advice to the inland; and Molly Shorthouse who cares for people's mental health. 
'And, always, there's the Royal Flying Doctorsa From the bestselling author of Nurses of the Outback, Bush Doctors is a powerful and captivating tribute to all rural and remote doctors - unsung Australian heroes who truly do care.'  (Publication summary)

'From the bestselling author of Bush Nurses and Nurses of the Outback comes this collection of compelling and moving stories of our heroic nurses in the Vietnam War

'Being a nurse always requires a cool head, a steady hand and an open heart. But if you're working in a war zone, the challenges are much harder. When Australia joined the Vietnam War, civilian and military nurses were there to save lives and comfort the wounded. With spirit and good humour, they worked hard and held strong, even though most of them were completely unprepared for the war before they landed in the middle of it.

'Working incredibly long hours and surrounded by chaos and turmoil, these brave nurses and medics were integral to our war effort. These fifteen stories show a side to the Vietnam War that has received little recognition but played an important part in shaping Australia's presence in the war. From flying with critically wounded Australian soldiers out of turbulent war zones, to being held at gunpoint, the compassion, courage and grace under fire in Our Vietnam Nurses will inspire and astound.' (Publication summary)

'The work of a nurse is challenging enough, but when you add a remote location, the stakes are so much higher. Meet fifteen courageous people who have chosen to pursue careers in remote area nursing.

'There's Anna, who is on duty in Georgetown as the fury of Cyclone Yasi tears through inland Queensland; Maureen in outback New South Wales, who faces everything from a snakebite to a helicopter crash; Aggie, who overcomes her demons to help young people in the Kimberley; and Catherine, newly graduated and determined to make a difference in the Gulf Country she and her rodeo-riding husband call home.

'From some of the most remote places on the earth, these stories bring the outback to life – we witness the harshness and isolation as well as the camaraderie of life in small towns in the middle of nowhere. These intrepid nurses manage everyday health care and life-threatening emergencies, patch up the local pets and fundraise for their towns. They are the heartbeat of their communities.

'From Bidyadanga to Broken Hill, from Mount Isa to Marree, these tales are by turns moving and inspiring, full of gutsy feats and classic outback spirit. ' (Publication summary)

'It takes something special to be a bush nurse working in rural and remote Australia. These remarkable women patch people up and keep them alive while waiting for the doctor to arrive. They drive the ambulances, operate the clinics and deliver the babies. They are on call around the clock and there are no days off. They often make do with whatever is at hand while working in some of the most isolated places on the planet.'

'Be they devastating family tragedies, close scrapes with bushfires or encounters with true larrikins of the outback, some stories will make your hair stand on end, others will make you laugh and some will make your cry. With tales from Birdsville to Bedourie, Oodnadatta to Uluru, you'll be amazed at the courage and resourcefulness of these nurses who have been the backbone of medical practice in remote Australia for more than a hundred years.' (Publisher's blurb)