Cirrus@Austlit

Goldsworthy's Introduction gives an overview of some important strands in the history of the short story form in Australia, and enunciates some of her criteria for selecting stories for this anthology.

A small and isolated country town without a resident preacher sees a succession of itinerant preachers, some of dubious credentials, lecturing at the pub.

Following a similar thread to Henry Lawson's "The Drover's Wife" (and many believe, a direct response to it), "The Chosen Vessel" follows a young mother left alone in her outback hut who becomes growingly concerned for her own safety following the arrival of a menacing swagmen. The story also follows for a short time a man riding in to town to place his vote and his struggles with religious guilt. 

Describes a bush funeral.

Two drovers, Andy and Jack, watch their boss drink himself to death. They lie to his wife about the cause of his death to spare her unnecessary pain.