In the Southern Wild

I’ve had several long car trips of late—to South Australia and back (twice) and to Melbourne. My consort (aka chief photographer) and I did a lot of meandering through some of the varied landscapes Australia has to offer.

Red, scrubby terrain out near Broken Hill, where emus and kangaroos run wild, and feral goats almost outnumber the native wildlife. Remember the equally feral movie Mad Max? Filmed at nearby Silverton. The perfect place.

Serene, settled hills and valleys around Adelaide, with orchards and rampant rose gardens.

Avocados and macadamias on the emerald green slopes of New South Wales’s northern rivers district. Banana plantations on the hills surrounding Coffs Harbour.

The dramatic rock formations of the Great Ocean Road.

Victoria’s Gippsland where, when we drove through, Spring was definitely busting out all over.

The beautifully quiet sandy beaches in out of the way places in South Australia.

And then there was the bleak, sparsely-settled countryside in the boondocks of NSW. A storm took hold. Black clouds, paddocks of dry, bleached grass, and a ferocious wind tore through the landscape.

That’s how In the Southern Wild evolved. Bleak landscape. Bleak story.

An ending that’s not happy in the strictest sense, but one that does finish on an upbeat note. The unnamed woman at the story’s centre has been, in many ways, a victim, but in facing her demons, she’s reached a place of peace and will now hopefully be able to get on with the rest of her life.

Where’s your favourite bit of countryside?

In The Southern Wild is available for FREE by clicking this link https://www.bronwynhouldsworth.com/books

followed by the cover of the book. Enjoy.