the shangri-la collection

In 1942, Max Fielding, descended from the early settlers, inherits from his brother a cattle property in Western Queensland, Shangri-la.

With a crippled leg, he employs an Aboriginal couple, as stockman and cook, to help him run the property. Much later, he marries their daughter, Annie. She dies giving birth to his daughter, Stella Rose. She is educated at boarding school and will inherit the property.

Max’s decision to marry Annie puts him at odds with prevailing community expectations, and the family’s life revolves around the station, with only minimal social contact. When young Constable Peter meets Stella, he is immediately attracted to her, but realizes she will never leave the station. Can he give up his career to win her?

Much later, in Book Two, Max’s grandchild, Justin, faces another choice. He alone is not content with life on the station. He wants to be an artist, and runs away to the Northern Territory to follow his dream.

In the final book, Confluence, many of the conflicts are finally resolved, and minor characters, who have been lurking in the shadows, meet their fate.

Whispers in the Wind is a collection of short stories about the Shangri-la families, continuing their story to 2023, on the eve of the referendum for the First Nations Voice to be inserted into the Australian constitution.

This easily read, accessible story presents aspects of Aboriginal history not widely known, and confronts the reality of an ancient people attempting to live in contemporary Australian society.