Trevor Outram and his wife Molly immigrated to Australia with their two young children; their sea journey from England covered 20,000 km, took 28 days and landed them in Fremantle, Western Australia on January 22, 1965. They travelled a further 1,600 km north to the tiny town of Port Hedland, which was just beginning to boom exporting iron ore from the Pilbara region. There was no radio, television, fresh milk and limited fresh fruit and vegetables in Port Hedland; it was hot, dry, isolated and in complete contrast to the family's lush, green English origins. None of this was to stop the Outrams as they set-to forging a new life in Australia, knowing that there was little support and no one to fall back on. Their story is one of courage, endeavour and success; they are one of Australia's largely unknown but nevertheless intrepid, gutsy pioneers. The First Five Years is based on their story; a magnificent true story.

"The fisher folk came by this morn, wearing white and cloaked in dawn. Accent the grey, dark the brown; closely fitted, a feather gown." Life Before is a collection of some 26 poems, musing and essays; written over a period of ten years and until now, unknown to anyone. Enough of being hidden in the dark, dusty drawer, they wanted out!

At the height of Australia s 1970s recession, two young men leave home seeking fame and fortune. They travel through Queensland s outback looking for work and arrive in Mount Isa, near broke. The city takes them in and so begins the adventure of creating their lives in the remote, rough and tumble environment of one of Australia s biggest mining communities. Set in among the hot, dry and arid landscape of Queensland s Gulf Country, the two newcomers discover both the delights and difficulties of living far inland from their coastal origins. A variety of jobs take them to places that few people would have ever experienced, from prospecting deep in the bush to dark, damp mines located thousands of metres underground. Mates is a great story infused with warm Australian characteristics and humour. The region s great mining history, Aboriginal people and extraordinary bushland have all been thoroughly researched and richly described by author Stephen Outram.

With contributions by numerous experts