The Outback Heart (27 page)

JOSH
was born a perfect healthy baby on 3 July 1985. He was raised on ‘Glensarsfield’, the family farm, near Kukerin, a small rural community in Western Australia. He grew up alongside his younger brother and sister.

He attended primary school at Kukerin and in 1998 started boarding at Aquinas College in Perth.

A year later, in September 1999, Josh was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. His heart weakened steadily. In October 2000, Josh underwent life-saving surgery and a device known as a Heart Mate was inserted. The device was only temporary and a heart transplant would be the only option for Josh. Just over three months later this young man was back in his school uniform determined to get on with life and get back to school and his mates.

Within a few short weeks, on 22 February 2001, Josh was back in hospital receiving the most wonderful gift of life, a new heart.

Josh resumed his life, intent on really living it. After school he enrolled in Uni and graduated with a Bachelor of Agribusiness. Josh, however, did not see fit to be at his own graduation ceremony. He instead opted for his certificate to be posted, as it was far more important that he get home to the farm, onto the header, and on with harvest.

From Uni he was accepted in the Westpac Graduate Program in Ballarat, which led to employment at the Westpac Banks in Esperance and Lake Grace. But there was an obvious yearning to get back to the family farm.

Josh’s return to ‘Glensarsfield’ in some ways was perhaps the most significant part of his life. It was back in Kukerin that Josh was able to fulfil dreams, be content and achieve his sporting milestones. He was an accomplished golfer and loved his cricket.

The Joyce family shared an incredible journey with Royal Perth and they will be forever grateful for the love and commitment that was shown to their Josh.

Most importantly, how blessed we all were to share Josh’s life over the last ten years. We witnessed a boy grow into a man and this was because of the generosity of one person and that person’s family. This life-giving gift was never taken for granted, it was treasured. To the donor family, Ronni, Colin, Ashleigh and Kalan are extremely grateful and forever indebted.

Because of what we know, and the importance of how it affects us, we ask that you please give serious consideration to organ donation.

Taken from Josh’s eulogy. Written and spoken by Josh’s godfather, Tom Pearce.

This book is a work of fiction, yet I’ve based it in the real town of Hyden, which is just up the road from me. I love using real towns to show what we have in rural Western Australia.

Writing a book is never a solo effort. Many thanks go to my friends and family who are always there to lend a hand (or an ear). My in-laws, Leanne and Michael Dunphy, thanks for your help. To Granny and Poppy Bob Palmer and my parents, thanks for having the kids when I need to run off for an event. Also thanks to Jane Abbott, Jacinta and Colin Holmes, and Catherine and Craig Mayfield for your reading and input. Big thanks to Grant Medlen (& Trish) for my profile photos. To Rebecca South and Brodie Simmons, thanks for the proofreading. To the Karlgarin–Hyden hockey girls, thanks for being awesome and the reason I venture out during winter. Also, as promised, thanks to Cint, Missy, Robbo, Ren, Kaz, Snowy, Janeo, Kel, Jen, Mandy, Chloe, Heather, Simo, Nic and Bev. You rock, see you next year at CW.

To Ali Watts, thank you for being not just my publisher but also my sounding board. You offer guidance and manage to bring out the best in my writing. Your input is so highly valued and I treasure our working relationship. Thanks to Caro Cooper for your wonderful edits, working with you is so easy. To Heidi McCourt, Laura Thomas and the rest of the Penguin team who help put this book together, thank you so much.

Troy’s story came about after the passing of Josh, who was well know throughout our wider community. When I read his eulogy in the local
Lakes Link News
, I knew this would be my next story.

I approached Josh’s parents, Ronni and Colin, sharing my ideas for this story, and they were so open and giving right from the beginning. Not even a year had gone since his passing and yet they proudly shared his life with me. I will forever be grateful. I am donating part of the proceeds of this book to Transplant Australia to help people like the Joyce family. Donate Life.
www.donatelife.gov.au

Thanks to my own wonderful family, especially my mum, Sue, who is always there to support me in any way. I appreciate you and love you to bits.

And lastly to those who already have my heart and are taking such good care of it, Darryl, Mackenzie and Blake. I love you. Thanks for being so amazing.

Please think about becoming an organ donor. I certainly will be when the time comes. I love how one life can save another.

CJ Wishart is a hardworking country girl with a heart of gold but a life that can be tough. Her job as a wool classer is back-breaking, her family life is a disaster and, after a string of dating debacles, she’s put men in the too-hard basket.

When strong, handsome Lindsay arrives on the scene as their new shearer, CJ can’t help but take notice. They have an undeniable spark, but can she handle the complications and potential heartbreak of falling in love?

With help from her friend and an endearing old farmer, CJ learns that when you stay true to yourself and open your heart, anything is possible.

Set in the colourful world of the shearing sheds, this is a lively and uniquely Australian story of love overcoming adversity.

‘Heartfelt’
W
EEKEND
G
OLD
C
OAST
B
ULLETIN

‘A rollicking romance that will have readers cheering on the heroine and her good-looking beau.’
W
EEKLY
T
IMES

Isabelle Simpson longs to take over the family farm, but her ailing father won’t give her a chance. The standoff between them threatens to tear the family apart. Handsome neighbor Will Timmins holds the secret to building bridges between them, if Izzy can forgive him his past.

Izzy is forced to make a tough decision – sacrifice an exciting new romance or relinquish her lifelong dream? But then unexpected tragedy falls on the farm, and Izzy is thrown the greatest challenge of all.

As she gathers with family and friends by the shade of the gum-tree tavern, confessions are made, long-held secrets are revealed and hearts are set free.

‘A good-old-fashioned love story.’
S
UNDAY
M
AIL
B
RISBANE

‘Palmer has produced a well-crafted novel with strong sense of time and place in which Australian country life is vividly drawn.’
S
OUND
T
ELEGRAPH

When your life is at a crossroads, how do you find the road home?

Lara Turner has a boyfriend, a nice house in the city and a chance at a big promotion. So when her brother calls asking her to come home, she hesitates. Can she face the memories that inhabit the beloved place of her childhood? And how does she feel with the news it’s to be sold? Could she be the answer to saving the family farm?

Jack Morgan has memories of his own to contend with. A falling out with his family and a bitter end to a past relationship have left a big chip on his shoulder. When his best mate’s beautiful sister arrives on the scene, he finds himself deeply conflicted.

Lara and Jack have a powerful attraction but are constantly at odds. Will their love of the same land keep them apart, or grow into a love of a different kind?

From the bestselling author of
The Family Farm
and
Heart of Gold
comes a heartwarming novel about finding your true place in the world, and the healing power of the land.

‘
The Road Home is a heartwarming and enjoyable story . . . a well-written and engaging read.’
B
OOK‘D OUT

‘
The Road Home is a great additional to your shelf if you love characters and beautiful Aussie landscapes.’
T
HE
A
USTRALIAN
B
OOKSHELF

‘
The Road Home’s farming dilemmas, family conflict and personal struggles make for compelling reading.’
C
OUNTRY
N
EWS

‘Fiona Palmer has again delivered a wonderful romance set in Australia’s outback.’
T
OOWOOMBA
C
HRONICLE

Jonelle Baxter is a young woman in a man’s world - tough, hardworking motor mechanic from an idyllic country family. But lately things in her perfect life have been changing, and her workshop isn’t the only the local business that’s struggling.

Daniel Tyler is new in town, posted from the city to manage the comunity bank. As he tries to rein in the spiralling debts of Bundra, he uncovers all sorts of personal dramas and challenges.

The last thing Jonny and Dan need is an unwanted attraction to each other. She has enough problems just keeping her livelihood going and he’s fighting pressures that stretch all the way to Perth. It’s going to take a good drop of rain to break the drought and bring change in love and in life.

A moving and heart-warming story about the beauty that’s found in the blush, especially in the most trying of times.

‘I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the rural romance genre or who wants to experience a real sense of what it’s like to live (and love) in the outback.’
G
OOD
R
EADS

‘Fiona Palmer has well and truly earned her place as leading writer of one of Australia’s much-loved genres, rural romance.’
C
OUNTRYMAN

‘One of my favourites among the recent offerings of rural romance. The writing is brilliant.’
N
EWSCASTLE
H
ERALD

‘Palmer’s own passion for the land bleeds into story, her scenes are vivid and genuine, just as her characters are.’
B
OOK’D OUT