Author(s): Paul Bugeja

Australiana

The word 'amazon' generally conjures up images of wild and powerful warrior women, fighting off foes in some primitive matriarchal society where they rule over men who have been subverted to more menial roles. "Outback Women" is a compilation of significant Australian women of simple but important character traits -strength, fortitude and courage. Australia has grown from penal colony to modern nation and important player on the global stage, and during this period there have been any number of women who have cou- rageously taken on the multifarious and sometimes death-defying challenges the Aussie outback has thrown at them, often alongside the man they loved with a gaggle of children in tow. These women have faced their trials admirably, with rarely a word of complaint, and continue to do so to this day-they are our 'Aussie Amazons'.