Book excerpt: Five kids orphaned by a terrible accident . . . A struggling family living in the most isolated spot on earth . . . A single dad battling to cope in a house falling down around his ears . . . A desperately ill woman in the middle of nowhere . . . In the great Outback traditions of mateship, resilience and generosity come these stories of ordinary people who, against seemingly insurmountable odds, help out those who inhabit Australia's vast untamed frontiers. No task is too great and no sacrifice too much for these modern-day heroes. Cheryl flies sick patients from rural areas to emergency medical treatment in cities; Sue is often the only one between life and death for her patients in the Kimberley; Ricky trades city comforts to connect with kids through sport in the dust of the desert and Eileen overcomes great challenges to protect remote land for generations to come. These are some of the men and women who embody the spirit of the Outback. Inspiring, stirring and touching by turn, these people draw on enormous personal reserves to maintain the values of the Outback for the future of all Australians. 'A taste of the great things happening in the outback. Williams has found some real gems.' Weekly Times