Sheila Hunter

Sue White, aged 13, is excited that her parents are to take her on a holiday to the Barrier Reef. Her friend Alison advises her to speak to another girl in their school who lives on a Great Barrier Reef island, for tips about life in such a place. They are surprised to find that the White family is actually planning to holiday on the very island where Jess Carey and her family live. The Whites, Phil, Sally & Sue; Jess Carey and her brother Lewis all travel to the reef together and so begins a great adventure for Sue and her new found friends. The Carey's are Alan and Bob, brothers, and their wives, Barbara and Win. Bob's son, Paul, is quite a skilled amateur naturalist and is most helpful and instructive when he takes parties of guests on to the reef. The Carey youngsters and their extended family know their reef well and this holiday proves to be a learning experience for all at the resort. All the children get along well and have many adventures, including meeting some Pirates

Mary Macdonald, her brother Fergus MacKenzie; sister-in-law Caro MacLeod; cousins the Fraser's and all their families who have had to emigrate from the Isle of Skye during the "Clearances". The story follows the four families from Scotland, on the ship out and to the NSW colony in 1850's. Mary does not cope with the changes and losses that occur in the first months in the colony. The other women in the family rely on her and she nearly crumbles. Through accidents, losses, disabilities that occur to various family members, trials, floods, and hard work the families struggle together and forge a strong bond with their new country.

The story follows four Scottish Highland families who, because of the potato famine in the Scottish Hebridean Islands have to emigrate to Australia and start new lives Mary Macdonald with her husband Murdoch and children; her Brother Fergus and his family; Murdoch's sister Caro and her family; and cousins Alec Fraser and his family. They are sponsored at 3 per head by the Clan Chieftain, in this case it was Lord Macdonald. They settled in New South Wales Australia and learnt how to carve a new life for themselves. They learn new farming skills and a new way of Life. Our Highlander characters did not have to face the scary scenario of being forced out of their huts like others in their country, but due to famine and lack of work they had to leave. Many of their family had to stay behind in Skye. It was a fearful and sad time. The Clan Chieftains, called Lairds, subsidised the fares through the Highland and Island Emigration Society, for the clansmen to travel to either Canada or Australia. This story brings them to the Hawkesbury River area west of Sydney, Australia. It follows some of the families through four generations in this new land and new home. The Heather to The Hawkesbury is based loosely on fact and is typical of what many of the Scottish emigrants would have had to face.

Set in England and Australia 1837 to Bathurst in 1850s & 60s."Mattie" is the story of a girl who is typical of the many convicts who came to Australia during its first 75 years. Mattie was born in England and spent the first of her childhood in a foundling home. She was taken from the home and put to work on a dairy farm, a cold and uncomfortable life. In 1837 her master charged her with stealing when she took some food to feed some hungry children and was convicted to serve seven years in New South Wales, arriving in 1838. In the gaol she meets some unpleasant women but also finds a friend who becomes a mother figure for her. Peg, who is an aristocrat, had been charged with murdering her husband, and until Mattie comes into her life had given up the desire to live. She had been sentenced to death but the sentence changed to life imprisonment. She finds Mattie a nice child who is totally untaught and so she sets about teaching her to read from the only possession she has, her Bible. The Bible is a small one that she is able to keep secreted in her pocket, and on the occasions that there is enough light in the cell she teaches the child to spell, read and learn some of the decencies of life. Quite an achievement in those conditions, but a true scenario as this was often the only book accessible and those lucky enough to learn to read often did so from a bible. On the voyage out, during a storm, a passenger falls and breaks a leg. This passenger has a small baby and the surgeon asks Peg to take over the nursing care of the passenger, Mrs Proudfoot and her little boy. She refuses and suggests that Mattie be given the chance, insisting that she is an intelligent and willing girl. So Mattie's life changes dramatically. Peg dies and Mattie is left entirely in the care of Sue Proudfoot. Peg gives instructions to the surgeon to see that Mattie gets her precious Bible when she dies. The Chaplain of the ship, the Rev Mr Goodes, his wife and the surgeon who all help to look after Sue Proudfoot, take great notice of Mattie and all contribute to her further education. On arrival in Sydney, as Sue is still incapacitated, she persuades her husband, who has made a home for her on the Hawkesbury, to take Mattie with them to be nursemaid to the baby. Mattie spends her adolescent years in the Proudfoot home very happily looking after the first and subsequent children. Mattie then meets Jim Saunders who, with his father has a store in the local town. The Story continues in Bathurst and the goldfields up there and follows the growth of that area.

Ricky Set in Sydney NSW in 1840's over about 30 years.Ricky & his mother emigrate from England to join his father in the new Colony of Sydney. On arrival there is no sign of his dad. Ricky's mum uses the tiny amount of money they have left the get lodgings in a run down building. Things go from bad to worse when his mother dies and he is thrown out of the lodgings and all their possessions are confiscated by the caretakers. Ricky finds himself living on the Streets of Sydney Town as a street waif. He finds safe places to sleep and befriends freed convicts who can help him survive. One day he finds another child and he helps reunite her with her family. These people try to help him but due to his stubbornness he insists of doing things his way, but he has found a mentor & confidante. The story follows him through his life. He survives and turns his life around also helping others along way, some of whom he 'adopts'. After many years Ricky's lost dad makes an amazing re-appearance but by then Ricky's life has taken many amazing twists & turns. This story also follows the development of the Colony of Sydney and Parramatta areas.