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The Waddi Tree

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The Waddi Tree

By: Kerry McGinnis
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
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About this listen

Two branches of the McAllister family lead very different lives on cattle stations in Central Australia. Rob, a stickler for correctness, manages a wealthy, company-owned property while his easygoing brother Sandy struggles to support his wife and son on an impoverished leasehold.

When tragedy throws the families together, ultimately driving them even further apart, it's Sandy's young son Jim who suffers the most. Left to rebuild his shattered world, he falls back on the larger-than-life station characters and the comfort of horses. This is tough country, where personal hardship is kept in perspective by drought, fire and isolation. The times are just as unforgiving, and as the years pass, Jim discovers that he must pay for his father's mistake as well as his own. Yet this harshly beautiful land is full of promise, a source of strength to Jim on his road from innocence to independence.

©2006 Kerry McGinnis. By arrangement with Penguin Group (Australia). (P)2006 Bolinda Publishing Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction

Editorial reviews

Set amid the barren sand and sun of Central Australia, Kerry McGinnis’ tale of family, tragedy, and redemption finds a versatile suitor in the strains of Aussie actor Humphrey Bower. The Waddi Tree follows young Jim McAllister, sent to live on the cattle station of a well-to-do uncle after the tragic death of his mother. As he grows accustomed to his new life, the teenage Jim shows promise as a jackaroo. Jim begins to dream of his own cattleman career, but finds himself hampered by his family’s dark past. A prolific audiobook performer, Bower colors the proceedings with distinct character acting and impassioned diction. Bower lends rugged masculinity to McGinnis’ brawny bushmen, while nevertheless betraying the tenderness and insecurity that lurks within young Jim.

Critic Reviews

"McGinnis has the eye of a painter; she writes as she sees and the land comes alive." (The Weekend Australian)
"The most evocative and moving account of a childhood in the Australian bush since The Road to Coorain." (Australian Country Style Magazine)
All stars
Most relevant
Life in the outback in the second half of the last century.
The story told from the perspective of a child through to his adulthood ran smoothly for the author, if not from the boys point of view.
I felt the story finished too soon. The ending was abbreviated, as though the deadline for completion caught up with the author.

Great story

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had long 13hr drive with kids. listening to this novel made trip more enjoyable for us n kids

great family car trip entertainment 👌

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A fantastic story performed with passion and story telling finesse. Had me hooked from the beginning to the very end.

Great read

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.