Bron Blake, Heather’s sister, has compiled Gulf Women, an anthology of 55 stories written by women from all walks of life around the Gulf of Carpentaria.

They include owners, managers and stock and station workers, while others live on country, work in businesses, tourism, education, health and aviation, or live and work on fishing boats out in the Gulf.

A core group of women began writing under Bronwyn’s tutelage and suggested others join them.

Bronwyn said she felt fortunate enough to be told the story of their lives.

“They told me that there was nothing to write about. It was brushed off with, ‘So ordinary it’s boring’, ‘just what you do,’ ‘just life’.”

“What a rich vein of gold we tapped into, and in writing their stories, I hope these women see in print, for all time, just how extraordinary they are. How proud we are of them.”

Heather naturally feels very proud of her sister’s achievement. The anthology will be launched at Burketown’s Morning Glory festival on 30 September. It will be available through the website thegulfwomen@gmail.com,