An Outback Nurse

An Outback Nurse

Thea Hayes finished her general Nurse training in Sydney 1957, followed by her midwifery training in 1959. A year later she was catapulted out of the safety of her city life into the unknown world of the Outback.

Thea knew nothing of the place she was soon to call home, Wave Hill Station in the Northern Territory, the second largest property in the world under one management. It covered four million acres!

With nervous excitement, Thea accepted the job and flew to the Northern Territory where her life was about to change dramatically…

This is the inspirational true story of a strong Australian woman who went from naïve city teenager to station wife and nurse. A woman who took on a job, met the love of her life and became part of the historical Wave Hill Station walk out.

Thea Hayes shares her nostalgic story of growing up, falling in love and finding home...

Thea Hayes adds - 'This is about my life, my family's life and touches on the life of many who worked in the outback in the 60's and 70's".

Thea Hayes qualified as a nurse in Sydney in 1959. Her first posting was to a remote station in the Northern Territory called Wave Hill. She now lives in the Riverina. An Outback Nurse is her first book. Thea is still nursing as a registered nurse.

An Outback Nurse
Allen and Unwin
Author: Thea Hayes
RRP: $32.99

Interview with Thea Hayes

Question: What inspired you to write your memoir, An Outback Nurse?

Thea Hayes: My head was full of stories about the outback. My friends wanted to hear more. 'You should write a book ' they said. I joined a writing group, and that was the start, and I couldn't stop writing.

Question: Was it difficult reliving any aspects of your life whilst writing An Outback Nurse?

Thea Hayes: No not really. I relived child birth, my husband's illness, some of the tragic episodes on the station, but I don't dwell on the sad parts, I'd rather remember the good parts of my life.


Question: Did you learn anything about yourself, which you weren't already aware of when writing?

Thea Hayes: I had no idea I could write a book. I was hopeless at English at school, but when you have a passion about something and my passion was the -Outback' you can do anything.


Question: What do you hope readers take from the book, An Outback Nurse?

Thea Hayes: From my book I hope readers will realise how happy we were white and Aboriginal all working together on the station, and maybe this will inspire co-operation between the two races to work together in the future. And if anyone out there has a book - in them', just go ahead and write it.


Interview by Brooke Hunter