We of the Never Never

Jeannie travels from Melbourne to the vast Elsey Station and begins a new life in the bush. The transition is rough as the harsh landscape tests her resolve, and the local drovers scoff at a woman occupying a traditionally male space. Undeterred, she vows to prove that she can adapt and contribute to the station's success.

Upon arrival, the white drovers oppose and mock Jeannie's presence, whispering that the bush is no place for a refined woman. Her husband is the authority here, but she refuses to be sidelined and resolves to show them otherwise. This resistance sparks her quiet determination to earn respect.

While her husband is away with the cattle, Jeannie begins to form friendships with the Aboriginal residents and other workers. She offers food, shares moments of quiet humor, and tries to resolve disputes, challenging the era's prejudices. Through these ties, she discovers a different way of living in the bush.

Aeneas takes Jeannie along on a cattle muster, and she accepts the challenge with enthusiasm. The ride is arduous, especially riding side-saddle, and she nearly falls prey to a rogue bull. The experience hardens her, showing resilience in the outback.

Back at the station, the house is expanded and a new Chinese cook arrives, signaling gradual change. A garden is planted and belongings finally arrive from Melbourne, stabilizing Jeannie's domestic life. These improvements begin to smooth the rough edges of station life for the family.

Bored with passive domesticity, Jeannie defies orders not to help a feverish man and not to interfere with the balance of things. Instead, she spends more time with the Aboriginal people, learning their customs and offering care. She also takes a semi-orphaned mixed-heritage child, Bett-Bett, under her wing.

Over time, the Aboriginal people begin to respect Jeannie, and they gradually open up to her. Goggle Eye, an elder, allows her to watch an Aboriginal dance, a moment of cultural connection. The ritual is interrupted by the stockmen, who break the mood with gunfire and cheers for the colonial order.

During the dance, stockmen interrupt with loud shouts of loyalty to the crown and gunfire, disrupting the ceremony. The clash underlines the ongoing tensions between settlers and Aboriginal people. Jeannie witnesses how fragile trust can be in the bush.

Bett-Bett, the mixed-heritage child, goes on walkabout, a rite of passage that raises concern among the station's people. Goggle Eye grows feverish, and his illness is framed by superstitions about a singing curse. The community is shaken as they confront the consequences of the frontier's pressures.

The stockmen feel a degree of remorse for Goggle Eye's death and acknowledge their role in his fate. This moment signals a tentative shift toward accountability, even as tensions remain high. Jeannie watches as attitudes between groups slowly begin to soften, though the divide persists.

As Christmas approaches, provisions are shared with the Aboriginal people, and a large communal feast is prepared. Aeneas announces his intention to stay at the station beyond the first year, signaling a possible future for the couple. Jeannie feels a growing sense of belonging despite the harshness of the outback.

Just after the Christmas milestone, Aeneas becomes feverish and dies, leaving Jeannie alone to shoulder the station's future. Bett-Bett returns from walkabout and asks to stay with Jeannie in the house, cementing a new family dynamic. Jeannie's resolve hardens as she becomes the central figure in Elsey Station's survival.