Book Description

This is Lori Patrick’s life story. The story starts with Lori’s dairy farming childhood during World War II, outlining her parents’ struggles raising eight children during tough times. After a stint working on the farm, Lori moves to the bright lights of the city and into the family of her future husband Barrie Patrick who she met working at the Queensland Times newspaper. Barrie’s family led a flamboyant lifestyle in stark contrast to her own. Barrie’s father Ern was the Queensland Times editor and his mother Eva, the effervescent life of the party. They introduced Lori to new experiences, including holidaying on Noosa’s Hastings Street when it was a strip of bitumen in the sand. After they wed, Lori and Barrie went in search of success in Outback Queensland where they worked as a ringer and governess and later went on to buy the famous Blue Heeler Hotel in Kynuna. The pub tested their strength, but they overcome adversities to put the town on the map as a tourist destination. The main attraction was their home-grown entertainment that included Barrie holding up tourist coaches with a shotgun and cracking a cigarette out of Lori’s mouth, often for the benefit of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. This all came to an end when they buried their 20-year-old son who was killed by a drunk driver. This tragic event was too much and they returned to South-East Queensland. Following Barrie’s death, Lori went on to travel the world and continue her search for personal success.