Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
By Greg Keynes, Gelding Street Press, $29.99.
A born-and-bred bush boy, Greg Keynes has a passion for the environment he grew up in and the challenges it faces for the future. Flying high above the Western Australian outback, he was living the dream chasing down wayward bulls from the seat of his helicopter on an aerial muster.
Keynes’ childhood seemed idyllic as we are taken through poignant memories of exploring with his dogs; hunting, working and joking with the local Yamatji people. Breaking free from family ties as a young man, Greg began his own aerial mustering business and fell in love with Kim, a girl from Perth.
Together their life was sweet, until one day, a routine muster in the rocky gorges of the Hamersley Range went horribly wrong. The engine failed at 45 metres above ground. He had no power to inject into the machine and could only guide it as best he could to a landing space.
“I was written off. I was 24, fit and healthy, then I had to learn how to walk again.”
This memoir of a near-death experience is well crafted and riveting. Greg had his own aerial mustering business, herding cattle across thousands of square kilometres, and giving him a bird’s eye view of the remote northwest. He loved that life and it came with some formidable challenges.
Keynes grew up on the family property, Curbur Station, in the Murchison region of Western Australia. Working as a pastoralist and chopper pilot in the early 80s gave him the unique opportunity of seeing only places that could be reached by helicopter, much of the Pilbara, Gascoyne and Murchison regions along with the world heritage listed Shark Bay.
Liberally illustrated with original photographs from Greg’s working life, it’s easy to see his deep love of the land and a real concern for the future of the region and climate change.
“A lot of lessons I’ve learnt over the years I’ve learnt from the bush. Nature is perfect and what we see in the bush often gives us clues about how to successfully live our own lives, should we choose o follow its ancient laws, endurance and ways of life.”
The Flying Bushman is more than a story of memories in the outback; it’s a combined reminder of the true Australian spirit – our bravery, resilience and untamed hearts that, at times, survive the harsh and unforgiving terrains.
As Greg’s adventures reveal, this Australian story of life above the land, with its highs and lows, is what ultimately make us who we are.
