Reviewed by Wendy Lipke
Lėonie Kelsall’s latest book is part of her series set in South Australia in her fictitious town of Settlers Bridge, so when reading this story, it is no surprise when the reader comes across characters they may have encountered in her previous books. The Homestead in the Eucalypts was the origin story of how the young woman doctor came to be in Settlers Bridge providing a well needed service. In this latest book she is not the central character, but she does feature throughout the story. ‘The doc’s run off her feet… putting in an extra day each fortnight’, as she returns from maternity leave (10).
Like the doctor people come to this town and find their sense of purpose. The two main characters are bush pilot, Amelia Fraser and widower Heath Brennan. Each are running away from past tragedies and their feelings of guilt. Heath’s father, Sean, and his daughter, Charlee, accompany him to the town and while Sean tries to be upbeat and very sociable, his son and granddaughter, still have much healing to do.
Amelia has spent the last few years running from life, taking on short term contracts in various places in the country. She does not stay too long in each place as she does not want to become too attached to other people. Instead, she enjoys the company of her animals, a possum, magpie and later a young lamb. The antics of these companions will keep the reader fascinated throughout this story.
Lėonie Kelsall, with her background of professional counselling, has a deep understanding of human nature especially in times of trauma, and she handles the characters in this story with compassion and a deep understanding. Their personality, their motivation and how they finally manage to move past what has been stopping them to heal, is beautifully and realistically described. What was interesting to read was how they all, with the help of others, were eventually prepared to work at turning their lives around.
They could not do this on their own, and this story highlights how residents in small towns are prepared to help others. Settlers Bridge is growing with the influx of newcomers, and the towns folk realise that they need to step up to ensure everyone’s needs are met. This results in regular gatherings of like-minded people, giving everyone a purpose and helping the newcomers make a connection with the local inhabitants.
As the title of the book suggests, flying features in the story as is often the case for those on rural properties. It is revealing to see how those who fly become so passionate about it, while in others this activity brings out fear. This is a very human story, and the reader cannot help but become involved in the lives of these people. This effect comes down to the skill of the writer and Leonie Kelsall has this in spades.
Having grown up in country South Australia Lėonie Kelsall’s writing includes the magic she feels about the Australian countryside. She is the author of The Farm at Peppertree Crossing, The Wattle Seed Inn, The River Gum Cottage, The Willow Tree Wharf and The Blue Gum Camp. This latest book, Wings Above the Mallee, is another wonderful read to add to her growing list. Australia has many female writers, at present, who embrace our natural environment and foreground issues relevant to society in the twenty-first century.
Wings Above the Mallee
(2025)
by Lėonie Kelsall
Allen & Unwin
ISBN:978-1-76147-091-2
$32.99; 352pp