Acknowledgements
My family complain that I always thank them last, but they can rest assured that to me they always come first: my husband Allan Ashmore and children Camillie and Jaiden, who have long given up asking ‘what’s for dinner?’ and now simply ask if there is anything for dinner – without a question-mark on the end, as if they know the answer and are already thinking about what they can make for themselves; thank you all, and my mother Jill Baxter, for your love and forbearance.
To my publisher at Allen & Unwin, Rebecca Kaiser, and my literary agent, Tara Wynne: your continued support and calm confidence mean so much to me (particularly when I am panicking about getting the manuscript finished on time).
To editor Angela Handley, copy-editor Katri Hilden, proof-reader Kate Goldsworthy and readers Michael Flynn, author of The Second Fleet: Britain’s Grim Convict Armada of 1790, my boss and mentor, Keith Johnson, co-partner of the Library of Australian History publishing company and now the Biographical Database of Australia, Dr Bruce Kercher, Emeritus Professor of Law, Dr David Andrew Roberts, Senior Lecturer in Australian History at the University of New England, my friend Mike Elliott from England, and genealogist Kate Wingrove (who is always right!): my heartfelt thanks for your assistance. My book is so much the better for your insightful comments and input.
A big thank-you also to: Jillian Oppenheimer, who paved the way with her articles about Mary Ann Bugg; Lynne Robinson, Honorary Research Officer for the Mudgee Historical Society, who helped determine the truth about Mary Ann Bugg’s children and death; Thunderbolt researchers Bob Cummins and Arnold Goode (and special thanks to Arnold and to Bernie Woodward for taking me out to Kentucky Creek, where Thunderbolt died, and to young Patrick Roberts for the pleasure of his company during that trip); Annie Hutchison nee Fletcher of Kentucky Station, Kent Mayo of McCrossins Mill, and Pat Bradley, who holds the Milford memoir; Dr Ann Curthoys, ARC Professorial Fellow of the University of Sydney, Associate Professor Kirsten Mackenzie and Dr Vicki Grieves, also of the University of Sydney, Dr Lisa Ford, Lecturer in Australian Studies at the University of New South Wales, Associate Professor John Ryan of the University of New England, and Dr Brian Walsh; also to Ward and Bugg family members and associated researchers: Lorraine Beckers, Vicki Brown, Berry Cameron, Pam Dewberry, Vicki Dobson, Norma Fisher (of the Gloucester Worimi), Merelynn Miller, Harry Millward, Michael Mina, Neil Robins, Peter Tunchon, Richard White and Kenneth Edwards.
Thank you also to Gail Davis and the staff of State Records of New South Wales, and to Bill Oates and the staff of the University of New England's Heritage Centre (and thanks also to Bill for allowing me to use his office for a radio interview when I was undertaking Thunderbolt research there in March 2010).
Thank you to Kent Mayo, Annie Mayo and the staff of McCrossin's Mill for your wonderful support and for allowing the book's launch to be held at the museum on 18 September 2011. Thanks also to the Hon. Richard Torbay MP for lauching my book and helping to make it such an enjoyable day.
To my publisher at Allen & Unwin, Rebecca Kaiser, and my literary agent, Tara Wynne: your continued support and calm confidence mean so much to me (particularly when I am panicking about getting the manuscript finished on time).
To editor Angela Handley, copy-editor Katri Hilden, proof-reader Kate Goldsworthy and readers Michael Flynn, author of The Second Fleet: Britain’s Grim Convict Armada of 1790, my boss and mentor, Keith Johnson, co-partner of the Library of Australian History publishing company and now the Biographical Database of Australia, Dr Bruce Kercher, Emeritus Professor of Law, Dr David Andrew Roberts, Senior Lecturer in Australian History at the University of New England, my friend Mike Elliott from England, and genealogist Kate Wingrove (who is always right!): my heartfelt thanks for your assistance. My book is so much the better for your insightful comments and input.
A big thank-you also to: Jillian Oppenheimer, who paved the way with her articles about Mary Ann Bugg; Lynne Robinson, Honorary Research Officer for the Mudgee Historical Society, who helped determine the truth about Mary Ann Bugg’s children and death; Thunderbolt researchers Bob Cummins and Arnold Goode (and special thanks to Arnold and to Bernie Woodward for taking me out to Kentucky Creek, where Thunderbolt died, and to young Patrick Roberts for the pleasure of his company during that trip); Annie Hutchison nee Fletcher of Kentucky Station, Kent Mayo of McCrossins Mill, and Pat Bradley, who holds the Milford memoir; Dr Ann Curthoys, ARC Professorial Fellow of the University of Sydney, Associate Professor Kirsten Mackenzie and Dr Vicki Grieves, also of the University of Sydney, Dr Lisa Ford, Lecturer in Australian Studies at the University of New South Wales, Associate Professor John Ryan of the University of New England, and Dr Brian Walsh; also to Ward and Bugg family members and associated researchers: Lorraine Beckers, Vicki Brown, Berry Cameron, Pam Dewberry, Vicki Dobson, Norma Fisher (of the Gloucester Worimi), Merelynn Miller, Harry Millward, Michael Mina, Neil Robins, Peter Tunchon, Richard White and Kenneth Edwards.
Thank you also to Gail Davis and the staff of State Records of New South Wales, and to Bill Oates and the staff of the University of New England's Heritage Centre (and thanks also to Bill for allowing me to use his office for a radio interview when I was undertaking Thunderbolt research there in March 2010).
Thank you to Kent Mayo, Annie Mayo and the staff of McCrossin's Mill for your wonderful support and for allowing the book's launch to be held at the museum on 18 September 2011. Thanks also to the Hon. Richard Torbay MP for lauching my book and helping to make it such an enjoyable day.