The Outback Cop: The Colorful Life and Times of the Birdsville Policeman

"'Birdsville, the land of plenty - plenty of heat, dust, flies, snakes, camels and salt of the earth outback folk.' Neale McShane. Birdsville is one of the most remote police postings in Australia. It can be lonely and uneventful for weeks, then the dramas come thick and fast: from desert rescues to rising floods, venomous vipers to visiting VIPs. Throw in heat, dust and flies and it’s not a job for the faint-hearted, unless you’re Senior Constable Neale McShane, who has single-handedly taken care of a beat the size of Victoria for the past ten years. Recently retired from this ‘hardship posting’, Neale and his family thrived on the adventures and colourful times that come with the territory in the furthest corner of our country. Yarning with friend and bestselling author Evan McHugh, Neale’s experiences are humorous and heartfelt. How do you feed 4000 unexpected dinner guests? Where do you find a Chinook helicopter when you need one? Who’s your backup when the population explodes for the famous Birdsville Races? And what do you do when you’re the person the Flying Doctor is flying out? Among these inspiring tales of danger and death, dreamers and ‘dumb tourists’, you’ll encounter a little community with a big heart that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with a larger-than-life policeman who’s become part of Australia’s outback legend."--Back cover The Birdsville police posting is one of the most remote in Australia. It can be extremely lonely and incredibly busy at the same time. Nothing might happen for weeks or months, then problems come crawling out of the woodwork. There aren’t many who can handle the job for long—unless you’re Senior Constable Neale McShane, who has single-handedly taken care of this beat the size of the UK for the past 10 years. Recently retired from this "hardship posting," Neale now has a stock of stories and adventures from his life and colorful times living with his family in Birdsville. In recounting these tales to his good friend and bestselling author Evan McHugh, Neale delights us with yarns that could only come from the furthest corner of our country. Here are stories of desert dangers, dead bodies, droughts and floods, drinkers and dreamers—and, of course the infamous Birdsville Races, when the town’s population swells from 50 to 500. So if Birdsville has remained just a little too far off the beaten track for you, sit back and let Birdsville come to you. 'Birdsville, the land of plenty - plenty of heat, dust, flies, snakes, camels and salt of the earth outback folk'. Neale McShane The Birdsville police posting is one of the most remote in Australia. It can be extremely lonely and incredibly busy at the same time. Nothing might happen for weeks or months, then problems come crawling out of the woodwork. There aren't many who can handle the job for long - unless you're Senior Constable Neale McShane Who has single-handedly taken care of this beat the size of the UK for the past ten years. Recently retired from this 'hardship posting', Neale now has a stock of stories and adventures from his life and colourful times living with his family in Birdsville. In recounting these tales to his good friend and bestselling author Evan McHugh, Neale delights us with yarns that could only come from the furthest corner of our country. Here are stories of Desert dangers, dead bodies, droughts and floods, drinkers and dreamers - and, of course the infamous Birdsville Races, when the town's population swells from 50 to 500. So if Birdsville has remained just a little too far off the beaten track for you, sit back and let Birdsville come to you