In 1980 she retired from her position as Fellow of Australian Literature at Macquarie University to devote herself to her writing. In 1989 the University of Queensland awarded her an honourary doctorate of letters. She now lives on the south coast of New South Wales Drylands , shortlisted for this year's Miles Franklin Award, has also been shortlisted for the 2000 New South Wales State Literary Award and the 2000 South Australia Festival Award for Literature. Loneliness is almost a religion, and still everyone knows your business. The town is being outmanoeuvred by drought and begins to empty, pouring itself out like water into sand.
Small minds shrink even smaller in the vastness of the land.
And all of them are shadowed by violence of some sort - these people whose only victory over the town is in leaving it. The Age Company Ltd 2000. Any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.