A LOVE of the Queensland outback and a passion for literature led Melburnian-come-Kumbia cattle producer Alice Greenup to publish her first book, a memoir of her life so far.
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Educating Alice maps her life in a beautifully crafted, easy-to-read tone, celebrating the enduring romance between her and now husband Rick, to the day that changed her life forever when she suffered major injuries after being bucked from her saddle in remote bushland.
Alice says it was only after being recognised as an inspiring rural woman by the Australian Women’s Weekly in 2006 that she considered writing her own story.
“I definitely had it down as one of the first things I wanted to do eventually, but I always thought my first book would be my father’s memoirs and his recollection of Maralinga.
“A publisher at Harper Collins saw an article and that prompted them to call me and ask if I’d write something,” Alice said.
“It was a very serendipitous time in my life because my agent called to talk to me about the same thing and I took that as a giant cosmic tap on the shoulder.
“I started the book in 2007 and I had a leather-bound notebook which I carted everywhere with me.
“Any time I had a memory, I’d make sure I wrote it down and that happened for about a year.”
Alice said the biggest struggle was being brave enough to stop worrying about everybody and begin to focus on her own story.
“My first two drafts of the book weren’t good because I was trying to write what I thought other people wanted me to or what my publisher and agent wanted – which, at the time, were different things – and it wasn’t until after the second draft when I realised I had to stop worrying about what other people thought.”
In her fourth year of writing and rewriting, Alice produced a third draft, which then became the final copy.
“I didn’t shut myself away from the kids like I had with the first draft and I stopped worrying about the word count.
“There was a better energy about it and I was much more in the right head space I needed to be in.”
In 2011, Alice’s final version struck all the right chords with her publisher and she was given the 'thumbs up’.
With the book officially launching onto shelves last week, Alice has been blown away by the response.
“It’s crazy to think that it’s on the best-seller list and they've already ordered a reprint.
“Everyone should write their own story – whether they pursue publishing it or not,” Alice said, adding that everyone should write down their memories.
At its core, Educating Alice is certainly a love story, but it also encompasses one woman’s journey and how Alice has adapted and thrived in a completely alien way of life.
“It was a massive ‘ahh’ moment when I first met Rick. He tipped his hat and I completely lost it,” Alice said, adding she was not only instantly attracted to the third-generation cattleman, but the ‘outback’ way of life.
“We are so blessed to live in this community and we’re madly in love with the cattle and lifestyle.”
Today, Alice and Rick Greenup run one of Australia’s largest seedstock operations, Greenup Eidsvold Station Santa Gertrudis, near Kumbia, and have three children, Ruby (8), James (6) and Rory (4).
“We run about 6000 head of cattle on our 28,000-acre property near Kingaroy, and also have property near Eidsvold which was hit pretty hard by the recent floods, so we’re still in recovery mode.
“When my son goes out mustering with his dad, that’s when you know it’s all worth it and this is why we continue to do what we do – we can see a positive future for the industry.”
Her survival of her near-death experience, and the long road back to health, is a testimony to the strength and determination of Alice Greenup and her embodiment of the true Australian spirit.
