Three CQU Press outback authors were honoured at a reception by the Honourable Ted Egan AO, Administrator of the Northern Territory, at Government House in Darwin on Friday February 24.

The three authors and their books were:.

Marie Mahood with 'The Last Dry Creek'.

Trish Lonsdale with 'Colonel Lionel Rose'.

Alexa Simmons and Darrell Lewis with 'Kajirri. The Bush Missus'.

CQU Chancellor Rennie Fritschy spoke of the many books published by CQU Press on the history and heritage of the Northern Territory, especially with regard to the founding of the cattle industry, and hoped that there would be more titles from CQU Press cementing the joint heritage of outback Queensland and the NT.

The Administrator Ted Egan spoke of his long years of friendship in the Northern Territory with all the authors stemming from his decades of work with indigenous peoples in Central Australia. He praised the outback authors for the authenticity of their portrayal of life and thanked CQU Press for helping to preserve the history of the Northern Territory.

Mr Egan, known all over Australia as an entertaining singer and performer, enacted the legend of the tracking of the great poisonous snake to great applause.

Professor Myers thanked family descendants of the legendary Colonel Rose for coming all the way from Nhulunbuy to attend the reception.

Photo above: Northern Territory Administrator the Honourable Ted Egan AO at his Government House reception with author Marie Mahood and CQU Press publisher, Professor David Myers.

Photo left: CQU Press star author Marie Mahood with her sister Helen West and niece and nephew at Government House Darwin.