CQU Press publisher Professor David Myers spent most of the Easter weekend driving to a book launch at Victoria Downs, a merino sheep stud between Morven and Augathella.

It is an 18-hour round trip from the coast, but is said by local inhabitants to be centrally located because it is that far again to the outer channel country in the far west.

David joined 250 members of the Lords and Roberts families and many neighbouring pastoralists in celebrating the family’s 100 years of tenure on Victoria Downs. Local Maranoa MP Bruce Scott, who represents Australia's second largest region in Federal Parliament, gave the speech launching the book, lauding the tremendous achievements of the owners of Victoria Downs in helping to develop Australia’s merino sheep industry.

He invited all 250 guests to join him in toasting the grit and determination of the family holding on to their property through numerous droughts, the great depression, a few recessions, and severe challenges from the banks.

Owner manager Will Roberts said although they were now in their 3rd year of drought, they were confident that improvements on their turkey’s nests and 300-foot deep wells and fencing had them all ready for the day that rain fell again and the sea of Mitchell grass waved once more over the plains.

Professor Myers invited all guests to become much treasured members of Old Silvertail’s Outback Book Club with special offers of books for birthdays and for Christmas. Guests bought over 150 books on the day, all signed by author and historian Mary Roberts.

Author Mary Roberts explained that the book chronologically traces the development of Victoria Downs with each chapter representing a decade and each chapter listing rainfall, economic background and the challenges that each generation has faced in surviving on the land. It also tells stories about the weddings that have been held over the years on the property, the stories about the homestead twice being burned down, and the anecdote about the cook who ‘fixed’ the barrel of rum and had to be confined to her room for one of the weddings.

All participants brought plates of food and eskies and the party went from 10am to 9pm.

Photo above: Author of the CQU Press title, 'Victoria Downs', Mary Roberts with her daughter and property manager Nada.

Photo left: MP for Maranoa, Bruce Scott, (middle) with author Mary Roberts (right) and Jenny who won the best hat award (left).