This book is about a group of thirty-seven women who made a significant contribution to the Mackay district from the 1860s to 2023. Their stories reflect the changing role of women in Australia from early settlement days to the present. These women came from all walks of life to make a mark on Mackay, Queensland and surrounding districts. The vocations of these women varied, from artists, nurses, a doctor, a midwife, missionaries, musicians, an opera singer, hoteliers, farmers, graziers, socialites, domestic workers, community workers, and a student. Some women were less successful than others in their life experiences when either health issues, misfortune, or even violence ended their days.

Kaaren Sephton is an independent researcher who enjoys writing collective biographies. Her focus is on tropical North Queensland, specifically the Mackay district where she grew up. This is her second group biography; the first was included in her doctoral thesis about the sugar industry in Mackay, published in 2020 as At the Crossroads: Biographies of Mia Mia. Kaaren first studied at the University of Ballarat as an undergraduate, completing a BA and a master’s in education by 2004. She then studied at The Australian National University (ANU) where she graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy. She has been a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Heritage and Museum Studies, ANU.