Robin Miller (5)

It seems somewhat futile to review a book which is so little known within LibraryThing. On the other hand, this is an extraordinary story of determination and courage. Robin Miller was a highly qualified nurse and pilot in the 1970's. One of her first jobs was inoculating over 30,000 people against polio, flying solo into remote communities in Western Australia, a State three and a half times larger than Texas. And that was just the start of a career involving incredible dedication and caring.

Because landing on dirt airstrips lit by car headlights, or delivering babies while flying wasn't (apparently) sufficiently stimulating, she repeatedly volunteered to fly light aircraft from both Europe and the US to Australia. Her detailed accounts of these journeys make few concessions to those that don't know their elevators from their flaps, but if you know a little (or a prepared to learn a little) about flying this book is a treasure.

Highly recommended, and particularly for those interested in flying or in the 'real' outback of Australia, noting that things aren't much different these days. It's also the perfect book for armchair adventurers, and for any young person with dreams. Two words of caution though... This book is almost certainly only available from it's original print run, and it's best read without knowing anything more about Robin Miller. You should save that until after you have read this book, and then move heaven and earth to find a copy of her next book, 'Sugarbird Lady'.… (mais)