You might’ve spotted the poem Heart of the Burdekin in last week’s issue—and, like us in the office, found yourself thinking, “Hang on, this is really good.”
The excellent news is that there’s much more where it came from.
Poet and veteran Kathryn Carlisle has released her debut collection, Feathers and Flame: Poetry of Australian Landscapes and Personal Transformation. An updated version of that poem—now titled Burdekin Snow—features proudly on page three.
“I wrote Burdekin Snow not just about the land, but the people,” Carlisle said. “My spouse, Sharon, of the Menso family, has deep ties to the region—multi-generational cane farmers who welcomed me as one of their own. There’s something special in that.”
Carlisle, who served nearly four decades in the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force, channels her own journey of healing into the collection, blending rich reflections on grief, growth and personal renewal with vivid depictions of Australian and international environments—from desert to coastline, farmland to bush.
She says the Burdekin sits comfortably in that broader landscape of resilience and connection: “It reminded me of where I grew up—of the kind of land and community that stays with you.”
Published by Tellwell Talent, Feathers and Flame isn’t just a poetry collection but a deeply personal meditation on transformation built upon experiences of service, human connection, and time spent immersed in nature.
And within that broader message lies the Burdekin spirit—rooted in land, family and legacy—and proof that no one is impervious to the uniquely charming grip of this place.
Grab your copy here: https://amazon.com/dp/0228811716
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