Shirley Burgess

It's a Long Way to Aunty May Shirley Burgess

It's a Long Way to Aunty May is the story of three siblings: Matt, fifteen years of age, Nettie, twelve and Toby, nearly ten. The story opens when they're given the news that their parents have been killed in a car accident; they are now orphaned and at the mercy of the courts. Facing the prospect of being split up and placed into foster homes, the children's luck appears to change when they find some foster parents who own a country farm with all sorts of animals. The children are relieved they can stay together and a farm in Victoria sounds like fun. But as far as their new foster parents are concerned, the children are there to work, not play. After many months of physical and mental abuse, Matt, Nettie and Toby decide to escape and make their way to their only relative, Aunty May, in New South Wales. But it's a long way to Aunty May - 1200 kilometres in fact! Nevertheless, with little money and plenty of courage, instead of cycling to school one morning they begin the long journey towards potential freedom - and the next stage of their lives.