Published in Overland Issue The Oodgeroo Noonuccal Poetry Prize · Uncategorized Highly recommended: Missing home Kristine Ellis Far from her country, her home. Missing the smell of the gum tree. The sound of the cattle truck and the distinct cow smell That lingers long after it passes through town. None of her mob here in the tropics. Mary’s slight frame is changing, She is belly up, too swollen to leave. Even if Mary wanted to. Frank is fifteen years older. He likes his woman to know her place. Mary’s fierce craving for love Allow her to forget Frank’s beatings. They make their home in the tropics, close to many Ilan people. Frank feels at ease with his mob and his woman Smoking and charging on. Mary and Frank sleep in his beat up Holden Unable to rent them a house Mary didn’t really mind. She could be alone and enjoy time away From the biggest mob and Many jarjums eager for her attention. Sissy Anna is always watching. She knows Frank beats Mary. Mary is too big now and slow. Struggling with the heat. Not wanting to sleep in the Holden. Unable to hide her lonely face and tired eyes. Sissy Anna reaches out. Her invite for Mary and bub to live with her Leaves Mary so grateful. The first months of Mary’s new bub are a happy time. Frank finds joy in this new baby. Sissy Anna is happy too for her friend. But Frank’s demons erupt again. Soon Mary fiercely craves The smell of the gum tree and Longs to hear the sound of The cattle truck drive through town. Image: ‘Imperial ashtray’ / flickr Kristine Ellis Kristine Ellis is connected to the Wakka Wakka people and to Kiriri (Hammond Island, Torres Strait). She currently works in Indigenous education and has a keen desire to create and express herself through writing. She enjoys being with family and friends, as well as theatre, festivals and food. More by Kristine Ellis › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays 1 6 November 2026 · Friday Fiction Headland Harry Goddard He must have still been sore. I could tell from the winces he made as he scooted down the trail. Some unspoken agreement of not hitting other people’s children — and the circumstances of me not being that type of kid — spared me from the same punishment. I was taken to my parents who agreed I would have to work off the damages, and I must have mowed the lawn once, or cleaned the family car. 4 November 2026 · Film MIFF, Minotaur and the politics of maternal reception Alicia Byrnes Maternal labour is, in the terms I’ve set out here, not labour at all. Noisy, unfocused, mobile, perhaps even sleepy — it is an affront to arthouse film viewing and therefore unserious.
