In 1978 the Northern Territory has begun to self-govern. Cyclone Tracy is a recent memory and telephones not yet a fixture on the cattle stations dominating the rugged outback. Life is hard and people are isolated. But they find ways to connect. Sybil is the matriarch of Fairvale Station, run by her husband, Joe. With her oldest friend, Rita, now living in Alice Springs and working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and son Ben's English wife, Kate finding it difficult to adjust to life at Fairvale, Sybil devises a way to give them all companionship: she forms a book club. Mother-of-three Sallyanne, from the dusty town of Katherine joins them and completing the group is Della, a Texas horsewoman. The five are united by one need - to overcome the vast distances of AUstralia's Top End with friendship, tears, books, laughter and love.