Kerry Yates is a proud descendent of tough outback pioneers. Today, it’s hard to imagine Kerry’s Great Grandparents, William and Catherine Vale, progressively moving further and further west, finally pulling up stumps and settling in Barcaldine in 1886, when the Rockhampton to Barcaldine railway line was finally constructed. Growing up in Barcaldine, Central Queensland as a bush kid between 1959-1962, and periods before and after, he developed a love affair of the bush, the freedom, mateship, its conflicting beauty and harshness, the isolation, the smell of eucalypt, the motion of kangaroo in flight.
The outback did to Kerry what it does to many; it sucks you in and doesn’t easily let go. You may leave the outback, but the outback doesn’t leave you. You are never far away from Western Queensland. Following his Barcaldine primary school days, Kerry attended St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon for his senior years (Gr 9 – 12). To the astonishment of a number of his teachers, Kerry obtained a Business Degree and an Environmental Masters, enjoying an exciting career in banking, mining and (rail) transport. Kerry and his wife Lesley live in eclectic Paddington, Brisbane Qld, while family (3 kids and 7 grandkids) is their passion. With families living in Brisbane (Qld), Adelaide (SA) and Los Angeles (USA), it can be a long time between hugs.
The recent outbreak of Covid 19 has provided both the stimulation and isolation for Kerry to finally write his book, drawing on actual experiences from his extensive memory bank and post-it notes. Interests include travel, both local and international when possible, reading and bush walking, particularly within national parks – not just Australia’s. Having attended a boarding school which drew boys from far western Queensland, the bush telegraph works wonders in keeping the school’s Old Boys in close contact along the western line (Rockhampton/Emerald/Barcaldine/Longreach/Winton). The Black Stump is not far away.
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