When he’d finished playing, a solemn silence fell as Brian and the gravediggers stared down into that three-quarter-filled hole. ‘I must apologise,’ Brian said to the two men, ‘this’s the first time I’ve played at a pauper’s funeral, and I’m a bit emotional.’

‘Well,’ said one of the diggers, sniffling back the tears, ‘it’s the first time we’ve ever had a piper play at one of our septic tank installations.’

The Australian Outback can be harsh, but it’s the kind of place where you either learn to laugh off your troubles or fold under the pressure.

Bill ‘Swampy’ Marsh has a deep affection and respect for people living in the Australian Bush, and he’s spent more than 20 years travelling to every corner of our wide brown land, talking to people from all walks of life, collecting their memories and stories.

Great Australian Outback Yarns captures the funniest tales from Swampy’s many titles in one volume. The colourful characters in these pages are full of generosity, humour and a larrikin Aussie spirit. These true stories of life in remote and regional Australia from Australia’s master storyteller will leave you grinning from ear to ear.