AustLit

'The first written version of the story was hand bound with original watercolour and ink drawings by Penny Osterhaus. She gave this book to Ray Page in the late 1980s and since then many have delighted in the amazing true story of 'Sandy the Cow' and the long journey she made back to her Jamberoo Mountain home after being sold to a farmer. Penny recalls her early meetings with Ray:

" I first met Ray when the road was still more logging trail than highway. Making our way down the mountain in the pouring rains of '83 and '84, soaked in our flapping Mini-Moke, we often stopped to talk with her as we contemplated the rutted track ahead. I quickly sensed a kindred soul and soon we were sharing our insights and discoveries. She told me the story of Sandy her cow, along with other marvellous stories of early days on Jamberoo Mountain, and when 'shed life' started to afford a little space I put Sandy to paper in an effort to capture some of the mood of that precious time. I can see Ray before me now, her steady gaze and measured approach to life quite inspirational. We are lucky to meet one or two such persons in our lifetime. A large crowd attended the launch event on 2 November, 2008 at Ben Ricketts in Jamberoo with a memorable book reading by actor Jack Thompson. Penny has generously agreed to donate the profits of the first print run of 320 copies to Ben Ricketts Environmental Preserve in memory of Ray Page" (www.benricketts.org.au sighted 03/03/2009)