Elizabeth Kempster - Memoirs of a Jersey Girl

Perhaps one of the main reasons I love the country that raised me is the rich diversity of people attracted to its vast and challenging open spaces and the characters spawned from the mix.

All too often we cross paths with these characters in the most unlikely of places. Their intriguing pasts excite us with stories stretching, most often, from across the oceans to different worlds. This story provides an exotic beginning in a small far away island that would sit comfortably in most fairy tales.

Elizabeth Kempster, being a close friend of my mother, is the embodiment of an enduring character the pioneering outback mother, pilot and entrepreneur. A victorious battler of this challenging land.

Ian had told me that he always wanted to go to Australia, so a few days after we were married we flew to Sydney I did not think it would be a lifelong change.

This book brings to life an engaging tale of a family taking on the challenges of a growing Australia. Elizabeths life has embedded itself as part of the rich mosaic of colourful characters giving this country its soul.

A thoroughly engaging read.

Rob Katter, MP, State Member For Traeger

In every generation there are people who live extraordinary lives and Elizabeth Kempster is certainly one of those whose life has not been ordinary. Born in the immediate aftermath on World War II on the island of Jersey, her childhood was idyllic, and she could have chosen to live on that pleasant and beautiful island, which still means so much to her. But after marrying her childhood sweetheart in 1968, they moved to Australia and the adventure begun. A honeymoon spent in a baby-blue Landrover crossing Australia, they eventually ended up in rural Western Australia, raising a family of four boys.

However, it was not to a fairy-tale with her husband turning to grog, the marriage collapsed and Elizabeth had to make her own way in life. Tragedies, trials and hardships followed: her son Grant was badly burnt in an accident at the age of eight; her marriage could not be saved; and bankruptcy. For Elizabeth, as for many of us, life is not a simple series of upward advances. But fortunately life is more than just the sum of successes and failures. The life well-lived is not one of success, but one of love.

In her latter years, Elizabeth has found her way to Charters Towers a long way from her home in Jersey, which still clearly means so much to Elizabeth. But home is also to be found in Charters Towers, for home is not just a physical location. With her sons grown up, with grandchildren, and with friends: home is where love is and in that love is found joy. I commend this book to you: a story of faith and of love. If you are looking for a book about success and advancement in life, this is not it. This is not some sort of triumphant recounting of an easy life. But it is the story of a woman who has true achievements and blessings: a strong sense of place, of family and of love. Enjoy the Memoirs of Jersey Girl.

The Right Revd Dr Keith Joseph

Bishop of North Queensland

Memoirs of a Jersey Girl provides an amazing account of a life lived to the full, from a childhood in Nazioccupied Jersey to raising a family with the barest of home essentials deep in the Australian outback, through bankruptcy, tragedy and joy; adventures as a competition pilot and more. It is both touching and inspiring, and themes of family, determination, love and commitment shine through every chapter. A recommended read for anyone who is intrigued by the human story.

Squadron Leader Justin Paines, RAF Rtd.,

Test Pilot

In Memoirs of a Jersey Girl, Elizabeth Kempster has produced a very inspiring family history passing on her strong values of love, integrity and honesty without specifically dwelling on those values but, rather, by living them throughout the ups and downs of her often very challenging life. Her resilience in the face of adversity is supported by a subtle sense of humour and by travel in a world beyond her own doorstep which excites her sense of adventure. Im sure this book will be highly valued by family in years to come. Thank you Elizabeth for sharing your journey with other readers. Your story has been of particular interest to me as I have historical family ties to Jersey and have been born and bred in an Australian farming family.

Jenni Greenham, author of A Cloudy Path

Published in Australia by Sid Harta Books & Print Pty Ltd,
ABN: 34632585293
23 Stirling Crescent, Glen Waverley, Victoria 3150 Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9560 9920, Facsimile: +61 3 9545 1742
E-mail:

First published in Australia 2021
This edition published 2021
Copyright Elizabeth Kempster 2021
Cover design, typesetting: WorkingType (www.workingtype.com.au)

The right of Elizabeth Kempster to be identified as the
Author of the Work has been asserted in accordance with the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Kempster, Elizabeth
Memoirs of a Jersey Girl
ISBN: 978-1-925707-50-2
pp290

Elizabeth Kempster hails from the island of Jersey, in the Channel Islands. She comes from generations of farmers and the land is in her blood. After her marriage Elizabeth emigrated to Australia, travelled up the east coast and worked at Fort Constantine, Cloncurry. She and her husband made their way over to Western Australia where they settled on a farm in Boyup Brook, south of Perth. Due to unforeseen circumstances they moved up to the north-east of the state and lived on sheep and cattle stations in Western Australia for many years, where they raised a family of four boys. Elizabeth re-settled with her sons in Queensland in the 1980s and now calls Charters Towers her home. She was inspired to write this memoir to preserve her family history for succeeding generations, in particular her grandchildren, as family connections tend to fade with time. She hopes they will take pride in their heritage, as she does in hers.

For my family, in particular my grandchildren,
Harrison, Thomas, Claire, Lillian, Patrick and Joni.

To Chloe, who taught me how to tackle the daunting task of responding to the editors suggestions on my computer.

To Kylie, who showed me how to use control c and control v.

To Bronwin Dargaville, my editor, who was meticulous in putting my ramblings in the correct order and polishing my writing.

To Luke Harris, my design editor, for putting together a great book cover and layout.

To Kerry B. Collison, who took on my story and published it.

To Zak, Warren, Grant and Adrian who gave me the resolve to keep going.

Finally, to my grandchildren for whom the story was told.

T his is the captivating story of a young woman, originally from the tiny island of Jersey in the English Channel, and her Adonis, as they emigrate to Australia to follow their romantic dream. But disappointment awaits them and their farming plans are dashed.

Facing lifes many obstacles, first as a couple then as a single mother of four sons, Elizabeth threw herself into every challenge whether it was helping to run pastoral stations many times larger than her native island, winning competitions in horse riding, becoming a proficient pilot or, later, achieving success in business ventures in her own right.