"You have a powerful and clear voice that seems to connect. You also have such a strong sense of your land that comes through in every phrase you sing. There are many country singers out there but very few can capture the images of their space and convey it to the listeners. You are one of them!"— Alan Budd, Flying Horse Co., Alberta, Canada
Featured Songs
Boundary Rider's Daughter
One of Jeanette's most beloved songs, "Boundary Rider's Daughter" tells the story of a young woman's journey through hardship and redemption in rural Australia. Featured on ABC Saturday Night Country's Hottest Hits compilation.
Excerpt:
Weathered face in a weather board town
Sparkling eyes, occasional frown
Her friendliness never betrayed the sadness she'd borne
Wicker chair, neighbourly chat
Peace roses, marmalade cat
Cuppas on the front verandah for family and friends
She was the boundary rider's daughter
Hair of brown, eyes like inland water
On a summer's day
The warmth of her smile
Her head held high
The boundary rider's daughter
The Story Behind the Song
This song captures the resilience of Australian women in rural communities. It tells of love lost, single motherhood in the outback, and ultimate redemption through perseverance. The imagery draws from the small country towns and station life that defined earlier generations of Australians.
Messenger Bird
A Top 30 hit in the national Country Music Charts, "Messenger Bird" showcases Jeanette's gift for weaving natural imagery with emotional storytelling.
About This Song
The messenger bird—a symbol found in many cultures—becomes a metaphor for connection across vast distances in the Australian landscape. The song speaks to the loneliness of rural life while celebrating the bonds that endure despite separation.
Songs of the Land
Many of Jeanette's songs are directly inspired by the Australian landscape—the Mallee scrub, the vast skies, the red earth, and the eucalyptus-scented air of the outback.
Landscape Themes
- • Red earth and Mallee scrub
- • Evening mist and driving dust
- • Wide blue skies
- • Boundary fences and stock routes
Human Stories
- • Rural women's experiences
- • Indigenous heritage
- • Farming families
- • Bush community life
The Craft of Songwriting
Jeanette's songwriting process draws deeply from personal experience and observation. Living on a farm in the Northern Mallee provided endless inspiration—from the daily rhythms of farm life to the characters she encountered in small rural communities.
Her background in journalism sharpened her ability to observe details and tell stories with precision and emotional truth. Each song becomes a small documentary of Australian life, preserved in melody and verse.
As documented by APRA AMCOS, the Australasian performing rights organization, Jeanette's catalogue represents a significant contribution to Australian songwriting heritage.