my story

Lady Sarah Ashley, the leading female character of this movie, is a tall English woman with impeccable dress sense and politeness. She has short blonde hair smoothly tucked behind her ears, big azure eyes, tall nose and a high cheekbone. She is considered a beauty as she makes heads turn when she arrives at a ball one night. Even the first dance with Lady Ashley that night is being auctioned off at 500 pounds.


Lady Sarah Ashley is an epitome of bravery. As an English aristocrat who has never ventured out beyond her own territory, she is brave enough to fly to Australia to meet up with her husband, Maitland Ashley despite his futile efforts of stopping her. Upon reaching Faraway Downs, Lady Ashley finds her husband dead. She is ineffably sad, yet she remains a strong woman.

When she finds out from Nullah that Fletcher is the main culprit who is stealing their cattle and driving them across to Carney’s land, she fires Fletcher and his men without further hesitation. She is brave enough to do so, knowing very well that her act will cost the Drive the very next day and Fletcher might seek revenge. To her, Fletcher is a two-faced person who has betrayed her husband all this while and she is willing to bear the consequences of losing Fletcher. Not only is Lady Ashley bold enough to dismiss Fletcher, her courage is clearly depicted when she fearlessly takes up the responsibility of managing Faraway Downs after deciding not to sell it to King Carney. Even as a female, she is not at all afraid of the prospects of handling a cattle station that big a size. In fact, Lady Ashley insists on assisting Drover to drive her 1500 cattle to the dock to sell despite knowing that the Drive will not be an easy ride for sure, what more for a lady like her.

On another note, Lady Ashley is brave because she dares to reach out to Nullah, the half cast boy living at her cattle station, when everyone else is trying to take him away. She is bold enough to defy social norms at that time and provide a half cast with love and care until she somewhat becomes attached to him. When she senses something amiss with Nullah’s sudden disappearance, she goes all the way out to find him, not knowing that the boy has been sent to Mission Island. As if possessing a mother’s intuition, she is adamant that the boy has not just gone for a walkabout as explained by Drover, but rather is in danger. Lady Ashley vows to get Nullah back no matter what it takes.

It is interesting to note that Lady Ashley who is not connected to Nullah in any way trying her utmost to protect him. At a ball one night, she is seen convincing the doctor who runs the mission to stop taking children away from mothers. She does not care even when the women scowl at her accusations because she feels the pain as a mother to Nullah herself. Her main concern when King Carney offers to buy Faraway Downs is the people who live there. This shows that she is brave enough to care for the aborigines when others are only taking advantage of them. Lady Ashley is all a picture of happiness when she finally sees Nullah and Drover back safely.

All in all, Lady Ashley’s character portrays a woman of steel brave enough to follow her heart to do what is right at the right time. She does not allow her courage to ebb even at wavering times like when her dead husband left her with a cattle station entangled in a string of conflicts. She stands up for what she is worth for and is not afraid of those who try to take advantage of her possession. She cares deeply and affectionately for the aboriginal children, especially Nullah and shows no fear in protecting him. In the end, Lady Ashley finds love again and starts a new life in her new-found home, Australia.