Released from the Wild, which is authored by Thurgoona-based Craig Dent and the community of Benambra, is a journey through time across the remote highlands.

It explores the residents’ connection to water through photography, poetry and conversations.

North East CMA project officer Rebecca Damm called on anyone in the region to celebrate the book’s launch, as this will also be an opportunity to talk with contributors.

John Walker will MC the launch, which will be held at Benambra’s town hall and will have entertainment including a visual presentation, whip cracking, readings from the text and live music. 

Highlights from the book include watching platypus and water rats while fishing on the morass, the size of the morass' tiger snakes – which are the subject of local mythology – and the frequent dry lakebed of Lake Omeo, which is better known now for landing planes than for the sailing regattas of the past.

Mr Dent was giddy with excitement for the launch.

“The narrative is from the perspective of a poet who has wandered from the wilderness of the mountains into the blue-eyed wonderland of Lake Omeo and Lake King, astride Benambra town,” he said.

“The theme of the book moves through time and place to create a sense of being there, the first lone black swan on a fence post listening to people speak.

“The journey is delivered to a bright possible future of youthful dreams and the resilience of a community who, over decades, have resisted fierce floods and ferocious fires.

“Water is a wellspring of life and their true source of hope.”

It was the Benambra community’s resilience which struck Mr Dent as an author.

“Their ability to overcome fire and flood, the things that they’ve been through,” he said.

“You go there and connect with the people and stand by the fire in the Benambra hotel with them. 

“In many ways, it’s real Australia. You go to Melbourne and there’s people buzzing around doing this and that. But when you go to somewhere like Benambra, it’s inspiring.”

In a creative career spanning more than 25 years, Mr Dent has been awarded a writer's project grant from the Literature Board of the Australia Council for the Arts, and won a Drum Media creative writing prize which took him on safari to Africa.

To RSVP for the book launch at Benambra by October 12, call Ms Damm on 0429 785 766.