Achievement - Joyce Cowen Lange

Of the many girls who worked on dairy farms throughout 1930-1950 and who could not fulfill their aspirations, some left the farms, but many had to stay. The Second World War was taking so many of their brothers far away to keep the enemy at bay.

Those who escaped the daily grind of the dairy worked in the local towns as waitresses, sales-girls, or in the telephone exchange. Some studied music, dress and pattern making. Some though continued their education at the local high school - they were the lucky ones. They were able to work as bank assistants, clerks, book-keepers and receptionists.

In this short story, set in the mid 20th Century in rural north-eastern NSW, Janine longed to leave the 'farm girl' image, and its expectations of marriage and employment, behind her. It means some tough choices for her but love has a strange way of bouncing back.