Mrs Underwood will be the guest speaker at the dinner this Friday night at the Deniliquin Golf Club.
Titled ‘An Evening with Terry Underwood’, the aim is to raise money for the local Country Education Fund committee to distribute to rural and regional youth for education purposes.
Edward River Region committee member Bruce Simpson said is the last 10 years, the annual dinner has helped the group to provide $310,000 to 216 local students.
‘‘Our local branch is run by a committed group of community volunteers all with one thing in common — a passion for ensuring young people know their community is supporting them and believes in their aspirations,’’ Mr Simpson said.
‘‘As an organisation that receives no federal or state government funding we rely on donations, raffles and grants from community, organisations, the Edward River Council, local businesses and the general public.
‘‘This allows us to provide financial support ranging from $500 to $3000 per student each year which helps our local young people buy things such as textbooks and laptops for university, or for students to purchase tools and equipment for apprentices and trainees.
‘‘We are delighted to have Terry join us for our special evening. Her autobiography inspires people from every walk of life and Terry is a great advocate for education, so she is the perfect person to address our event.’’
Mrs Underwood’s autobiography — In The Middle Of Nowhere — became an overnight best seller and an Australian Classic.
She followed this with her stunning photographic sequel Riveren: My Home Our Country, a breath taking collection of stories and photographs that capture the essence and colour of life on her beloved outback station.
Mrs Underwood started her journey by leaving the familiarity of the bright city lights to follow ‘‘her man to the back of beyond’’.
From the banks of a dry creek bed she and her late husband John built their cattle station ‘Riveren’, sprawling on the headwaters of the historic Victoria River.
From infancy their four children contributed to the development of their cattle station home situated 600 kilometres south west of Katherine.
Mrs Underwood taught the children herself, through correspondence lessons via Katherine School of the Air and said it was ‘‘probably the most challenging and important thing I have ever done’’.
Due to Mr Underwood’s health, the couple moved to Darwin in 2013, and they sold the station, but their children and their families remain involved in agriculture today.
Among them is their daughter Marie who, with her husband Chris Muldoon, came to live in Deniliquin four years ago.
Mrs Underwood said her address in Deniliquin this Friday will be dedicated to her late husband.
To purchase tickets to ‘An Evening with Terry Underwood’, drop into Fellows Bulk Transport office in Napier St.
For further information on the event, contact Bruce Simpson on 0429681317.
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