A New Day

Main Characters

Damon McCallister

Role: Protagonist
Date of Birth: 8 September 1969
Age at Opening of A New Day: 25
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 130 lbs.
Physical Condition: Thin, lean, all muscle and sinew rather than bulk.
Hair: Dark brown
Hair Texture: Straight, naturally tousled.
Eyes: Dark brown
Complexion: Pale from genetics more than lack of health.
Attitude Toward Life:
Life is precious, but uncertain. Damon believes it should be embraced wholeheartedly despite the risks and disappointments that inevitably accompany it. He refuses to become cynical simply because life can be painful.
Attitude Toward Death:
Death is neither to be sought nor denied. It gives life urgency and meaning. Damon fears leaving people behind more than dying himself.
Philosophy of Life:
Do the next right thing. Keep your word. Leave people better than you found them. Character is revealed far more by ordinary daily choices than by extraordinary moments.
Tobacco Use:
None.
Alcohol Use:
One day, he'll drink only one beer. Next day, he gets polluted at a party.
Other Drug Use:
Amphetamine addict.
Other Bad Habits:
Takes on more responsibility than he should. Keeps his own worries to himself. Has difficulty asking for help. Sometimes believes he must solve everyone else's problems before attending to his own.
Overriding Character Trait:
Dependability. Damon is the person others instinctively trust when things go wrong.
Surprising Contradiction:
Although outwardly calm, confident, and emotionally steady, Damon privately wrestles with persistent self-doubt. People see someone who seems certain of himself; Damon often wonders whether he is truly enough—for his family, for the people he loves, and for the life he hopes to build.

Alex Stark

Role: Steadfast Mentor
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 200
Physical condition: strong
Hair: graying
Hair texture: straight
Eyes: blue
Age: 62y 9m
Complexion: tanned
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life: everything works out, given time
Tobacco use: two packs a day
Alcohol use: moderate
Other drug use: n/a
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Simon Stark

Role:
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 170
Physical condition: slim but powerful
Hair: blond
Hair texture: straight
Eyes: hazel
Age: 27y 5m
Complexion:
Attitude toward life: every day's a battle
Attitude toward death: whatever
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use: two packs a day
Alcohol use: moderate (sometimes heavy)
Other drug use:
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Julie Stark

Role:
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 140
Physical condition:
Hair: salt and pepper
Hair texture: straight
Eyes:
Age: 62y 11m
Complexion:
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use:
Alcohol use:
Other drug use:
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Supporting Characters

Bob Stark

Role:
Height:
Weight:
Physical condition: trim and strong
Hair: dark
Hair texture: straight
Eyes: blue
Age: 22y 6m
Complexion:
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use: two packs a day
Alcohol use: moderate
Other drug use:
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Old Tom McTighe

Role:
Height:
Weight:
Physical condition:
Hair:
Hair texture:
Eyes:
Age: 69y 6m
Complexion:
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use: three packs a day
Alcohol use: moderate to heavy
Other drug use: occasional
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Sarah Stark

Role:
Height:
Weight:
Physical condition:
Hair:
Hair texture:
Eyes:
Age: 14y 9m
Complexion:
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use:
Alcohol use:
Other drug use:
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Jake Stark

Role:
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 175
Physical condition: strong
Hair: dark
Hair texture: wavy
Eyes: blue
Age: 29y 2m
Complexion:
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use: two packs a day
Alcohol use:
Other drug use:
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Cy Stark

Role:
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 170
Physical condition: fit and strong
Hair:
Hair texture:
Eyes:
Age: 20y 10m
Complexion:
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use:
Alcohol use:
Other drug use:
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Dek Badenhorst

Role:
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 185
Physical condition: pure muscle
Hair: light brown
Hair texture: wavy
Eyes: hazel
Age: 22y 9m
Complexion: tanned
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use: occasionally
Alcohol use: moderate
Other drug use: occasionally
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Terry Mayer M.D.

Role:
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 190
Physical condition: fit
Hair: grey
Hair texture: straight
Eyes: dark brown
Age: 61y 9m
Complexion:
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use:
Alcohol use:
Other drug use:
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Phil Stark

Role:
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 175
Physical condition: fit and strong
Hair:
Hair texture:
Eyes:
Age: 20y 10m
Complexion:
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use:
Alcohol use:
Other drug use:
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Jason Engel

Role:
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 180
Physical condition: stocky
Hair: dark
Hair texture: wavy
Eyes: blue
Age: 27y 1m
Complexion:
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use: two packs a day
Alcohol use: moderate
Other drug use:
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Haddon O'Connell

Role:
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 170
Physical condition: fit and strong
Hair: black
Hair texture: wavy
Eyes: brown
Age: 19y 1m
Complexion: olive
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use: n/a
Alcohol use: moderate
Other drug use: n/a
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Officer Joel Blum

Role:
Height:
Weight:
Physical condition:
Hair:
Hair texture:
Eyes:
Age: 48y 2m
Complexion:
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use:
Alcohol use:
Other drug use:
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Vic Zwiers

Role:
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 175
Physical condition: lithe and strong
Hair: dark brown
Hair texture: wavy
Eyes: blue
Age: 18y 1m
Complexion:
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use: two packs a day
Alcohol use: moderate
Other drug use:
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Sam Machuca

Role:
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 135
Physical condition: thin (surprisingly strong)
Hair: brown
Hair texture: wavy
Eyes: brown
Age: 20y 1m
Complexion: olive
Attitude toward life:
Attitude toward death:
Philosophy of life:
Tobacco use: two packs a day
Alcohol use:
Other drug use:
Other bad habits:
Overriding character trait:
Surprising contradiction:

Pete Stark

Narrative

Two (2) protagonists: Damon and Alex
→ both experience an arc, the defining feature of that role
→ each is the reflection to the other

60-Page Short Story

Research

OzFarmer (farming forum)

Notes

Alex always taps out his cigarettes three times.

During fire, Terry & Haddon are in lookout plane overhead.

Running away from your problems is a family trait: just as Damon has run away (into the haze of drugs; for days on and muling for Decker; into the outback, where he causes the fire), Alex ran away to Australia from the hurt and loss he's never processed from having lost his parents when so young.

final straw (for Julie at least) is the fire—Damon must return home—phone call to Ben

Simon: "Cy goes to t'other side of the country, and he's your golden boy. I move one station over, and it's the end of the world. Bob gets a sheila pregnant at fifteen, and you can't wait to be 'Poppy'. I'm an established adult with a home and an income, I get Angie pregnant, and I never hear the end of it."

Julie argues Damon, proving to be such a recalcitrant & disruptive intrusion into their family (they do have little Peter to think about), must return home—Alex is adamant he remain:
Julie: "Alex, saving Damon isn't going to rescue the relationship you've let derail with your son."

Tension at climax: will Simon save Damon?
→ Simon: "You got yerself a replacement son. Why don't you just go with him and leave me the bloody 'ell alone?!"

set up a situation where Alex takes his correct role in Damon's life as his uncle, not his father → Alex relents finally and agrees Damon can return home with his father's permission → Damon calls Ben, who couldn't care less if Damon stays or comes home (Ben: "We're getting a divorce—you're her problem now. Get her permission.")

Notes concerning “A New Day”:

as owner of the Stark Haven sheep station, Alex is known as a "grazier" (equivalent to North Am. term "rancher")
weave in "Vault of Heaven"? Midpoint, maybe?
blowflies = “blowies” (ubiquitous)
bushfires: fire breaks (would be evident all over Stark Haven); also, fire is set deliberately to burn away old growth to make room for the new grass
radio portion of School of the Air lasts only about a half hour; rest of the time spent schooling is done by the parent (need to think through more carefully the set up they have for schooling—radio room seems a little small as described right now)
- School of Isolated and Distance Education
How many square miles is 602,000 acres? 943.75
What crops are they going to be growing in such arid Outback area?
change the Saturday night scene from a night on the town to a three-or-four-times-a-year “county fair” sort of Outback affair; keep the aspect of the scene where Damon gets drunk and goes off with Amanda; think about changing the scene to such an extent that we abandon Alex not not coming with them and even Simon not shearing his flock
Should Alex have more jackeroos? Is the number depicted realistic? Does he have any jilleroos?
Bradshaw Station (Northern Territory) = 4,000 square miles, with a cattle herd of 10,000 head
maybe Alex has a cattle herd, as well as sheep
consider Alex owning and using helicopter(s) on the station
also, consider Alex using bullcatchers (remember, very few stations do any bullcatching any longer; also, seems this method would be appropriate only for large animals, such as cattle); bullcatchers are used during the “feral muster”
the mail plane comes to the extremely isolated homesteads only once a week and may be the homestead’s only contact with the outside world for weeks on end
Christmas is a day off, one of the few during the year
need to beef up the portrayal of the use and care of the horses; horses would be a much larger part of the operation of Stark Haven than currently depicted
“ringers” = seasonal help (7-month “muster” season begins in April)
“ringers”, “jackeroos”, “jilleroos”, “stockmen”
a drover trains his men as he would brash, young colts
McBean arrived at Bradshaw in the early ‘50's, where he was one of the few whites who learned from the Aboriginal stockmen—he describes it as an “adventure”
Fiona described how her nearest friends are up to fifty kilometers away
after the cattle are mustered, they are inoculated, branded, dehorned and castrated
the stock camp is hours away from the main homestead
a typical day at the stock camp begins at 6a.m. with breakfast and ends at sundown
Joyce, an Aboriginal, is the camp cook (“worth her weight in gold”) and prepares three meals a day; when the men are working, she also prepares a morning and an afternoon smoko; says how she looks out for them, like a mother almost, while at the camp, and they look out for her, in town and places like that
while at the stock camp, the men work every day for five to six weeks, then take a number of days off in a stretch
rodeos are very popular; events such as a rodeo or a regional fair are a time to come together, be with friends and let the hair down; such events happen only three or four times a year
November speaks the end of the muster season
northern sections of The Northern Territory and Queensland nicknamed “The Top End”
“barras”, short for barramundi
“motor car”

Questions to be answered

1) Are helicopters appropriate for sheep droving?
2) Would Alex own a plane?
3) How common is the practice of isolated families sending children away to boarding schools?
4) Is there a difference between “jackeroos” and “ringers”? How many of each would Alex have?

Gestalt Story Builder

GSB #1

GSB #2