Jack could have argued that Darwin had plenty of reminders after being totally flattened by a series of early morning Japanese air raids, but knew that was just being petty. He had to agree that England had lost her sparkle, and that everywhere you looked there was the dreary evidence of war.

He regarded the peaceful valley and sighed inwardly. It was clear that Rita and Peter had made up their minds – all they needed now was his blessing.

He glanced across at Peter who sat in silence, staring out at the view which Jack realised he wasn’t really seeing. It was the dusty red of the Outback, the isolated sheep and cattle stations, the bright blue of the Coral Sea and the palm-fringed beaches of white sand that were in his mind’s eye.

Jack could understand that the young man yearned for home and family and all the familiar things he’d been missing for so long. Yet, as the years passed in all that endless sunshine and bright colour, would his Rita feel the same way about England and start to pine for the gentler climate of home? Only time would tell.

Jack braced himself for the task ahead. He stood and put his hand on the younger man’s shoulder, feeling the solid muscle and strength of youth. ‘If you promise me faithfully to love and cherish my daughter to the end of her days, then I give my permission for you to marry and go to Australia.’

Peter got to his feet, his handsome face alight with joy. He grabbed Jack’s hand to shake it enthusiastically and almost lost his balance on the uneven ground. ‘You have my promise to love her forever,’ he said earnestly. ‘Oh, Jack, you have no idea how happy you’ve made me. I was so afraid you wouldn’t approve.’

Jack chuckled. ‘She’s over twenty-one, Peter, and didn’t really need my permission for anything.’

Peter’s expression became serious, the dark blue eyes holding Jack’s gaze. ‘Fair go, Jack, of course she did,’ he said. ‘Rita loves you dearly and understands how hard it must be to let her go after having her to yourself all those years.’ He squeezed Jack’s arm. ‘You’ve been a bonzer dad, Jack. I can only hope to be half as good when my turn comes.’

‘Let’s get all the arrangements sorted before we go that far,’ said Jack, shooting him a wry smile. ‘For now, I think we should go and tell Rita the news and then head for that country pub to celebrate over lunch.’ He grinned. ‘I don’t know about you, but all that talking has made me very thirsty.’

Peter’s smile lit up his face. ‘The beers are on me, Jack. I can’t have my future father-in-law going thirsty.’

‘Too bloody right,’ drawled Jack in an appalling imitation of Peter’s accent, which made them both laugh.