A Drift of 'Derwent Ducks' is a study of the 200 female Irish convicts who were transported to Van Diemen's Land from Ireland in 1849 on the Australasia.  These women had suffered through the Irish famine yet many of them made a new life for themselves in Van Diemen's Land, most marrying and settling down to raise families.

The study focuses on their lives and the connections between the women from their time in Ireland through to their deaths.  The book, to be published in late November 2005, will be a valuable reference and resource for historians, genealogists and family historians. 

The book is fully indexed and contains 16 pages of illustrations.  It retails for $48 through selected bookstores or $43 (including postage within Australia) direct from the author.  The book comes with an accompanying CD containing biographies of the 200 Australasia convicts (example).

Since its launch on 29 November 2005, the A Drift of 'Derwent Ducks' has been selling extremely well and has received many positive comments and reviews.  The book cover provides reviews from Professor Lucy Frost and Dr Alison Alexander.

Unfortunately, since publication a small number of errors have come to light—errata.

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It is a rare book indeed that is capable of bridging both scholarly interest and general reader appeal.  A Drift of Derwent Ducks is such a book ... A Drift of Derwent Ducks is likely to become a standard work of reference but also be well read for itself.  This substantial book is simply a fascinating read ... A Drift of Derwent Ducks is likely to become a standard work of reference but also be well read for itself.  (Christopher Bantick, Sunday Tasmanian (Mercury))

It is probably true that history makes sense only when it is anchored to the lives of individuals.  This premise underpins this very detailed account ... The result ... is a wonderful image of convict life.  It goes a long way to challenge the accepted orthodoxy of female convicts as wild, promiscuous, criminal women.  (Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald)

Just a thank you for your book a drift of DERWENT DUCKS.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Hobart 1800s.  What a marvellous job you have completed with this read.  Enjoyed it so much I am on to my second reading.  (Kerry)

I read your book A Drift of Derwent Ducks from cover to cover and it is a fantastic achievement.  I certainly appreciate the depth of your research and the time taken to produce this book.  You are to be congratulated.  Thank you, and well done.  It certainly made me view my Australasia convict, Julia Ahern, as part of the whole colonial community at the time, and put a lot of things in perspective for me.  (Pat)

Trudy, I wish to thank you for your attention on the delivery of A Drift of "Derwent Ducks".  I cannot thank you enough, it is an amazing book.  All I can say is thank you. (Kevin)

The book was FANTASTIC ... I read it in three days which is a record for me ... it was written in a very interesting and easy manner and a great lesson in history.  (Frances)

Congratulations.  Book is just Ducky.  I have been going to email you since receiving your book in the mail, but I have been so busy reading.  What a great result from all your research.  The ladies from the Australasia would be so proud once they got over the shock of someone knowing so much about them.  I am finding it really interesting and even if there wasn't a possible relative I would still find it interesting and helpful in understanding the hardships these women went through.  Great indexes, very well put together.  (Lynne)

Congratulations on such a wonderful book and CD!!!!  You certainly have put together wonderful history in an interesting way.  I think it's wonderful and quite the best book about convicts that I've read.  (Joyce)

I am reading the book slowly and reading out loud to my family, enjoying every page.  (Julie)

The book is fantastic.  (Paul)

Many thanks Trudy.  I am really enjoying reading the book and congratulations are certainly due to you.  You have certainly done mountains of research to achieve such detail as you have provided in an easy to read format.  (Audrey)

You have done wonderful work writing these fascinating stories on so many people ... your book opens up the facts to ordinary people about our ancestors.  (Gwen)

Congratulations to Dr Trudy Cowley on what is and will be the quintessential reference to the arrival of 200 female convicts per "Australasia" in 1849.  Ambitious in scope and executed with commanding authority that can only come from reference to the staggering number of resources used.  The bibliography itself is a major resource and I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone ...  (Chris)

Trudy, you have done a wonderful job, I agree this is the quintessential reference for links not only to "Australasia" convicts.  (Polly)

What a wonderful work of love and dedication, so meticulously researched.  I enjoyed the social and economic history of Ireland that led the ladies to work hard in their endeavours to book a passage to Tasmania, and how they adapted down under ...  (Ian)

Introduction – background information on Ireland, the great famine, transportation, Van Diemen's Land and the probation system.

Chapter 1:  The Crimes – stories and statistics about the crimes of the Australasia convicts, including information on their previous, transportation and colonial offences.

Chapter 2:  The Voyage – a description of the voyage of the Australasia from Dublin to Hobart, based on the journal of the Surgeon Superintendent, Alexander Kilroy.

Chapter 3:  The Employers – information on the masters and mistresses to whom the women were in service upon arrival in Van Diemen's Land, with a focus on interconnections and stories of the women in service

Chapter 4:  The Institutions – information on the institutions which housed the female convicts in Ireland and Van Diemen’s Land and stories of the women's lives in these institutions, including Grangegorman Depot; the Anson probation station; Brickfields Hiring Depot; Cascades, Launceston and Ross female factories; gaols; nurseries; the Queen's Orphanage; New Norfolk Insane Asylum and pauper establishments.

Chapter 5:  The Families – information and stories on the families the women left behind in Ireland and the families they established in Van Diemen's Land, with a focus on interconnections and marriage under sentence.

Chapter 6:  The Convicts – stories and statistics about the women, including information on age, height, religion, literacy, native place, trade, friendships, freedom and death.

Chapter 7:  The Facts – a chronology of each of the women’s lives, detailing information from their convict records and events from the time of their trial to their death.  This chapter is provided as PDF files on CD ROM—view an example :  Ann Daley.